Introduction
A conversation regarding influential martial artists would usually mention names like Bruce Lee or Chuck Norris. If the discussion was concerning historical figures, names such as Ip Man, Gichin Funakoshi, or even Helio Gracie may be mentioned. If I directed the conversation towards swords, you might bring up Miyamoto Musashi or Li Jinglin. All of these are extraordinary martial artists, but when I consider the sword master who had the greatest impact on my life, one name emerges higher than all the others: Bob Anderson.
Foundations of a Sword Master
A true warrior, Bob Anderson began his sword training with competitive fencing while he was serving in the Royal Marines. While in the Royal Marines, he won multiple fencing titles in foil, sabre, and épée. Anderson went on to represent Great Britain in the 1952 Summer Olympics in sabre, in which the team placed 5th. He continued to win sabre competitions in Great Britain throughout the 1960s.
After a successful competitive career, Bob Anderson became Great Britain’s first official National Fencing Coach. He coached the Olympic teams for Great Britain for almost two decades and served as the Technical Director of the Canadian Fencing Association. Anderson also served as president of the British Academy of Fencing, where he was able to influence coaching education and national standards.
Transforming Swordplay in Cinema
Early Film Work
In the 1950s, movie studios would often reach out to fencing clubs when they needed someone who could choreograph fight scenes and train actors quickly. As an award-winning fencer and coach, Bob Anderson was the perfect fit for this role. His work on early movies, such as Master of Ballantrae (1953) with Errol Flynn and the Bond films in the 1960s. With over fifty years of successful work in the film industry, Anderson proved he was the sword master movies needed.
Defining Iconic Movie Swordplay
In the 1970s and 1980s, Bob Anderson defined the iconic swordsmanship showcased in films such as Star Wars (1977, 1980, 1983) and Highlander (1986). Anderson trained Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) to sword fight, using a light sabre, and choreographed the epic scenes in the Star Wars movies. He even stepped in as Darth Vader during the duels.
His contributions to the Highlander films and TV series are just as impactful. He trained Christopher Lambert (Conner MacLeod) and Adrian Paul (Duncan MacLeod) and either choreographed or consulted for the fight scenes in the movies and TV series. His choreography created fight scenes that were dramatic but also appeared realistic.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Bob Anderson continued to work in film, particularly on the Lord of the Rings (2001, 2002, 2003) series. He trained Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, and many of the stunt performers. While he was not the primary fight choreographer for the Lord of the Rings series, his work helped translate fencing techniques into cinematic movement for long takes and ensemble battles.
I cannot write this article without mentioning the film that had the greatest impact on me: The Princess Bride (1987). Bob Anderson choreographed the memorable fight scene between Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) and Westley aka the Man in Black aka Dread Pirate Roberts (Cary Elwes), and you can read more about that here. Cary Elwes continuously showed Anderson respect and described him as one of “the very best guys in the world” and an “incredible” teacher.” He also said that Anderson would make them train every day and made them learn to fence with both hands. Even with all this training, Patinkin is quoted as saying that they would never complain to Anderson, no matter how tired they became, because “he never showed an ounce of fatigue, and he was in his 60s.” Anderson’s fencing background and hard work gave the duels a technical elegance that stood out from typical Hollywood swordplay, then or now.
Legacy of a Modern Sword Master
Bob Anderson’s legacy lives on in his impact on how sword fights are choreographed and depicted on screen. As a martial artists and father, I appreciate that he emphasized safety first and realism second. Anderson would not, however, sacrifice realism. He consistently balanced cinematic spectacle with realistic fencing principles. Anderson stressed that fights must read visually for the camera, that the action must be legible to the audience, even from a distance. He would adapt angles, thrusts, and parries for cinematic effect. Anderson saw duels as character-driven storytelling, not just action. His legacy is evident in many current films.
Conclusion
More people may know Bruce Lee by name. More people may associate Miyamoto Musashi with the sword. However, whether they know his name or not, my guess is that more people are currently familiar with the work of Bob Anderson than either Bruce Lee or Miyamoto Musashi. Bob Anderson once said, “I never took up the sword, the sword took me up.” The true legacy that Bob Anderson leaves behind is the generations of swords people who train due to his passion and willingness to share it with the world.
- Bob Anderson: Modern Day Sword Master - November 24, 2025
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