Embodied Play Fighting
Roy first discovered play fighting at a burning man regional event in Europe in 2018. After taking part in several workshops, he recognised the potential of this practice to help people become more embodied, to learn about their own boundaries and improve their non-verbal communication and empathetic listening to others. The range of expressions people create in play fighting is truly incredible and extremely imaginative. Roy’s further training in Psychotherapy, Radical Honesty, Non-Violent Communication and Wheel of Consent all serve to inform the way he constructs the practices and flow of the workshops.
Play fighting is all about connection to your own body and energies flowing through it. Only from that space you can wrestle and play in a wholesome, connected, delicious way with other beings. What you discover in this kind of deeply embodied connection with others is likely to surprise you.
Perhaps your body, and spirit, crave gentleness and flowing, perhaps there’s a lot of passion, fire and wildness yearning to be expressed. You might awaken your creativity or meet your Inner Child. It can be playful, silly, deeply spiritual and/or a way of fully knowing your body.
The first time Roy facilitated a conscious play fighting workshop was at Burning Nest, the UK regional Burning Man event in Devon, UK in summer of 2022. Then since December 2022, in collaboration with other amazing professionals in the field of conscious connection, he facilitated workshops in London, Brighton, Manchester, Nottingham and Bristol. In 2025, he added international collaborations in Berlin and Amsterdam.
In a typical workshop, we talk through safety practices, demonstrate techniques and go through a series of fun and connecting exercises to warm up and create an intimate container. Importantly, we will explore boundaries and consent and learn to communicate them in explicit and nonverbal ways.
Play fighting can be joyous, sensual, erotic, cathartic, primal and so many other things. You can learn to let go, to give yourself permission, and to take yourself and your partner to the limits of the known – however there are some fundamental practices that when learned will allow you to push farther into these realms. This invitation and our mission, is to guide you in learning how to keep yourself safe, how to keep your partner safe as well as how to use your body, whatever kind of body you or your opponent has, in a way that will allow you to let out your inner combatant.
The venues we use typically are yoga studios that are large enough to accommodate between 16-30 people. We work on padded rubber flooring or crash mats that are also used for other forms of contact dance or martial arts. We aim to work in accessible venues as we believe that this is an activity that should be available to everyone, regardless of abilities and mobility.
As we continue to run these workshops, we see the positive change that it has on people and are committed to holding with care, the trust that people put in us. Roy collaborates frequently with other professionals in the fields of dance, therapy, conscious sexuality and embodiment to continue exploring what is means to be human, and connecting people to themselves and others.
Testimonials
Carla’s review: Carla’s play fighting experience
“Thank you so much for yesterday’s workshop. It reawakened for me the amazing power of fighting, within our boundaries, to move stuck emotions and energy. It’s something we don’t get to do much (well I haven’t) but it’s so natural and can be so incredibly safe. I take away some lovely tools, but primarily it was the experience of support, acceptance and encouragement from the group and space holders that enabled me to go into it. Curiously being challenged by a partner to a playfight – which brought up some long running issues – felt so much safer and had a greater transformative power in this space than if we’d been alone. I felt supported to reveal more parts of myself, and relieved and encouraged to experience their acceptance. And I want more, thank you!
Love and gratitude, Anna”
“Play Fighting workshop was everything I had hoped for: well-organised, fun, energetic and intense. It was lovely to witness a variety of play fighting styles from competitive to sensual to almost erotic (had I stayed for the optional Temple, I’m sure eroticism would have been the main energy ingredient). I was pleased to see how quickly a bunch of standers are able to authentically connect with each other on a wide range of levels within the safety of the play space. Kudos to the organisers, for their excellent teamwork and professionalism. The next Play Fighting is on 15th April and I can highly recommend to anyone to attend it.”
Kristina (@lora.poly).
“It was with great anticipation that I went to the Play fighting workshop. I was not disappointed it provided a space for me to be physical, powerful and playful with others. Wrestling, pushing, grabbing, snarling, rolling around – I loved it. A place to let out my inner animal without inhibition. I came away more confident and grateful to experience this part of my erotic nature with others .I learned so much about myself thank you. Dee”
“It was the first time for me participating in the playfighting workshop.
I had a really good time and felt comfortable and safe in the space. The session was great fun and was managed in a way that allowed for everyone to participate at their own level.
Wonderful way to spend the evening, thanks Leo and Roy for facilitating.”
“This was my second session and what struck me this time was the intensity of the male-male fights. The ferocity was there but the energy never shifted into trying to win at any cost.
I’ve done a fair bit of boxing sparring and contests of that intensity between men often shift into swinging wildly and no longer truly honoring the safety of the other person. So it’s great that didn’t happen and I think is a testament to the space that was created by Roy and Leo and also all of us observing.”
“I had so much fun playing dogs and gorillas! I’m really enjoying the exploration of interacting with people in this way. And the freedom to interact human to human rather than considering gender.
I have only been once before but I love how both times have had a different energy and styles of fight making it a new experience each time.”
“I was quite apprehensive before attending, but it couldn’t have been a nicer or more welcoming and inclusive experience, with great care taken of every participant and a carefully-structured build-up to the more intense stuff. We were regularly reminded of choice and consent (also safety), but not in a way that interfered with enjoyment. A lovely experience altogether.”
Matt
“Thank you for providing a safe and welcoming space to explore play fighting for the first time. I felt comfortable throughout to explore movement and touch in the warm up exercises and supported to try a play fight. the rules were easy to follow and everything felt intuitive. Such a warm and supportive group of people to share and try something new.”
EJ
“I felt the workshop was very well presented and it demonstrated how best we should both control our emotions and desires.”
“Roy did an excellent job at explaining the rules and boundaries, as well as giving excellent examples of how to engage into play fighting. He gave rules and boundaries for the group, but also made sure the space was open, welcoming and accepting of personal boundaries. The warm up games were a great way of bringing people into the space and connecting people with each other ahead of the play fights. This really helped to bring some connection before getting physical.”
“Exhilarating and fun evening would love to do it again pushing my boundaries and connecting with one’s push pushing. Great friendly group had a lot of fun.
Roy was an excellent and very knowledgeable play fighting facilitator who really communicated the guidelines and boundaries well. He created a lovely vibe and safe space to really express ourselves.”
Article reviews from past attendees:
The joy of feeling entirely myself
A review of a play fighting and temple combination event
Roy works with several collaborators across the UK and internationally. His aim is to bring conscious play fighting to as wide and diverse audience as he can. Roy is open to work with specific communities and groups and welcomes you to contact him if you are interested to bring conscious play fighting to your location.
