[1][2] In February 1969, Henry Marshall, Master at Arms of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and William Hobbs, who was then the Fight Director at the Royal National Theatre, convened a meeting of professionals who regularly engaged in directing fights in the British theatre, as well as people who regularly taught at drama schools that offered dramatic combat.

[3] The result of this meeting was the formation of a body of practitioners dedicated to the development of Dramatic Combat as a professional discipline, called the Society of British Fight Directors (SBFD).

[8] Many BADC members are pioneers of the art of dramatic combat and champion its importance in Theatre, Film, TV and Motion Capture.

Their work in dramatic combat is combined with and develops alongside related disciplines, for example Intimacy Directing.

[9] [10] [11] Certified Fight Teachers provide Actor Combatant training[8] either at institutions such as drama school and universities or through their own companies.