As We sit here trying to sort through the wealth of links that have appeared this week, We take a moment to look up at the omnipresent rain clouds that have dogged Ottawa so far this year and think: “I wonder where the roof went to?” And like the rain, We’re all over the place…
Category: News
Blunt Force Strike Targets
Generally, I don't worry too much about hitting exact locations, especially when I'm striking with a stick. A solid blow with a cane can shatter any bone, and failing that, will hurt like the dickens. Therefore, my advice to beginners is to strike any part of the opponent's body that you can hit with vigour.…
Hear Ye, Hear Ye!
September 27th - 29th is Tourney Time! Yes, planning is in the works for our Annual Knightly Games Tournament! This year we're making a full weekend of it by adding another iteration of the popular Mounted Archery Workshop, and including a day of riding, mounted combat, and games practice beforehand. Friday 27 September Workshops, Lessons,…
Canada Day Sword Press
While the rest of Our peers are fighting their way through the streets of Vancouver … with the full support of its citizens (who are probably throwing money, and maybe elements of intimate apparel at the sword players) … some of us have a paper route to finish. And on a national holiday at that!…
Stage Combat Questions
I was recently asked a series of questions by a reporter who had some misconceptions about stage combat. A few of them were variants on: How do you and your students rank internationally? Rank? Well, obviously we think we're the best in the world! I first challenged the idea that stage combat schools and stunt…
Rules of the Road
Horsemanship Level 2: Riding in Groups Much of the last item on the Horsemanship 2 checklist 9. Rules for riding in a group is covered in the Riding 1 post, Safety in Numbers. At the second level however, you will also be asked about group etiquette and safety when riding outside of the ring and…
Summer Knight Camps at Academie Duello!
Looking for a unique Summer Camp experience? Send your child on an adventure back in time, to train as a Knight from the Middle Ages! Youth aged 8 to 14 will enjoy activities such as martial instruction in weapons such as the longsword and quarterstaff, archery, medieval games and more! "My son went to Knight Camp…
GearCon and Victorian Martial Arts Symposium
This is where I'll be the first weekend in July: GearCon The Gaslight Explorers, Adventurers, & Romantics Convention (GEAR Con) is a celebration of Pacific Northwest steampunk and neo-Victorian creativity, taking place over three days in Portland, Oregon. Members of the public can register to meet fellow enthusiasts, attend presentations and workshops, meet authors and…
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Show Your Saddles You Care
Horsemanship Level 2: Saddlery Care In Dom Duarte's 15th century treatise on riding, horsemanship and mounted combat, Bem Cavalgar, he states: We must take good care of the saddle, the bridle and the stirrups, ensuring that they are strong, that they have the necessary resistance and are of good quality to avoid failure of any…
City Sword Press
Swords in cities – in modern times and in those historical. We find swords in established salles, rented recreation centres, city halls and the neighbourhood watering hole. Cities used to be where one went to purchase the very latest-version of trendy weapons and accessories, and to take advantage of one of the many urban masters-of-arms…
Trailer Ricochet: Hammer of the Gods
I know an upcoming movie with that theme! Not Thor 2 Although it may be tempting to Ricochet the trailer for Thor 2: The Dark World (2013) with references to Thor (2011) and the changes to story or crew that may make the sequel better or worse, but I just don't care. Instead I'm aiming…
It’s All Greek to Me Sword Press
We love Our Job! Wander through the worlds’ press, looking for articles about HEMA/WMA. And to find such an item in the historical home of the sarissa, is especially satisfying. HEMA/WMA is on the rise in North America and western Europe, but We also have a foothold in China, Japan … and … Greece! This…
The Lost Sword-Cane Style
I don't know of any writings about using the sword-cane other than standard fencing training. Sorry. There aren't even sword-and-scabbard fighting advice in any historical manuals I know. It's a bit weird. I often tell stage combat students that they should know the historical, but be ready to invent new patterns of movement that suit…
No Budget for Fight Choreography?
If your company has not budgeted sufficiently for fight direction, then you will necessarily have poor stage combat. If you have allocated no budget at all, you have no fights. Some companies try to get around this by finding a volunteer fight choreographer or a cast member who has taken a workshop one time, but…
First the Lance, then the Sword Press
When you’re involved in HEMA/WMA disciplines, your ethics have to be irreproachable. You’re using a potentially deadly weapon against another person with their full compliance. You need to be ‘honourable’ and faultless in your application of safety measures taken to protect your opponent, yourself and bystanders. Our mounted peers have another consideration when it comes…
Demonstrative Sword Press
For better or for worse, most of our students and membership come from those that first saw a demonstration of swordplay in a movie theatre, living room in front of the television or while out being cultural at the local playhouse. The ‘flash, action, and perception the of bravery and the romance’ of swordplay hook…