Welcome everyone to a new week in swordplay at Academie Duello and on Duello.TV! We just celebrated Canada day this past weekend by participating in the Vancouver Canada Day Parade. We had more than 60 fighters with longswords, sideswords, rapiers, and bows fighting their way through the streets of downtown. There's no better way to celebrate Canada's birthday!

This week at Duello is the start of a new month in our curriculum. Green Cords (level 1) will start looking at the mechanics and strategies of combat when in the role of approaching aggressor. Blue Cords (level 2) return to the sidesword, building actions that start by provoking the opponent into error. Red Cords (level 3) will be practicing the fundamentals of the quarterstaff and spear. Blue and Red Cord videos are still on a one week delay so you'll start seeing this new content next week.

If you're new to Academie Duello or Duello.TV we recommend that you get started with the Intro to Rapier or Fundamental Longsword Exercises.

Green Cord (Level 1)

http://duello.tv/featured-videos/this-week-in-class/

Our first two classes of the month will help you build a solid foundation for controlling the distance between you and your opponent. The first class focuses on the mechanics of movement -- doing it smoothly, strongly, and efficiently. The second class then uses your solid movement skills to approach and control the 5 measures: out of measure, misura largissima (widest measure), misura large (wide measure), misura stretta (narrow measure), and misura stretissima (narrowest measure).

Blue Cord (Level 2)

http://duello.tv/featured-videos/this-week-in-class/

Continuing on the topic of defeating the offhand, the first video of this week focuses on three tools you can use to manoeuvre around a defending offhand or dagger: disengagement, offline movement and angulation, and the mezzo volta. The second video focuses on possibly one of the coolest topics at Blue Cord: disarms.

If you're new to offhand use, I recommend you check out the Level 1 offhand content here.

Red Cord (Level 3)

http://duello.tv/featured-videos/this-week-in-class/

This week red cord concludes our unit on the use of the cloak. First we look at specialty plays of the cloak that involve whipping it through the air, throwing it at your opponent, and more. We then look at how to defeat the core plays of the cloak, using its billow and slowness against the opponent.

Solo Exercise of the Week

http://duello.tv/featured-videos/fundamental-exercises

There are 8 cutting directions that we practice with the rapier and sidesword. This video brings you through a series of exercises that will help you memorize and practice these various cuts.

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.