What does our schedule look like?

The New York Summer Sling offers a wide selection of stage combat classes for actors and fight artists and brings new guest teachers in each year. It's a fun opportunity to experiment with different weapon disciplines, work with incredible teachers and fight directors, and be a part of the national stage combat community. Example classes range from introductory lessons to historically themed weapons work, from learning how to stage a fight scene to a class designed to push you to your limit.

This year, we will offer SAFD Skill Proficiency Renewal Tests. If you would like to sign up for an SPRs, please email summerslingnyc@gmail.com for pricing and weapons you have interest in renewing. These renewals will not be available via regular class signups.

2024 Summer Sling Schedule:
*subject to change

 

Class Descriptions:

OPEN

Open classes are perfect for students of all experience levels! They provide explorations that are introductory in experience required but novel in experience provided.

BEGINNER:

These courses provide an introduction to a weapons discipline, and are suited toward students with no experience or looking for a refresher.

INTERMEDIATE:

This course is intended for students who have some familiarity with the weapons discipline, and are interested in tackling a new way of thinking about — or moving with — that style.

INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED:

A course labeled Intermediate/Advanced is best suited for the student with good working familiarity of a weapons discipline, who is ready to push and challenge what they know to the next level. Please do not sign up for one of these classes unless you have spent at least 20 hours training in the denoted weapon style, as you may be left behind or endanger yourself or another student.

Definition of Various Weapons Disciplines

  • Unarmed: Unarmed fighting is the theatrical form of fighting that uses the “natural weapons” of the human body: fists, feet, elbows, knees, etc. rather than weapons.

  • Broadsword: A broadsword is the theatrical form of swordplay most commonly representing combat with a broad bladed sword roughly thirty to thirty-eight inches in length, with a two-handed grip and simple cross-hilt, generally encompassing the span of European history from the tenth century to the end of the fifteenth.

  • Rapier and Dagger: The rapier and dagger is the theatrical form of double fence that most commonly represents the fashionable style of swordplay from the later half of the sixteenth century and the early portion of the seventeenth. The rapier is a single-handed stage weapon consisting of various hilt configurations and a blade of roughly thirty to thirty-eight inches in length that may be used for both cut and thrust (schlager and epée blades are most common). The parrying dagger (also called a Main-Gauche and Quillon Dagger) is a single-handed stage weapon consisting of various hilt configurations with a blade of roughly ten to twelve inches in length that may be used for both cut and thrust.

  • Sword and Shield: The sword and shield is the theatrical form of combat that most commonly represents the Medieval and Renaissance double fence style of fighting that has the combatant armed with cross-hilt, backsword or similar weapon and a shield strapped upon the other arm. The sword is a broad bladed weapon roughly twenty-eight to thirty-four inches in length, with a single-handed grip (sometimes a hand-and-a-half grip) and simple cross-hilt. The shield is roughly eighteen to twenty-eight inches in diameter and can be of a variety of shapes (including but not limited to circular, oblong, and triangular) any of which have a strap for the forearm and handle for the hand.

  • Knife: The fighting knife is the theatrical form of combat executed with a weapon consisting of a simple hilt or guard, a single-hand grip, and a blade of roughly seven to twelve inches in length that may be used for cut and thrust, offense and defense (a fighting knife has one edge, a fighting dagger has two edges). The blade may be fixed in the handle, either rigidly or with a joint (such as a lock-blade or switchblade).

  • Quarterstaff: A quarterstaff is the rustic style of theatrical combat executed with a straight, stout pole of roughly six to eight feet in length. The stage quarterstaff most commonly represents the staff or pole-arm generally used by European peasantry in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

  • Single Sword (sabre, single rapier, Hollywood swashbuckling): A single sword is the theatrical form of swordplay that most commonly represents the light, fast, style of combat often reminiscent of the old film swashbucklers. A single sword is a cut and thrust weapon with various hilt configurations and a blade of roughly thirty to thirty-eight inches in length that is light enough to be wielded in one hand (including, but not limited to the Transitional Rapier, Light Cross-Hilt, Saber, etc.) and must be used alone to function both offensively and defensively (heavy sport epée blades are most common).

  • Smallsword: a smallsword is the theatrical form of the light, thrusting weapon used in Europe through the later part of the seventeenth century and through much of the eighteenth. A smallsword is primarily a thrusting weapon generally consisting of a large sport epée blade (roughly thirty-three inches in length) with a very simple hilt (often consisting of two half shells, or an elliptical plate), and a smaller guard for the hand and fingers than that of the rapier or broadsword.




All classes and schedule are subject to change. We reserve the right to change any classes listed, at anytime, and under any circumstance.