Hello everyone to week 2 of June. The weather in Vancouver has continued to be beautiful outdoor training weather; in fact I climbed to the top of a local mountain yesterday to do my 30 for 30 Swordplay Challenge session. This week on Duello.TV we are featuring a lesson on collecting with longsword, our first lesson on this topic. For Green Cord (level 1) we are working on defending with the offhand, Blue Cord (level 2) is the second part of the first assault, and Red Cord (level 3) is working on pressure, binds, and exchanging the thrust with longsword.

I hope it is beautiful where you are and you're getting a chance to do some training outside!

Longsword Focus

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A "collection" is an outcome from a crossing of swords where the attacker's sword is channeled down the length of weapon into the defender's cross, thus giving the defender a strong gaining position that can be used to launch a counter-attack or enter to wrestle. In this class you will learn how to use posta longa to collect.

Green Cord (Level 1)

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This week in our class we focus on inviting our opponent to strike through our sword to lead them into the primary defence of our sword with our offhand support or the reverse with the offhand playing the dominant role.

Blue Cord (Level 2)

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To graduate to the Red Cord (our third rank) we require that all students demonstrate a proficient and intentional solo presentation of Marozzo's First Assault. This particular assault features a very interesting and challenge mix of cover positions and sequences of attacks. Start slow, build precision, then build speed.

Red Cord (Level 3)

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This week we continue our work on responding to the pressures presented by our opponent in particular on the outside line. We then look at these same pressures within the context of a thrust.

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.