Theater Fencing - Stage Fencing - Scenic Fencing

The theater fencing, also called stage fencing or fencing Scenic, represents one of several battle styles on stage and combines sport, culture and art like no other sport. Next to the theater fencing do exist the disciplines sport fencing, Historical Fencing and academic fencing.

Here, the performer must master the art of fencing of the time period shown and implement the selected character with his acting skills. Knowledge of weapons, fight - and fencing art history, music and the intense physical requirement in training and performance are just some prerequisites to the performer. In order to be able to exercise the theater fencing, it requires a special training of a fencing master, an acting school or a fencing club. In practice, it is often found that the sport fencers not bring the best conditions for the theater fencing due to the different objectives. In contrast to the sport fencing where you want to defeat the enemy as quickly as possible with a first hit, the theater fencing is about a choreographed hit, that should follow and understand the audience.

The theater fencing is a choreography and depicts the battle in the form of a story being played. The opposite of sport fencing is the variable number of fencers, because there may be more than two players take part in the battle. In theater fencing, the battle also does not have to taking place on a fencing piste, but can be played in various places and in all eras, whether with swords on a fortress, with sabres on a ship, with epee in a royal palace or laser swords on a foreign planet. In theater fencing variety of costumes, stories, fencing styles and weapons are used, even prepositioned stage objects are used.

However, the safety regulations in accordance with the rules of the National Fencing Academies must be complied strictly. The theater fencing and stage battle take place predominantly with blank - and polearms. In fencing schools are used for theater fencing also swords, rapiers, two-hand with cloak and dagger or epee and dagger and knifes.
For acoustic improvement you can also cut holes in the bell of the fencing weapon, so there will be louder, sounding noises.

In theater fencing the hit fencing is preferred the sting fencing because it is safer and promises a greater visual impact. Since masks are worn rare on stage, the risk of injury to the eyes and teeth is very high, stitches in the face can be avoided as a result. Stitches under the armpits or outside past the body, however, are less dangerous. Very known are the horizontal swipes at the legs of an opponent standing up, which is thereby forced to jump up.

In Germany theater fencing is not as well known as in other european countries, but quite on the walkthrough. The "Stage Warriors", the International Championship of showbattle and theater fencing was held for the first time in Germany in 2004. 2006 followed the First International German Championship in scenic fencing in Berlin.

Meanwhile, there are many ways to address the topic theater fencing in Germany. Workshops in clubs allow unexperienced insight looks into the diversity of this sport. On video portals like Youtube you can not only observe different fencing styles, but also learn how theater fencing is practiced.