Going Stir Crazy? Learn the forgotten combat art of Medieval Warriors!

Transform your living room into an ancient training hall!

Join the world’s largest school of European swordplay for a live, online, four-class course that will teach you the fundamental skills of the traditional European warrior in a fun, engaging, and welcoming environment. Great for adults of all ages and levels of physical ability.

  • Fun and simple.
    Become a modern knight from the comfort of your living room.
  • Stay active and fit.
    Aside from learning specific weapon techniques, the mechanics train your body to develop grace and physicality.
  • Preserve an ancient practice.
    Develop a deeper understanding of the middle ages and renaissance.
  • Open new quests in your life.
    Upon completion, get the chance to challenge for your first rank in our Weapons Mastery Program, and have the option to continue learning more advanced longsword skills as well as other weapons.

Join hundreds of students and instructors from Academie Duello and never be alone in your swordplay journey.

Register Now!

 

What Will You Learn

  • Formation of the 6 Foundational Guard Positions

  • How to effectively cut and thrust with a sword

  • The 7 striking directions and their methods

  • How to employ  the 3 Defensive Principles

  • Familiarity with the 3 Advantages that give you control of your opponent’s weapon

  • How to flow gracefully combining cuts, thrusts, and movement

  • How to defend from the four quadrants, and much more!

Class Format

Each class is one hour long, starting with a warm-up where you’ll connect with your sword and body, you’ll then learn that week’s skills with expert guidance and practice them with the coaching of your instructor, finally you’ll , finish strong with some swordplay homework that will help you hone your skills on your own between sessions.

The Art of Academie Duello

Duello Armizare is a martial art that originates in 1409 with Fiore dei Liberi an Italian Knight from Northern Italy who was the fencing master of notable ruler Niccolo III d’Este. It is a rich martial art that combines many different disciplines from the powerful two-handed sword to the sword and shield, spear, poleaxe, duelling rapier, wrestling, dagger, and even mounted combat, into a unified art.

Students of this art start with the basics of one weapon and gradually expand their expertise over time learning a martial system that will build your grace and confidence, adaptability, and martial abilities. Whether you’re interested in competition, fitness, or personal growth there is much to be gained from your study of Armizare.

 

1. Don’t have a sword? 

No problem, you can dive into the world of the longsword with any sword-like object such as a broom handle or umbrella.   You can easily make your own indoor-longsword simulator using a 36" long dowel, 1 inch in diameter, from your local hardware store. Add some grip tape to one end to make a handle, long enough for two hands to comfortably hold, then mark the two edges of the blade with a marker or some tape. If you’re feeling crafty, add a crossbar by drilling a hole above the grip and sliding through another wooden dowel or metal rod.

You also have the option of ordering a synthetic longsword or an indoor longsword trainer, such as these:

2. Don’t have a space? 

Don’t worry, almost any living room will do. Here’s some advice on how to make the most out of your space:

  • Try to clear a space around 5'x8' to 10'x10'

  • Practice swinging around your sword and make sure you’re not hitting anything

  • Larger spaces allow for more footwork. We won’t be running around the place, but it would be good to have room to take a few steps forward and back at least.

  • Low headroom can be compensated with a lower stance or shorter training sword, but make sure that you won’t be hitting any lights

3. Don’t have any experience? 

Perfect, our course is designed for beginners. We start from the basics of posture, coordination, and movement and take you step by step through more complex topics like defenses, attacks, and timing. It’s all delivered in straightforward language to make it easy for you to follow along. By the end of the course, you’ll be swinging a sword like a knight.

4. Is this for real?

Absolutely, Academie Duello is the biggest Historical European Martial School in the world. Located in Vancouver, Canada, our experienced instructors have taught thousands of students since our founding in 2004 both in-person and online.

Check out the testimonials of our students at the Vancouver, BC location:

Register & Get Started

This course is delivered online through Zoom. An internet connection and webcam are required. A link to your class will be provided prior to the start date of your course via email. If you have not received yours please email info@academieduello.com and we'll resend it to you.

What People Are Saying

"When I first registered for this Online Swordplay Course I had a lot of reservations but right from the first class I realized how fun and engaging this course is. Now that I have a solid foundation in Historical European Martial Arts, I'm definitely going to continue exploring it. " - Patrick 

"I was amazed of how good a workout this swordplay course actually is. It definitely helped me with my coordination and overall fitness. I was also glad that my small living room was more than enough to feel comfortable with all the flows and swordplay moves " - Sam