Basic Information
Intensive dates:
Thursday, May 14th - Monday, May 18th, 2026
8:30am-12pm, 1pm-6pm, and 8pm–10pm
Location: Indiana University in Bloomington, IN.
Tuition for the 5-day Intensive: $590
-Tuition includes training and a continental breakfast each day
-All weapons and materials will be provided. (Personal weapons cleared by faculty are allowed )
*Housing is not included. More housing information given when accepted into cohort!*
Thursday, May 14th - Monday, May 18th, 2026
8:30am-12pm, 1pm-6pm, and 8pm–10pm
Location: Indiana University in Bloomington, IN.
Tuition for the 5-day Intensive: $590
-Tuition includes training and a continental breakfast each day
-All weapons and materials will be provided. (Personal weapons cleared by faculty are allowed )
*Housing is not included. More housing information given when accepted into cohort!*
Daily breakdown and schedule will be as follows:
-Breakfast/Meeting
-Warmup
-Technique and Foundation in the mornings
-Lunch
-Theory and Choreography in the afternoons
-Dinner
-Special Topics, Master Classes, Forum.
Subjects to include:
Footwork Review and Strengthening
Foundational technique training
Pris de Fer – martial and theatrical application
Pointwork
Choreography – theory and practice
Fight Direction
Theatrical application of 8 weapons styles of the SAFD
Martial applications of various weapon styles of the SAFD
German Longsword
Martial arts technique and aesthetic
Putting fights together
Logic of the fight
Policies and Procedures
More to come!
NOT COVERED AT THIS INTENSIVE:
Choreographing/Fight Directing
Intimacy Work
Stunt Work
Teaching Pedagogy
-Breakfast/Meeting
-Warmup
-Technique and Foundation in the mornings
-Lunch
-Theory and Choreography in the afternoons
-Dinner
-Special Topics, Master Classes, Forum.
Subjects to include:
Footwork Review and Strengthening
Foundational technique training
Pris de Fer – martial and theatrical application
Pointwork
Choreography – theory and practice
Fight Direction
Theatrical application of 8 weapons styles of the SAFD
Martial applications of various weapon styles of the SAFD
German Longsword
Martial arts technique and aesthetic
Putting fights together
Logic of the fight
Policies and Procedures
More to come!
NOT COVERED AT THIS INTENSIVE:
Choreographing/Fight Directing
Intimacy Work
Stunt Work
Teaching Pedagogy
Testimonies:
I didn't quite know what to expect going into the Mentoring Advanced Combatants (MAC) these last 5 days, but I came out with fire like never before and a cohort comprised of best friends I simply hadn't met yet, all of whom I already miss so much 🥹❤️ This MAC was tailored to us, and we got personal mentoring, which I have desperately been needing at this part of my stage combat journey. All the classes brought new revelations that encouraged me to think critically about the material, the intent, and how I want to teach others going forward. Most importantly, I was allowed to be a student again, given space to fail, freedom to question, and the chance to abandon ego in favor of growth. I think this workshop is an absolute MUST for Advanced Actor Combatants who feel like they've hit a wall and need an environment of like-minded individuals to push and challenge them. Go to this workshop. Support this workshop. You won't regret it.
-- Firen Williams
The MAC Intensive is a one of kind experience for the stage combat community. If you are an advanced combatant who is unsure of your goals in stage combat. Go to the MAC. If you are an advanced combatant who wants to expand your knowledge of this artform, whether technique, choreography, business, and everything in between. Go to the MAC. If you are an advanced combatant who has an opinion that pushes against the status quo of stage combat. Go to the MAC. If you want Samantha Kaufman to make you feel validated every day by your mere existence in the fight community. Go to the MAC. Most of all, if you are an advanced combatant who wants to find growth among a cohort of your peers, that both challenge and support you, then go to the MAC.
--Will Snyder (BattleKat Combat)
I have been training in stage combat for almost ten years and The MAC challenged my artistry for the absolute better. I walked out of this 5 day intensive with new ideas about the art form as a whole, ways to train more intentionally and a new curiosity of the fundamentals. Don't walk, run to this training! It is an encouraging environment that will elevate you to the next level of training and performance.
-- Olivia Willcox
If you are at a point in your training where you don’t feel challenged as much anymore, MAC will ensure to make you feel like a beginner again.
--Jerry “Yi Hang” Zou
The MAC is a place to go when you feel like you're not sure what to do to grow your practice. From a complete reassessment of the basics that will help you build and strengthen your foundation, to challenging you at the edges of your craft, you will leave with a re-found appreciation of the art of stage combat and a rejuvenated approach to your own art-making. You will grow your community by getting to know your cohort on a deeply supportive level. Last, but certainly not least, you will receive one-on-one mentorship tailored to your wants and needs that will support your growth as a combatant and an artist. This is a place to humble yourself and to be humbled, and to sponge up as much as you can in the process.
