...and you can bet we're in for more rain before Summer hits! This time of year, it is wise to always carry an umbrella with you. We all know that umbrellas are invaluable for keeping dry and for impromptu Gene Kelly impersonations, but did you know your umbrella could also be used as a self-defense…
Category: Community
Post Symposium Analysis - What do you do with all this new info?
It's about time I make an official post-VISS post. Truth is it has taken me weeks to recover from what shaped up to be a fantastic event! Thank you to everyone who made it to Vancouver to teach, train, help, and share. This was a tremendous year and I am honoured you all were there…
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Upcoming March Workshops at Academie Duello
Celebrate the extra hour by kick-starting your Spring with some of our exciting workshops! Begin your journey from Novice to Knight by learning the fundamentals of Medieval Swordplay with Instructor Greg Reimer: Intro to Medieval Swordplay Date: Saturday, March 16, 2013 Time: 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm Description: Over the course of four hours you…
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Truncated Sword Press
The demands of service have resulted in this being the briefest of offerings to date. The German item does bring up an interesting point … the balance between historical ‘authenticity’ versus putting on a good show that will both entertain and educate a general-knowledge audience … ‘and’ result in that potential new recruit approaching your…
Perceptional Sword Press
Two of the items offered today illustrate personal perceptions of HEMA/WMA studies and their practitioners. Though they are but the opinions of but two people, they do demonstrate the need for salles and related-events to have their act together, their facts straight and word-bites prepared well before the press arrive at the door. “Come…
February Fever!
We interrupt our schedule of educational posts once more to let you know there are only three days left to take advantage of the Cavaliere Program's Shedding Season Special! Sign up for any number of the following classes, workshops or packages before March 1st and receive a 10% discount: Intro to Mounted CombatMounted Combat WorkshopMounted…
Lost in London (again) Sword Press
This week We see more sword-history being debated, more examples of the juxtaposition of honour and modern sword-culture, and are (again) reminded that HEMA-WMA has no weaker sex. Oh yes, ‘and if you read this item right now, We’ll link you to what could be the next Starfrit™ Handy-Dandy Bottle opener’! Good for the…
Trailer Ricochet: Iron Man 3
Here begins a new series on the PlayFighting blog: I'm going to take a trailer for an upcoming action movie, and pair it with footage and commentary from its predecessors. The trajectory may bounce around a bit, but in the collateral damage you'll have a better idea about the potential of the upcoming action film.…
Mounted Combat at VISS
As wonderful as all our venues for the Vancouver International Swordplay Symposium last weekend were, none of them were quite large -- or rustic -- enough to host a mounted combat workshop. Though we were sad not to be able to offer swordplay from horseback to the conference attendees, we did manage to bring a…
Luck of the Irish Sword Press
A bit of everything today; mounted and foot-fought WMA/HEMA and reminders as to where our history comes from (and where sometimes it can unexpectedly be found). Knocked-Down, Down Under SOUTH COAST REGISTER (Shoalhaven, Australia) 08 February 13 Modern renaissance sport comes to show (Robert Crawford) Australia hosted Rod Walker and the team from Full Tilt…
Coverage in the Vancouver Courier today
There's an article today about Academie Duello and the Vancouver International Swordplay Symposium in the Vancouver Courier Newspaper. Check it out here. Also check out the video that the Courier's Jason Lang produced about Duello and the event on the Courier's YouTube. Comment on this post on our Posterous Blog.
Schwertkampf Sword Press
Wherever We turn this week, We found German steel … and Germans training with it. HEMA/WMA and respect for sword history is alive and well in the land of Ringeck. While back home here, common sense continues its own fight to be considered in day-to-day life. German swords by German artisans for … Brits…
VISS: PlayFighting Films and Giant Felling
These are the workshops I'll be leading at VISS, the Vancouver International Swordplay Symposium. The conference runs 15-17 February. You can get a pass to participate in all workshops and events, or you can get a auditor rate to quietly watch. Information on tickets, schedules and everything else is at the Vancouver Swordplay Website. Bringing…
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All Disciplines Sword Press
Historical swordplay, historical martial arts, theatre swordplay, fitness and character building. This weeks’ offering of press prove that WMA/HEMA interests originate within a wide of people, and can be used to achieve totally different personal and professional goals. It can also be used to demonstrate that ‘common sense’ amongst some travellers and air travel authorities…
Applied Combatives in Chicago and Beyond!
This past weekend I taught a 2 day seminar in Chicago on Applied Combatives for the Chicago Swordplay Guild (CSG) at their home Forteza Fitness. I was pleased as always with an excellent group of students with a passion for the art, insightful questions, and a superbly welcoming nature. The seminar was an extended version…
Training Sword Press
Nikolaj Malnač receiving an award from the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence. Now that we’ve all acquired the blades, books and besegew’s that we wanted for Christmas, it’s time to learn new WMA/HEMA techniques – or polish up those we already know. Given the near-universal access to excellent reference material here-to-fore-seldom seen – its stands to…
Why I'm excited for repetition
I'm going to VISS and I'm really excited for it.With all due respect to the other instructors I'll probably spend the majority of my time in Tom Leoni's 3-day workshop on Italian Rapier. This is a topic that I've spent the past 8 years or so studying but I'm still looking forward to spending somewhere close…
On my way to Chicago to teach an Applied Combatives seminar
I'm on my way to Chicago at the moment, chilling out in Toronto. This is actually one of my favourite parts of travel, I'm away from all my usual activities and distractions and it gives me the opportunity to work on special heads down projects. It's not quite as beautiful as being on the top…
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