Historical combat consultancy
Historical combat consultancy for screen, games and page
Audiences can tell when a fight is fake. I help productions, studios and authors make combat that is accurate, believable and still serves the story.
I bring nearly 30 years of practical training across European and Japanese martial traditions, together with published historical research. I don’t just tell you what’s wrong. I show you what would really have happened, and help you make it work on screen, in the game or on the page.
What I cover
Historical armed combat
- Medieval longsword in the German (Liechtenauer) tradition
- Sword and buckler, Dagger, Polearms and the Quarterstaff
- Warbow – English, Japanese and Mongolian
- Fighting in armour
- Japanese Swordsmanship (Iaijutsu and Kenjutsu)
- Swords in the twentieth century, including the Second World War
Historical hand-to-hand combat
- Medieval wrestling and dagger work from the fight books
- Grappling in and out of armour
- Bartitsu and Victorian self-defence
- First World War trench fighting systems
Who I work with
TV & Film
Script reviews, adviser to stunt and fight teams, actor coaching and on-screen expertise.
Games
Motion-capture and animation reference, weapon data, combat systems and lore checks.
Authors
Fight-scene manuscript reviews, research consultations and hands-on sessions.
Military Museums
Digital marketing and social media for military and regimental museums, built around your collection.
Onsite
Onsite ideation and workshopping
When the combat matters to the story, I can join your team onsite, at the studio, on set, in the rehearsal space, the writers’ room or the motion-capture stage. I bring replica arms and armour so ideas can be tested in the room, not just discussed.
Sessions can run from a single half-day to repeat visits across a production, with remote support in between.
How it works
1
A conversation
Tell me about the project, the period and what you need.
2
Scope and quote
I’ll suggest the right mix of remote and onsite work, with a clear fee.
3
The work
Reviews, coaching, reference or workshops, delivered to your schedule.
4
Follow-up
Quick answers as questions come up during production or writing.
Ways to work together
Day or half-day rate
Production work and onsite sessions, plus travel.
From £500
Fixed fee
Script and manuscript reviews.
From £500
Retainer
Longer projects and repeat visits.
On enquiry
Why work with me
- Nearly 30 years of cross-discipline swordsmanship training
- Published historian: Medieval World Magazine and Tudor Times
- Chief Instructor of Canterbury Medieval Combat, teaching every week
- Former trustee of the Combined Military Services Museum, and EXARC member
- Risk-assessed and insured
- Some equipment can be provided
Selected work
A lot of my work is under NDA
“…he delighted the audience by engaging their interest in combat during this period with his knowledgeable and personable manner whilst helping to dispel misconceptions through his own combat research and practice.”
Tim Benfield
English Heritage