A new year is coming so get into our next round of Beginner's Courses! Prepare for swinging swords and pulling punches. We offer three different courses which cover different avenues of Western Martial Arts:
Fight Like Sherlock Holmes
Bartitsu is a complex martial art with many interlocking skills. Our four-week Fight Like Sherlock Holmes course gives students an in-depth introduction into the fundamentals of Bartitsu. The curriculum focuses on one subject each week, integrating them together as the course progresses:
- Week 1: Introduction to Jujitsu
- Week 2: Introduction to Pugilism
- Week 3: Introduction to Savate
- Week 4: Introduction to Walking Stick
Starting at the beginning of every month, Fight Like Sherlock Holmes classes run Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:00pm to 10:00pm, and Saturdays from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. The next round of classes start on Monday January 6th, Wednesday January 7th, and Saturday January 10th.
To read more and see the weekly schedule breakdown, click here.
Our two swordplay Beginner’s Courses, Taste of the Renaissance and Warrior Fundamentals, are 8-classes long and can be taken twice during the week over one month.
Want to know what you're getting into first? Sign up for a FREE TRIAL LESSON for either of our Swordplay Beginner’s Courses without any obligation!
Taste of the Renaissance
Taste of the Renaissance is our introduction to the Weapons Mastery Program with rapier, sidesword, and longsword. As a student in this course you will:
- Learn the fun and exciting arts of the rapier and longsword
- Enjoy an engaging workout that’s good for all fitness levels
- Get a taste of Renaissance history through its martial arts
- Learn in a safe and open environment for beginners
Classes run Monday and Wednesday at 7:00pm, Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00pm and Saturdays at 11:30am. The next round of classes start Monday January 5th and Tuesday January 6th.
Click here to register online now!
Warrior Fundamentals
Warrior Fundamentals is our introduction to the Warrior Fitness Program with longsword, sidesword & shield, and spear. In this course, students can expect:
- An invigorating workout combining swordplay and full body movement
- Training in the fundamental skills of the traditional European warrior including wrestling, longsword, sword and shield, spear, and quarterstaff.
- Instruction in the basics of Armizare, a medieval Italian combat system designed to train knights for battle.
- An encouraging and supportive environment for learning new skills and meeting fitness goals.
Classes run Monday and Wednesday at 7:00pm, Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00pm, or Saturdays at 10:00 am. The next round of classes start Monday October 27th, Tuesday October 28th and Saturday January 10th.
Click here to register online now!
Fight Directors Canada Certification Course - Two-Week Intensive
Actors become Action Heroes! Fight Directors Canada requires three specific weapon systems at the Basic Actor-Combatant level: Sword, Quarterstaff and Unarmed. The 20 hours of lessons per weapon covers how to wield the weapon with accuracy and effective fighting style, in drills, choreography and flourishes. Equally important are the safety concerns with each weapon, and how to create the illusion of violence with each strike and move. At the end of the course, the student will perform three fight scenes (complete with dialogue and acting besides an impressive fight), one for each weapon, evaluated by an FDC Fight Master.
Classes run Monday through Friday for two weeks, January 19-30, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Click here to register online now!
These courses are for students 15 years of age and older. For kids aged 8 to 14, we offer ongoing Youth Swordplay classes. Sign your child up now for a free trial lesson!
Looking for a unique and thoughtful gift? These courses are all available as Gift Certificates, and can be redeemed for any course in the future.
Call us at 604-568-9907 or drop by any time during business hours (Monday to Friday from noon to 8:00pm, Saturdays from 10am to 5:00pm and Sundays from noon to 5:00pm) to learn more about our school! Sign up for our online newsletter to receive workshop announcements and stay connected with what's happening at Academie Duello.
Devon Boorman is the Co-Founder and Director of Academie Duello Centre for Swordplay, which has been active in Vancouver, Canada since 2004. Devon’s expertise centres on the Italian swordplay tradition including the arts of the Renaissance Italian rapier, sidesword, and longsword, as well as knife and unarmed techniques. Read more from Devon Boorman.