--Danielle Rosvally
I cannot recommended this workshop enough! For anyone that feels a lack of direction in their current stage combat journey, the MAC is there to provide deeper meaning and connection to the art of the craft. It ss a fantastic five day workshop with mentorship, support, encouragement, and challenge that will enhance the skills of any advanced combatant. If you are looking for a rewarding experience, a new challenge, and a appreciation to wider community, then apply to the MAC!
--Lance Krohn (He/They)
The MAC is the best workshop to collaborate with like-minded individuals who are wanting to innovate the craft of stage combat. From the moment you walk in you are encouraged to find what sparks joy for you within the work, you are able to fail without judgement, and grow as an actor combatant and human. There, I found a wonderfully supportive community that will stick with me for the rest of my life. In my opinion, there are many workshops out there but the MAC is the one that matters the most.
--Lana Whittington
“The MAC workshop was a transformative experience that gave me so much more than quality training. It gave me a community of artists from all over the country that I deeply connected to, and that I will grow with for many years to come. This workshop also gave me access to experienced mentors that challenged me, encouraged me, and offered insight that pushed me beyond what I thought I was capable of. I am so thankful to be connected to these brilliant humans who are offering support and guidance as I take the next steps in my stage combat career. The MAC also opened my eyes to new training philosophies and helped me refine my own. I am leaving with a brightened spark of curiosity and an unstoppable urge to explore, discover, and play. I learned how to push myself to stretch and grow in every corner of my craft. I was able to see effective collaboration from all the mentors and how to put thoughts and ideas into active practice. Most importantly, the MAC showed me what it truly means to practice stage combat at the highest level. The standard of artistry, dedication, and professionalism I witnessed and was welcomed into was something I will carry with me always. This experience completely redefined what I thought was possible for myself, and for the art form as a whole. Words can’t encapsulate the amount of gratitude I have for this workshop, I cannot recommend it enough for those looking for the next steps in their journey!”
--Ja’Nae Puckett
I found The MAC to be an incredibly rewarding experience. It's truly refreshing to go to a space that challenges and pushes you to learn and improve, but also strives to remove judgement and shame. I learned and absorbed more because I wasn't hyper-fixated on perfection or getting it right the first time. Adding in the community building of being surrounded by people who are striving for the same thing as you makes this a truly unique intensive.
--Jillian Leff
There is no workshop like the MAC. It is a uniquely special time where students and teachers explore together. Through individualized classes, ongoing and personalized feedback, and dedicated mentorship, I grew more in a week than I had in two years. This workshop is rooted in the belief that you are a unique and beautiful artist who needs to be fed, listened to, and supported in order to challenge yourself and receive guidance from trusted mentors. From that care, tangible growth, innovative ideas, and strong relationships flourish quickly.
--Ian Bond
Attending this workshop was a huge catalyst of momentum for me. It allowed me to recognize my strengths as a performer and identify places where I have to capacity to do more. I was able to recognize the comfortability of the standards I had set for myself and how much more I could take on when surrounding myself with a supportive eager community who care about both the progression of this art form and the people within it. Having the dedicated time to receive feedback from mentors whom I admire within the field strengthened my confidence and allowed me to practice the conversations colleagues have when challenging each other’s artistic opinions without challenging each other’s personhood. Coming to the workshop with specific goals allowed my mentor and I to track progress in a digestible way, but leaving myself room to be surprised by feedback was just as important. One of my favorite moments of the workshop was receiving a note that highlighted because I was leaning on one of my strengths I wasn't giving myself the chance to work on a specific weakness. That strength was something I've been working towards for several years and the recognition of my growth led to a beautiful understanding of how much more learning lays before me. You will need help and encouragement to get the most out of your time at the MAC and you will constantly be given the opportunity to practice asking for it. For me, that muscle grew more than my quads or biceps, and I know it will serve me for years to come as I grown my network of peers through reciprocity.
--Sam-Claire Bieber
I didn't quite know what to expect going into the Mentoring Advanced Combatants (MAC) these last 5 days, but I came out with fire like never before and a cohort comprised of best friends I simply hadn't met yet, all of whom I already miss so much 🥹❤️ This MAC was tailored to us, and we got personal mentoring, which I have desperately been needing at this part of my stage combat journey. All the classes brought new revelations that encouraged me to think critically about the material, the intent, and how I want to teach others going forward. Most importantly, I was allowed to be a student again, given space to fail, freedom to question, and the chance to abandon ego in favor of growth. I think this workshop is an absolute MUST for Advanced Actor Combatants who feel like they've hit a wall and need an environment of like-minded individuals to push and challenge them. Go to this workshop. Support this workshop. You won't regret it.
-- Firen Williams
The MAC Intensive is a one of kind experience for the stage combat community. If you are an advanced combatant who is unsure of your goals in stage combat. Go to the MAC. If you are an advanced combatant who wants to expand your knowledge of this artform, whether technique, choreography, business, and everything in between. Go to the MAC. If you are an advanced combatant who has an opinion that pushes against the status quo of stage combat. Go to the MAC. If you want Samantha Kaufman to make you feel validated every day by your mere existence in the fight community. Go to the MAC. Most of all, if you are an advanced combatant who wants to find growth among a cohort of your peers, that both challenge and support you, then go to the MAC.
