{"id":228179,"date":"2026-01-20T14:09:20","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T19:09:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/?p=228179"},"modified":"2026-01-20T16:35:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T21:35:45","slug":"noble-blades-stage-combat-northern-virginia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/noble-blades-stage-combat-northern-virginia\/","title":{"rendered":"Northern Virginia Theater Spotlight: Inside The Noble Blades and the Art of Stage Combat"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"custom_featured_image\" style=\"display:none;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_FI-800x533.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"noble blades stage combat troupe\" style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_FI-800x533.png 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_FI-768x511.png 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_FI-585x390.png 585w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_FI-263x175.png 263w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_FI.png 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/div><div id=\"custom_category\" style=\"display:none;\">just playin' <\/div><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the surface, stage combat looks dangerous: swords clash, bodies fall, fists fly. But beneath the illusion of violence lies an art form rooted in trust, precision, and storytelling. For more than three decades, Northern Virginia\u2019s stage combat troupe The Noble Blades has been quietly ensuring that this <a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/massage-therapy-works-in-fairfax-virginia-a-blend-of-relaxation-and-traditional-chinese-medicine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">magic happens safely<\/a> and beautifully throughout the DC area on stages from high school productions all the way to professional productions at the Shakespeare Theater and Arena Stage. <\/span><b>Read on for more about this incredible group of stage combat professionals and how even a beginner can try out the techniques.&nbsp;<\/b><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-229109\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_FI.png\" alt=\"noble blades stage combat troupe\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_FI.png 1000w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_FI-800x533.png 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_FI-768x511.png 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_FI-585x390.png 585w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_FI-263x175.png 263w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Background<\/h3>\n<p>The story starts in late 1992 with a production of <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Macbeth<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by the Reston Community Players. The director wanted the fights to look authentic and compelling, so a certified teacher from the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.safd.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Society of American Fight Directors<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (SAFD) was brought in to lead a pre-audition workshop. One of his senior students stayed on to choreograph the show\u2019s fights and provide stage-safe weapons. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adam Konowe, the founder and president of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nobleblades.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Noble Blades<\/a>, was the assistant director on that production. Along with four or five other cast and crew members, he became fascinated by what they were learning. \u201cWhen the show closed, we thought, \u2018We should really create a mechanism so we can continue to learn,\u2019\u201d Adam said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-229110\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_workshop1.png\" alt=\"a workshop run by the noble blades\" width=\"450\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_workshop1.png 1080w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_workshop1-800x800.png 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_workshop1-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_workshop1-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_workshop1-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_workshop1-585x585.png 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That impulse became The Noble Blades. What started as a small group of theater artists eager to keep practicing stage combat soon evolved into something much larger. Members pursued formal training and skills proficiency through the SAFD, learning multiple weapon disciplines and honing the craft. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For Adam, the draw was never about performing flashy fights onstage himself. Primarily a director, designer, and choreographer, he was captivated by the process. \u201cStage combat is another way to tell a story,\u201d he explains. \u201cJust like music and dance in a musical, combat is a way to express conflict, whether it\u2019s dramatic or comedic.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em><strong>See more:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/fairfax-countys-independent-bookstores\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fairfax County\u2019s Independent Bookstores<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That philosophy runs through everything that The Noble Blades do. Stage combat, at its core, is not about aggression. It\u2019s about communication, illusion, and collaboration, making something look dangerous while keeping everyone involved completely safe.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The SAFD offers certifications in eight disciplines: Rapier and Dagger; Single Sword (sabre, single rapier, Hollywood swashbuckling); Broadsword; Broadsword and Shield; Smallsword; Knife; Quarterstaff; and Unarmed.&nbsp; Members of the Noble Blades are certified in many of these disciples, giving them a wealth of training and qualification to share with others<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. So the Blades are in the position of both offering the service of stage combat coordination to theaters and offering instruction in the different disciplines.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>The Noble Blades in the Community<\/h3>\n<p>Over time, The Noble Blades has grown into a resource for the wider theater community. In a region rich with community theater but limited budgets, The Noble Blades occupy an important middle ground. While large professional theaters can hire top-tier fight directors, smaller companies and schools often lack access, or awareness, that qualified stage combat professionals even exist. The Noble Blades also have their own cache of \u2018weapons\u2019, which are specifically designed props for stage combat.<\/p>\n<p>Without that expertise, productions sometimes rely on well-meaning substitutes: a former fencer, a martial artist, or \u201csomeone\u2019s dad who teaches jujitsu.\u201d While those skills are valuable, they are not stage combat. \u201cA fencing foil and a Renaissance rapier may look similar, but they\u2019re not,\u201d Adam says. \u201cStage combat is its own discipline, adapted for performance and safety.\u201d The goal isn\u2019t just preventing accidents, though that\u2019s crucial. It\u2019s helping directors achieve their artistic vision without fear. Properly choreographed combat allows shows to take creative risks while protecting performers.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DRbUucnjf7p\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DRbUucnjf7p\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by The Noble Blades (@thenobleblades)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>At its heart, The Noble Blades focuses on three pillars: education, choreography, and demonstration.