Let's take a look at Geralt's 2 (very different) fights in Blaviken, and see how they're put together to aid storytelling and character development. Subscribe for more! #stagecombat #fightchoreography
One of the big reasons that I believe Gerald spins so much and he's fighting style is because he's used to fighting multiple opponents specifically monsters are harder to kill than humans, bed because they have armored hides or their skin is thicker than that of a human to the point that sword blade swung by a normal person wouldn't damage them that much. The spins help build up momentum forget to bring the blade down or to help cut through the hide well also acting as a crowd control technique to keep mobs of monsters at Bay so they don't just swarm him.
'Phrase' is exactly the word that is used in sport fencing to describe a sequence of moves without a pause, so it seems perfect to use it for that in stage combat as well.
As regards the spins, you could argue that it's all due to his Witcher training, with him taking the chance mid combat to survey his surroundings, monsters not generally being capable of complicated tactics. Plus most people wouldn't know enough to push their advantage there, as opposed to duelists who would. Maybe?
On the "being better when working with someone who knows what they are doing" thing: I learnt judo as a white belt while training with a group who were almost exclusively black belts. I cannot emphasise enough how much easier, faster and safer this made learning how to do throws properly. They could compensate for my clumsiness and lack of training by setting up perfectly, and basically meant I didn't injure either myself or them. Plus they could walk me through the more complicated throws and explain every niggling detail so my technique improved faster.
Former VFX artist here. Nowadays, we hide the stunt performer under the face of the actor. So, especially if the motion is quick, if you can see the actor's face, it still might be the stunt performer. :D
Speaking as a martial artist OH MY GOD it is a pain trying to do cinematic fighting of any kind! There's so many moments where you have to slow down and be inefficient in order to be cinematic or demonstrative; to accomplish the objective of show
Henry Cavil earned himself a follow from me on Instagram a few months back when he straight up built himself a computer. he showed the whole world that he is a MASSIVE nerd. and i have oodles of respect for him for it. it seems obvious in hindsight that he would be equally nerdy about this as that.
Can we also appreciate the amount of grappling and half-swording that's actually kinda unusual for sword fights in American productions? Which is kinda a shame given how much more dynamic it makes the fight scenes.
As someone with years of dance experience, I absolutely adore "it's basically just like very violent dancing." YES, this. I've done a bit of stage combat/fight choreo for theatrical productions and I've always thought of and referred to fighting (elegant fighting at least, with footwork, etc) as "dangerous dancing" ;)
One other key moment in the Renfri fight that was glossed over is the moment that Geralt Really Gets Serious. When he decides he's done being passive and goes on the offensive, it only takes him about three big moves before he disarms her. Then you have that brief moment of "Oh Shit! He's got her." And then he slows right down. Again, giving her the opportunity to walk away... which of course she doesn't.