--Will Snyder (BattleKat Combat)
I have been training in stage combat for almost ten years and The MAC challenged my artistry for the absolute better. I walked out of this 5 day intensive with new ideas about the art form as a whole, ways to train more intentionally and a new curiosity of the fundamentals. Don't walk, run to this training! It is an encouraging environment that will elevate you to the next level of training and performance.
-- Olivia Willcox
If you are at a point in your training where you don’t feel challenged as much anymore, MAC will ensure to make you feel like a beginner again.
--Jerry “Yi Hang” Zou
The MAC is a place to go when you feel like you're not sure what to do to grow your practice. From a complete reassessment of the basics that will help you build and strengthen your foundation, to challenging you at the edges of your craft, you will leave with a re-found appreciation of the art of stage combat and a rejuvenated approach to your own art-making. You will grow your community by getting to know your cohort on a deeply supportive level. Last, but certainly not least, you will receive one-on-one mentorship tailored to your wants and needs that will support your growth as a combatant and an artist. This is a place to humble yourself and to be humbled, and to sponge up as much as you can in the process.
--Danielle Rosvally
I cannot recommended this workshop enough! For anyone that feels a lack of direction in their current stage combat journey, the MAC is there to provide deeper meaning and connection to the art of the craft. It ss a fantastic five day workshop with mentorship, support, encouragement, and challenge that will enhance the skills of any advanced combatant. If you are looking for a rewarding experience, a new challenge, and a appreciation to wider community, then apply to the MAC!
--Lance Krohn (He/They)
The MAC is the best workshop to collaborate with like-minded individuals who are wanting to innovate the craft of stage combat. From the moment you walk in you are encouraged to find what sparks joy for you within the work, you are able to fail without judgement, and grow as an actor combatant and human. There, I found a wonderfully supportive community that will stick with me for the rest of my life. In my opinion, there are many workshops out there but the MAC is the one that matters the most.
--Lana Whittington
“The MAC workshop was a transformative experience that gave me so much more than quality training. It gave me a community of artists from all over the country that I deeply connected to, and that I will grow with for many years to come. This workshop also gave me access to experienced mentors that challenged me, encouraged me, and offered insight that pushed me beyond what I thought I was capable of. I am so thankful to be connected to these brilliant humans who are offering support and guidance as I take the next steps in my stage combat career. The MAC also opened my eyes to new training philosophies and helped me refine my own. I am leaving with a brightened spark of curiosity and an unstoppable urge to explore, discover, and play. I learned how to push myself to stretch and grow in every corner of my craft. I was able to see effective collaboration from all the mentors and how to put thoughts and ideas into active practice. Most importantly, the MAC showed me what it truly means to practice stage combat at the highest level. The standard of artistry, dedication, and professionalism I witnessed and was welcomed into was something I will carry with me always. This experience completely redefined what I thought was possible for myself, and for the art form as a whole. Words can’t encapsulate the amount of gratitude I have for this workshop, I cannot recommend it enough for those looking for the next steps in their journey!”
--Ja’Nae Puckett
I found The MAC to be an incredibly rewarding experience. It's truly refreshing to go to a space that challenges and pushes you to learn and improve, but also strives to remove judgement and shame. I learned and absorbed more because I wasn't hyper-fixated on perfection or getting it right the first time. Adding in the community building of being surrounded by people who are striving for the same thing as you makes this a truly unique intensive.
--Jillian Leff
There is no workshop like the MAC. It is a uniquely special time where students and teachers explore together. Through individualized classes, ongoing and personalized feedback, and dedicated mentorship, I grew more in a week than I had in two years. This workshop is rooted in the belief that you are a unique and beautiful artist who needs to be fed, listened to, and supported in order to challenge yourself and receive guidance from trusted mentors. From that care, tangible growth, innovative ideas, and strong relationships flourish quickly.
--Ian Bond
Attending this workshop was a huge catalyst of momentum for me. It allowed me to recognize my strengths as a performer and identify places where I have to capacity to do more. I was able to recognize the comfortability of the standards I had set for myself and how much more I could take on when surrounding myself with a supportive eager community who care about both the progression of this art form and the people within it. Having the dedicated time to receive feedback from mentors whom I admire within the field strengthened my confidence and allowed me to practice the conversations colleagues have when challenging each other’s artistic opinions without challenging each other’s personhood. Coming to the workshop with specific goals allowed my mentor and I to track progress in a digestible way, but leaving myself room to be surprised by feedback was just as important. One of my favorite moments of the workshop was receiving a note that highlighted because I was leaning on one of my strengths I wasn't giving myself the chance to work on a specific weakness. That strength was something I've been working towards for several years and the recognition of my growth led to a beautiful understanding of how much more learning lays before me. You will need help and encouragement to get the most out of your time at the MAC and you will constantly be given the opportunity to practice asking for it. For me, that muscle grew more than my quads or biceps, and I know it will serve me for years to come as I grown my network of peers through reciprocity.
--Sam-Claire Bieber