Swordplay from the Ground: methods of attack Whatever your trade, having more than one trick is an advantage, and swordplay is no different. For your Blue Spur we want you to be more than a one-trick pony and so we ask that you: Demonstrate diverse methods of attack and counter-attack. First of all, review your…
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A few years ago I was in a very high pressure rapier tournament. It was the largest and hardest fought tournament in the Northwest with a list of 50 fencers who were arguably some of the best fencers around competing. On my way down my travel companion asked me “So how do you think you’re…
*Forgive the pun. I know all you horsemen out there are eagerly looking forward to this type of shedding: For that you'll have to wait for Mother Nature's good graces. Today though, we're looking at Swordplay from the Ground: Shedding the Blade The Blue Spur curriculum requires you to Demonstrate shedding the sword while standing…
When I look at my pursuit of mastery and proficiency in the various arts of my life I see more clearly now that truly a very small percentage of what is between me and mastery (meaning a high level of proficiency) is technical ability. Obviously technical ability is essential to mastery but the barriers that…
Read More... from The Road to Mastery is 25% Technical, 75% Mental
Swordplay from the Ground: turns of the sword In the Green Spur checklist we ask you to demonstrate the three turns of the sword, ie, the volta stabile, the mezza volta and the tutta volta. These are described in this post from last year, so first go back and familiarize yourself with the turns. For…
Blue Spur Curriculum: Swordplay from the Ground The Mounted Combat checklist for the Blue Spur has five sections: Swordplay from the ground Swordplay from the falsemount Spear fundamentals Mounted games Knowledge In the next few months on the Tuesday blog we'll be covering the checklists for the first two sections, looking at the swordplay requirements…
(This post originally appeared on the Duello.TV blog) Your sword is getting set aside while you attack. Your parry is not succeeding in closing the line. Poor results with a finish or result position from a movement often lead us to analyze and attempt to correct through the movement itself; perhaps you need to parry…
Riding Level 2: Riding without the reins At famous Cadre Noir school of equitation in Saumur France, riders are put on horseback on long reins or the longeline for two years before they are allowed to pick up the reins. This insures they have a completely independent seat. Most of our students do not have…
I had a terrible night dancing just recently. A night where I felt completely disconnected from dancing - something that I truly am passionate about. I felt awkward, bored, frustrated, and completely in my head; disconnected from my whole. This is not a new feeling. I have experienced this before with swordplay. It’s something that…
Read More... from Toughing it Out, Switching Gears, and Taking a Break
Riding Level 2: Ring Etiquette Just like the theatre, dining room and public road, the riding arena has its own, often unspoken, rules of conduct. Unlike the question of which fork to use for salad, arena rules are there for safety. In your level 2 riding test we want you to: 14. Demonstrate safety and…
Everyone knows if you want to get better at something you have to practice. However making time in a busy schedule can be super-challenging. It's easy to have the intention to practice but then not actually get around to it. The next thing you know you're back at your swordplay/dance/yoga class and you haven't done…
Heigh ho, it's a new year! Before we launch back into the Blue Spur curriculum I thought I'd take a moment and give a quick overview of what's coming up in the Cavaliere Program. Cavaliere Focus Group Saturday 11 January, 2:30 - 4pm We're taking advantage of the winter lull in classes to look at…
With 2014 now upon us many people are looking at their New Year's resolutions. Almost every person I know has something on that list pertaining to trying something new as well as improving their health and fitness. One of the great things about Academie Duello is that with the new year brings a new set…
Read More... from Introductory Courses for the New Year at Academie Duello
As a martial artist and a dancer I have become intimately aware of the condition of my body. I want it to last for a long time and I want it to be able to perform for me to the best of its capacity throughout that time. I realize for a long time I took…
2013 was a fabulous year in the Cavaliere Program, full of new endeavours such as Mounted Archery, Carosella, and the first ever Green Spur Tournament. We're looking forward to a newyear with even more combat, more archery, and more fabulous events. Enjoy yourselves tonight as we bid farewell to 2013!
We’re just a couple days from New Year’s and, I’m sure like many of you, I have been reviewing my goals for the coming year both mental and physical. One of my main physical goals last year was to make some significant progress with removing pain from my body in a few nagging areas --…
So I'm away visiting family in Victoria, BC during the Holidays. I enjoy holidays not really as a chance to get away from working but as an opportunity to work on things I don't normally get a chance to focus on when I'm at the Academie. On this trip I'm focusing on writing, editing (I'm…
Read More... from Keeping up the Practice Regimen over the Holidays
Being a long-term instructor of anything means that you see a lot of students come and go and in many cases come again. It's these returners who often have the biggest challenge in being in the learning environment. These are the students who come back with a great passion and then become quickly despondent and…