<\/p>\n<p>Education<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> ranges from low-barrier, one-day workshops to multi-week SAFD skills proficiency courses. These certifications, similar to CPR training, must be renewed every three years and cover eight different weapon disciplines, including unarmed combat, rapier, dagger, and knife. <\/span>Choreography<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> services support community theaters, schools, and other organizations. The Noble Blades work with directors as early as auditions, helping them understand how stage combat impacts casting, costumes, sets, and stage management. Their work spans everything from <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Romeo and Juliet<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">West Side Story<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-229112\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_workshop2.png\" alt=\"a workshop at the noble blades \" width=\"450\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_workshop2.png 1080w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_workshop2-800x800.png 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_workshop2-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_workshop2-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_workshop2-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_workshop2-585x585.png 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Demonstration<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> includes performances and showcases &#8211; something the group hopes to expand again, particularly by returning to Renaissance festivals where they once toured regularly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They also bring stage combat directly into schools, offering workshops and professional development for educators across Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, and even into Maryland. Recently, Konowe led multiple workshops for middle school students at a county-wide theater event.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Find the Blades<\/h3>\n<p>The Noble Blades company members perform in, train, and assist in theater productions throughout the DMV and nationwide. For example, Senior Troupe Member Bess Kaye is the Assistant Combat Instructor and Intimacy Director at the Shakespeare Theater Company\u2019s Academy MFA program.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-229111\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_logo.png\" alt=\"the logo for the noble blades\" width=\"450\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_logo.png 1080w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_logo-800x800.png 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_logo-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_logo-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_logo-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/nobleblades_logo-585x585.png 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Blades work frequently with school and community theater groups to lead stage combat training. The Blades are also the lead organizer of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.midatlanticmelee.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mid-Atlantic Melee<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, an immersive, weekend-long training program in a variety of combat disciplines. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<em><strong>Read more:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/fairfax-olympian-brandon-kim-speedskater\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">This Speedskating Olympian Has Fairfax Roots<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most striking outcomes of stage combat training, especially with young performers, is the sense of community it creates. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cEven when characters are in conflict, the actors have to take care of each other,\u201d says Ian Claar, managing director and board member. \u201cThat kind of trust builds connection very quickly.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teachers often see skeptical students transform into tightly bonded ensembles. What starts as hesitation becomes respect\u2014for the craft, for their partners, and for the artistry involved.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" style=\"background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DTDYOj0DSbf\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div style=\"padding: 16px;\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\"width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"><a style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DTDYOj0DSbf\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by The Noble Blades (@thenobleblades)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The Blades host classes + workshops at their Herndon studio. \u201cWe offer a mix of one-off workshops on a variety of topics. These classes are open to everyone, from people with no experience at all to those who already have quite a bit,\u201d Ian said. \u201cFor anyone new to stage combat, the workshops are a very low barrier to entry; they\u2019re affordable, typically held over one morning on a Sunday, and cover a wide range of subjects. Many people, especially younger participants, first get involved with us through these workshops.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To learn more about the Blades or to sign up for a class or workshop, visit the troupe&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nobleblades.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thenobleblades\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">social media<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Follow @thefairfaxgirl on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thefairfaxgirl\/\"><span class=\"s2\">Instagram <\/span><\/a>+&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@thefairfaxgirl\"><span class=\"s2\">TikTok<\/span><\/a> for the latest Northern Virginia updates, and check out our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/events\/\"><span class=\"s2\">events calendar<\/span><\/a>, which has over 100+ events weekly to peruse.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/category\/lifestyle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-228394\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/1.png\" alt=\"lifestyle button\" width=\"450\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/1.png 1200w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/1-800x267.png 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/1-1024x341.png 1024w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/1-768x256.png 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/1-1170x390.png 1170w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/01\/1-585x195.png 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>just playin&#8217; On the surface, stage combat looks dangerous: swords clash, bodies fall, fists fly. But beneath the illusion of violence lies&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":362,"featured_media":229109,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[8833,9709,9740,7997,9593,9728],"tags":[9790,9732,9744,9747,9745,9845,9731,9750],"class_list":["post-228179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-fairfax-county","category-herndon","category-lifestyle","category-local-girl-rss-feed","category-virginia","tag-creative","tag-dmv","tag-fairfax-county","tag-herndon","tag-reston","tag-tlg","tag-virginia","tag-weekend-activity"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Northern Virginia Theater Spotlight: Inside The Noble Blades and the Art of Stage Combat - 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