Fight notation is very important as it allows the actors (and the fight director) to remind themselves of what moves have already been decided. If you consider that fights are rehearsed sometimes with a gap of one week or more between visits from the FD you can understand that just as you need to be reminded of the lines you may have forgotten, the same might be said of fight choreography. Of course when you mix up choreography it's somewhat more dangerous.

The simple system demonstrated above, shows a linear style of notation, which is the one I favour. There are other systems however, such as William Hobbs' musical style, discussed in his book "Stage Combat, the action to the word".

Click HERE for a blank fight sheet which you can print out.