Learning to fight - Radio Times, October 2006

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Learning to fight - Radio Times, October 2006

Gordon Kennedy as Little John in Robin Hood Image © BBC/Tiger Aspect

Benji Wilson looks on as the outlaws are put through their paces.

"It hardly needs saying that any outlaw worth his salt has got to be able to handle himself in a ruckus. And so, in the two weeks leading up to filming, the lead actors were put through the "Hood Academy", a Budapest boot camp designed to turn them into hardened warriors.

Horse riding, sword skills, free fighting (punch-ups, essentially), and of course archery were all taught and honed in order to make sure that every bish, bash and bosh is convincingly delivered.

RT joins the Academy on its final day. Little John (Gordon Kennedy), Much (Sam Troughton), Will Scarlett (Harry Lloyd) and Robin himself (Jonas Armstrong) are all present, while Allan-a-Dale (Joe Armstrong, Alun's son) takes part despite having a blister.

In matching tracksuits, knee-pads and gloves, they look more like prisoners than yeomen. But any suggestion that this might be a joke is dispelled by the arrival of stunt co-ordinator Béla Unger, who has a shaven head, a grizzled mien and a face you could drill for coal with.

Unger's background as a modern pentathlete (running, fencing, shooting, swimming, showjumping) means he's adept at many of the skills taught at the Hood Academy. He has been a stunt co-ordinator for 30 years and fighting is his thing. When he calls his pupils indoors for sword training, each one is rapt.

After a warm-up to help balance and reactions, makeshift wooden swords are dealt out. At Unger's command, three more identikit bald Hungarians appear and begin taking their charges through some basic drills - lunging and parrying, advancing and retreating. The wooden swords are soon replaced with heavier metal ones, and the sound of metal crashing into metal fills the air.

Now, give a group of boys some swords and you can guess what happens next. The moves become more expansive. Imaginary killer blows are delivered with shouts and flourishes. The quicker learners are given wooden shields to perfect the "shield smash" to the face.

Most excitement is reserved for when they get their "signature" weapon. Robin, of course, has a beautifully carved bow (though not, purists will note, a classic English longbow). Little John, meanwhile, has a staff, and gets tuition in the art of bashing baddies with both ends of a big stick.

An exquisite halberd [a long-handled axe that's topped with a spearhead] and a broadsword also appear for Much and Will so each of them can work on their moves.

Needless to say, there's a bit of rivalry. "It's not training… it's a competition," says Harry Lloyd. He claims to be the best horseman. "But he's rubbish at archery," Joe Armstrong counters. But ask Jonas Armstrong, aka Robin, who's the best at archery… he replies: "Who do you think?"

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Now take a look at our full Robin Hood guide.

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