David McCormick shares recent news and upcoming events: Hamlet David worked this summer with Bard on the Beach on Hamlet. The show has received excellent reviews, and there's still time to see it. David is credited as the Fight Consultant, under the auspices of Fight Director Nic Harrison, and received a Canada Council grant to…
One of the advantages of our art is that we get to ‘stand up again’ after a mistake … or after meeting a better fighter. Yes, one does improve in fitness, reactive muscle memory, swordplay technique and ‘tactical thinking’ as one ‘spars’, practices and drills … but we must never lose sight that in medieval…
The next 4-hour workshop in the fundamentals of Victorian self-defence will be on 9 September. This will be our final Introduction to Bartitsu workshop. To better integrate students and improve the learning process, the introductory work will be spread over a month of Saturdays starting in October. Each week, two hours to Fight Like Sherlock…
There’s nothing local found this week, but Eastern Europe continues its traditional love-affair with all things historical and sword-like. The Ukraine, Poland, Belarus and Russia all have WMA/HEMA competitions that have ‘hundreds’ of participants, with thousands of spectators – and often have strong municipal and provincial support as well. Their different sword-cultures are long and…
Some cool spots about Academie Duello showed up in a couple publications in the last two weeks. Patrick von Stolk of Briefed.ca an online men's magazine focusing on the Vancouver area came in and tried out Warrior Fundamentals last week. Briefed is beginning a new series of articles on fitness in the Vancouver area that's…
Choreography should be more than stringing together combat movements in a random order. Based on last week's post Character in Choreography, you have some ideas how to customize your performance of a fight, but what about fight design? The Videogame Fallacy I love fighting games, and you can learn a lot about fighting styles from…
Riding Level 2: Basic Seat Position I harp on it because it's so important. Everything you want to do on board a horse is so much easier when you start with good position. For Riding level 2 we want to see: 5. Basic seat position: walk & trot, sitting & rising with correct diagonal This…
Multi-discipline. In HEMA/WMA that could be the swordfighter that can properly use rapier ‘and’ side sword, wrestles well, and knows what end of a pole arm to use where. Add the ability to ride a horse, to dance well and to hit what your bow is aiming at … and you might have a multi-discipline…
Is etiquette just silly pretension taken to an extreme in the Victorian era? Is there universal etiquette? What about the etiquette in a martial arts school? Where Are Your Manners? Etiquette is a manner of social interaction, that's why it's sometimes called "manners". Modes of address, gestures including eye contact, eating rituals and clothing (such…
Riding Level 2: Adjusting the Reins When you were a beginner rider, your instructor may have marked a spot on the reins, and said "keep your hands here." We do that because most riders tend to ride with reins far too loose when they start out, and the mantra "shorten your reins" gets old to…
We lead with two Canadian items this time around, a first We think for this blog. HEMA/WMA ‘is’ alive and well in the ‘True North, strong and … well trained’. Given the late start that Canada had with discovering a European martial arts heritage (no medieval nor renaissance-period sword fighting actually took place here in…
We've heard Fight Directors say some version of the following: You must act during the fight The choreography should be an expression of your character Don't worry about the speed, it's the intention that matters What does any of that mean? Imagine a Real Sword Fight The mentality and strategy of sword fighting largely remains…
It’s quiet out there (again) … too quiet (still). But, there are whispers of sword-sounds in the far off distance – though We had to dig hard this week to find them. Playing the Prize in Poland GAZETA (Warsaw, Poland) 26 July 13 Znów powalczą o miecz króla Kazimierza. Turniej rycerski w Szydłowie (Paweł…
Within Bartitsu, we emphasize low kicks for self-defense. The coup de pied bas is a shin kick that is very hard to guard, partly because it is difficult to see coming. Here's the kung-fu version of this kick, which is almost identical to our savate method: The low kick that has gained popularity in the…
Swordplay in books, swordplay in movies, swordplay in the public venue. There are plenty of examples out there (and We do mean ‘out there’) on how swordplay (and by inference ourselves) is viewed by those that have not yet joined us. For better or for worse; movies, television, demonstrations and yes, even books; will influence…
A reminder about tomorrow's event with a title too long to fit in the header: Academie Duello and Bard on the Beach present Shakespeare's Rebel Book Launch & Sword Fight Event When? Monday, July 22nd, 7pm Where? Bard on the Beach, Vanier Park What? A fight show and book launch! Celebrate the launch of Bard…
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Whether you're looking for a fun way to get and stay in shape, or a new mentally and physically stimulating hobby, our Beginner's Courses have something for everyone. Take it from one of our Taste of the Renaissance graduates and now ongoing student: First off, if you are thinking about stopping in here, stop thinking…
Ground. Those interested in WMA/HEMA use and history are always trying to manoeuvre on it, dig around in it, or landing on it … usually with somebody’s assistance! With somebody’s enthusiastic assistance. Ground Zero. OTTAWA CITIZEN (Ontario) July 13 Medieval Festival in Osgoode a smashing good time (Gemma Karstens-Smith) Zach Lovering was one of Knights…