Art In Arms

01/02/2026

New Year, New Classes!

Registration for our Spring semester is live, and classes are filling up fast! This spring, our foundations courses will focus on Staff, and Rapier & Dagger.

Our staff course focuses on using the weapon as an extension of the body, with stylistic variations ranging from english quarterstaff to shaolin spear, and egyptian tahtib.

Our rapier and dagger curriculum is geared towards developing precision with intent and consistency, allowing performers to focus on delivering the scene without being bogged down with cumbersome bladeplay.

$450 for a full semester of training (over 30 hours) in one discipline, or $800 if registered for both. Scholarships available for BIPOC artists.

Weekly classes start February 15th.
More info at https://www.artinarms.org/course-info

08/14/2025

Registration for our Fall semester is now live!

Full foundations courses in narrative unarmed violence, and the use of sword & shield for stage and screen.

Our unarmed course gives performers the tools they need to adapt to almost any moment of onstage violence using just the weapons of the body - whether it's a simple slap or a fall to struggles, strangulations, and full-blown fight scenes. Don't just fake a punch, use it to tell the story you want to tell.

Our sword and shield curriculum is geared towards using the whole body to tell a dynamic story, turning the props into an extension of the character's will rather than a hurdle to overcome.

$450 for a full semester of training (over 30 hours) in one discipline, or $800 if registered for both. Scholarships available for BIPOC artists.

Weekly classes start September 28th.

More info at https://www.artinarms.org/course-info

07/20/2025

We are thrilled to welcome our friend and colleague Mike Yahn up to MN and host a pair of Fighting for Film workshops this coming weekend!

Mike is a longtime SAG-AFTRA stunt performer and coordinator, with over 100 credits including Avengers: Endgame, Sinners, Renfield (Ta**us stunt award nominee), The Walking Dead, Magnificent Seven, Sherlock Holmes, Doom Patrol, and the iconic Daredevil season 3 prison fight scene.

These workshops will cover the foundations for dynamic performance for film, from commitment and timing to camera awareness.

2 workshops sessions offered to optimize class sizes - a Q&A will follow the second session.

Location: Art In Arms studio
549 Minnehaha Ave E. Saint Paul, MN 55130
Cost: $50

https://www.artinarms.org/book-online-1

01/29/2025

Classes start February 16 and one of our class sections is already at capacity. Space is limited, so don't wait too long to register!

https://www.artinarms.org/course-info

01/21/2025

Tell us what you think!

John Wick 2: Subway Fight --> Love
The Hunted: Waterfall Fight --> Thumbs
The Raid 2: Kitchen Fight --> Laugh
Eastern Promises: Bath Fight --> Wow

Is your favorite movie knife fight not on the list? Let us know below in the comments!

Our Knife Foundations class starts in a little under a month, more info is in the comments.

01/04/2025

Performance and Rehearsal Highlights from our Fall 2024 Semester focusing on unarmed and singlesword.

Music from (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/overdrive
License code: ACWQ8VAPN9YWQVIX

12/31/2024

Putting violence onstage puts performance under a microscope. Our Spring 2025 Foundations courses will hone everything in your performance toolkit when it comes to telling stories of tension, danger, and impulse. Whether you're brand new to stage combat or a veteran performer, you'll develop the skills to dial up the intensity and clarity that the story demands. All the while, you'll be confident in the safety of everyone onstage and off.

Registration is open now! Link in the comments.

12/06/2024

Wonderful to hear Philip's insights on the work.

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/nov/25/theatre-fight-directors-combat-choreographers?CMP=share_btn_url&fbclid=IwY2xjawG_OSlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHbxE-V6VkWZqQ65tNkqj1ejLfr7umINqw6mJAdeQac5C99xHR02AxPaKAg_aem_ZXj2T5BPOfIbqepNtV2Jbw

When a scene calls for violence, it’s combat choreographers who prevent actors coming a cropper during the action. They explain the rules of stage conflict