In Spain they celebrate the new year by riding their horses through a bonfire. Here's our version (Matt M, this one's for you): (Photo and design K. Landels)
Category: Community
The Twelve Days of Christmas with a Swordplay Flare
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the school, not a sword blade was stirring to practice or duel. I'll stop there. I hope everyone is enjoying their first day off. I know that I'm already hankering to do a little duelling, so Santa better be prepared! In the spirit of the season I…
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Just in time for Christmas!
It's here! It's here! Capoferro has finally arrived at the Academie Duello store in time for last minute Christmas presents, the perfect thing for all the boys and girls on your shopping list! Also in is the premiere issue of Katsujinken, a sword arts journal featuring articles on both Eastern and Western swordsmanship. Come on…
Academie Duello featured in Elle Canada
Jen Landels and Kim Roseblade were interviewed for the attached article in the image. It's on the new-stands now if you want your own copy!
Holiday Closure
"Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of seperation." - Kahlil Gibran Academie Duello will be closed from Saturday, December 24, 2011 through Sunday, January 1, 2012. We will be open for class again on Monday, January 2, 2012. We wish all our members, friends and business collegues…
Sean Hayes Workshop Review
At the beginning of the month Academie Duello hosted Maestro Sean Hayes of the Northwest Fencing Academy for a weekend seminar that included 3 component workshops. The weekend was a resounding success and a joy to be a part of. I put a full review of the workshop up on SwordForum and you can read…
Violent Illusions and Then We Party
"At its most basic level, the job is to choreograph fight scenes. But to do this effectively you need more than an arsenal of combat skills. You need an actor’s understanding of character, a director’s eye for story and a dancer’s feel for movement." - Daniel Levinson, Stratford Shakespeare Festival - Scene Notes Intro to…
A couple mentions of Academie Duello in the media today
A few mentions today of Academie Duello in the media:The Winnipeg Free Press mentioned us in an article on experiential gift giving: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/style/experiential-gifts-...Anny Chih, Free Lance Writer, and Devon Boorman appear in Yahoo's photo of the day: http://news.yahoo.com/photos/photo-of-the-day-slideshow-1309242001-slideshow/...
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Sword Press Gift List II & Size matters
WMA activities within the press seem to be continuing a fore-mentioned holiday lull, so we’ll continue shopping for that special gift for that hard to guard-against shop-for sword-specialist. Respects, Wes Drool … drip, drip … slobber We have from time-to-time seen some picturesque catalogues supporting various auction houses offering antique militaria – but this offering…
A little story of swordplay classes from @AnnyChih
Local Vancouver Blogger Anny Chih came in a couple months ago and participated in Taste of the Renaissance. She had a great time and wrote up her story about her experience on her blog here. It's worth checking out.
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Swordfighting in the new Science World lip-dub video
Science World, Vancouver's excellent science centre, has recently renovated and expanded. To celebrate the occasion they put together a lip-dub video and Duello members Rodge and Dan were there to insert a little swordplay. What's science without swords? Check out their video on their website here. Rodge and Dan are at 3:25.
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Rockstar press about Academie Duello
Academie Duello has been demoing it up over the past few weeks (and will be for another week at least). Two weekends ago we were at NerdFest a fantasy, mythology, and swordfighting inspired music event that got a fun writeup in Rockstar weekly, including a mention of our demonstration and booth. Check it out here. …
This fight night is going to be great...
... well, it would be, but, it's cancelled! A reminder to all of you looking to let off steam or just place a few good-natured bets, Open Floor is cancelled this Friday (2 December). Why? Sean Hayes is coming to town to do a 3-day workshop! Want to attend? You can't: it's FULL! We do…
Sword Press Gift List & CRTC-mandated Canadian Content
Tis getting close to that season where we want to purchase gifts (or strip them from our battle-won hostages) for those we care for. Oh yes, since sword-wielding Mr Bloom is otherwise engaged, our intermittent Page 3 effort for the ladies comes from closer to home … my home actually. (Meaning 'close by where I…
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Duelling Fun at the Grey Cup Parade
A crew of twelve braved the wet November weather this morning to duel through the streets of Vancouver in the Grey Cup Parade. In the gallery you can see a couple pre-parade shots. One in gleeful anticipation, the other a view of everyone crowding together for warmth under a shop awning. The parade was…
Profile: Freelance Academy Press
The Academie Duello store carries a wide variety of items: books, toys, swords, armour, and sports equipment, with a number of different suppliers for each. In this post, we'll look at one of our book publishers: Freelance Academy Press. From their website: Freelance Academy Press brings readers innovative books and rich supporting material in the…
Last Chance: Sean Hayes Weekend!
"Who would win in a fight, a samurai or a medieval knight? The answer is: the better fighter." - Maestro Sean Hayes Guest Instructor Sean Hayes' workshop series is selling out fast. Right now there are only 4 spots left! This is your last chance! Friday, December 2, 2011 7pm-9pm Developing Solo Drills for Armizare…
War Horse
I don't think I'll be going to see the movie "War Horse". Not because I tend to find most Spielberg movies a bit too treacly, and not because most horse movies make me yell at the screen (why do movie makers think we won't notice when they swap a 16 hand bay for a chestnut…