"When you watch a Dale Girard swordfight, your hair stands on end. In our Macbeth, the fights ranged from wild and animalistic to swift, cool, and lethal. Every blow was motivated and the audience was drawn into the story of each fight. I've seen Dale render a deafening, stage-filling battle... and a chilling moment when Macbeth audibly broke his victim's arm and gutted him with his own sword (the audience shrieked and clawed their seats). Dale's repertoire of moves and principles - and safety practices - puts him at the top of his game."
Teller (Penn & Teller)
"This second edition of Actors on Guard (first published in 1997) is a real improvement over its predecessor and comes closest to a book that can help performers and directors understand rapier combat. The challenge of stage combat is that it is much like driver's ed: one can learn it conceptually from a book, but it requires experience and a knowledgeable instructor to truly learn-a reality Girard acknowledges at the beginning. The book is excellent for teaching that conceptual knowledge; one strength is the presentation of the historical reality of rapier combat as opposed to contemporary stage practice. [...] An excellent, valuable text."
K. J. Wetmore Jr., Loyola Marymount University
"As founder of the Society of American Fight Directors it is my privilege and honor to speak on behalf of Maestro Dale Girard whom I have known and worked with for nearly 40 years. During our many years together, he has always presented himself as the consummate professional with a huge skill set. . . His reputation in the fight/stunt industry precedes him, and his knowledge of the industry is foremost in his book Actors on Guard which should be a must read for anyone wanting to enter the industry."
David L. Boushey, Fight Master and founder of the Society of American Fight Directors
Teller (Penn & Teller)
"This second edition of Actors on Guard (first published in 1997) is a real improvement over its predecessor and comes closest to a book that can help performers and directors understand rapier combat. The challenge of stage combat is that it is much like driver's ed: one can learn it conceptually from a book, but it requires experience and a knowledgeable instructor to truly learn-a reality Girard acknowledges at the beginning. The book is excellent for teaching that conceptual knowledge; one strength is the presentation of the historical reality of rapier combat as opposed to contemporary stage practice. [...] An excellent, valuable text."
K. J. Wetmore Jr., Loyola Marymount University
"As founder of the Society of American Fight Directors it is my privilege and honor to speak on behalf of Maestro Dale Girard whom I have known and worked with for nearly 40 years. During our many years together, he has always presented himself as the consummate professional with a huge skill set. . . His reputation in the fight/stunt industry precedes him, and his knowledge of the industry is foremost in his book Actors on Guard which should be a must read for anyone wanting to enter the industry."
David L. Boushey, Fight Master and founder of the Society of American Fight Directors







