Fight director
Also known as: stage fight instructor, martial arts fight director, stage combat coordinator, fight arranger, stage combat instructor, fight coordinator
About this occupation
Fight directors coach performers to safely execute fight sequences. They direct fights for performances such as dance, movies and television, circus, variety, and others. Fight directors may have a background in sports such as fencing, shooting or boxing, martial arts such as judo, wushu or karate, or military training.
Essential skills and knowledge
- monitor art scene developments
- coach performers in your fight discipline
- performing arts fights legal regulations
- work ergonomically
- supervise performers' fights
- intellectual property law
- promote yourself
- labour legislation
- adapt fighting techniques for performance
- ensure the longevity of the fight actions
- adjust the work to the venue
- be in touch with your body
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Models (O*NET 41-9012.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Pose for artists and photographers.
- Record rates of pay and durations of jobs on vouchers.
- Gather information from agents concerning the pay, dates, times, provisions, and lengths of jobs.
- Report job completions to agencies and obtain information about future appointments.
- Assemble and maintain portfolios, print composite cards, and travel to go-sees to obtain jobs.
- Pose as directed, or strike suitable interpretive poses for promoting and selling merchandise or fashions during appearances, filming, or photo sessions.
- Typical education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Artistic, Realistic, Enterprising
Top skills: Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Coordination, Reading Comprehension
US median pay: US$48,470 a year (2025), 3,780 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
- Photographers
- Costume Attendants
- Craft Artists
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film
- Demonstrators and Product Promoters
- Fashion Designers
- Actors
- Dancers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.