I wrote recently about our first examination for Longsword Free Scholar at Academie Duello in Vancouver. This was a big milestone for the school and I was really proud of examinee Ben Davis for the work he put in to get there as well as in the community for supporting him both in the process of preparing…
This post is a cross-post from PathoftheSword.com written by Academie Duello Maestro Devon Boorman. The HEMAsphere is abuzz again with an oft-revisited discussion about whether sword parries should be done with the flat or the edge. As I’ve covered before, parrying with the edge has historical precedent, biomechanical superiority, and provides stability in the blade.…
“The duel took place on Easter Eve, and Herr von Kotze was slightly wounded and taken to hospital. The next morning he received the congratulations of the Kaiser and an Easter egg, …”[1] Ah yes, Easter Bunnies with blades Hares and HEMA Rabbits …. well, you get the idea! Sting like a Hummingbird … a…
Read More... from Festive Easter Sword Press News for March 2018
The Masters of Fence? Who came to your mind first? Ridolfo Capo Ferro of Italy? Hieronimo de Caranza of Spain? Joseph Swetnam of England? Richard Sheridan of Ireland? Wait a minute … Who? From Where? A Broad Overview If the latter country, let alone the personality, does not resonate with a vision of civilised small…
Read More... from Book Review: “Irish Swordsmanship” by Miller
“A characteristic of adolescent games is that they are preparation for adult games and sport. Organized tournaments, for instance, were for adults, but adolescent males began to train for ritualized or real fighting. The city fathers were against such training, because … it would simply lead to a disruption of civic order if urban youth…
Read More... from Youthful Sword Press News for February 2018
Cutlasses. A lot of people talk about cutlasses, but nobody does anything about them. Few people in society practice a form of HEMA; and of those, even fewer are sailors. Which could account for the dearth of credible information on historical cutlass combat within our community. British Naval Swords & Swordsmanship brings to our attention…
Read More... from Book Review: “British Naval Swords & Swordsmanship” by McGrath & Barton
Dawn came to Marylebone Fields and found Albemarle and his second waiting with swords and pistols. Townshend arrived late and apologized. "Men of spirit don't want apologies", said the 'showy man'. "Come, let us begin what we came for."[1] Yes, we’re late with both January ‘and’ December, Allons-y ! Release the Kraken! THE GUARDIAN (Charlottetown,…
Read More... from Unapologetic Sword Press News for January 2018
“Put two kids in a room with long cardboard tubes and within seconds an epic sword fight begins. Kids love the idea of swordplay., and you heard that it looks great on a college application.”[1] How many of us delivered our first ‘sword cut’ with an empty roll of ‘wrap’ (be it of Christmas, birthday,…
Read More... from Spontaneous Sword Press News for November 2017
“…, Burton, in his Sentiment of the Sword …, tells us how the Italians adhered to their old practices, such as training outdoors (in contrast to the French, whose custom was to practice only indoors).”[1] Tis Fall now, and in most of Canada the temperatures are cooler and the ground is dry and firm. It…
Read More... from Autumnal Sword Press News for September/October 2017
Yes, August. Somewhere following, there are three items that are not necessarily ‘HEMA-heavy’ as they are reflective of some assessments of why people undertake martial arts … including swordplay in various forms. We have one Chinese assessment of what HEMA is, and a Ukraine piece describing how various celebrations of martial arts disciplines can contribute…
Read More... from Reflective Sword Press News for August 2017
In the history of duelling we read the history of of mankind in the development of evil passions, and the occasional display of some redeeming qualities.[1] Last month we had the press assessment that Canada ‘might’ be establishing the legal conditions that would allow us to return to ‘the duel’ as a socially acceptable method…
If the movie ‘Wonder Woman’ has the legs to keep public interest (no pun intended) until October, ‘the’ Halloween must-have costume accessory of choice will probably be a sword sheathed, tied or taped over ones’ back. Given the amount of imagination out there, we’re apt to see many variations of the theme that night as…
Read More... from Fashionably Late Sword Press: News for June 2017
This past weekend, I was teaching in Istanbul, Turkey, a city that was arguably the centre of the western world at one time. It is a city steeped in both European and Asian history. Every site you visit reveals layer upon layer of history that goes back at least 2000 years. This makes Istanbul both…
Now about two decades old, the modern study of HEMA is continuing to gain enthusiasts from non-traditional venues. We’re already familiar with our peers in Japan that have an interest in medieval western martial arts, mirroring the western interest in ‘kendo’ and any of the Chinese swordplay disciplines. The item on Romania’s interest in and…
Jared Kirby presents his interpretation and editing of Vincentio Saviolo’s 1595 work 'Of Honour and Honourable Quarrels'. Vincentio Saviolo set up a fencing salle in Elizabethan London ‘about’ late 1580-ish, but he is perhaps better known to most in the HEMA rapier community as being the ‘dandified Italian’ against whom George Silver ranted. That aside,…
Read More... from Book Review: “A Gentleman's Guide to Duelling” by Saviolo
Most sports require a novice to spend a lot of money to equip themselves with those pieces of kit necessary to start learning the basics of the game. (European football and ultimate Frisbee perhaps being the exceptions here). Ice hockey, lacrosse and American football require significant equipment commitment before the first timer can safely set…
Read More... from Spring Season Sword Press: News for April 2017
This recent inclusion to the HEMA body of common knowledge is very much a 'beer and peer' book. That is to say, you can open the book into most any chapter, and find a statement or assessment that should lead to intelligent debate among your knowledgeable sparring partners. In ‘Cut & Thrust’ Martin Dougherty describes…
Read More... from Book Review: “Cut & Thrust – European Swords and Swordsmanship” by Dougherty
Academie Duello is proud to announce our listing of official study groups and affiliate schools around North America! All of these groups are run by certified study group leaders or ranked instructors. If you’re keen on learning what we have to offer, but don’t live in Vancouver, now is your chance to connect with a…