It's the turn of a new month so again our curriculum focus shifts. This month Green Cords (level 1) will be learning to use their offhand to support their defence, Blue Cords (level 2) will be stepping into the fundamentals of Rapier and Dagger, and Red Cords (level 3) are working into rapier disarms with the sword alone and with rapier and dagger. Also look forward to new content for Duello.TV in the longsword area as we begin to capture content from our longsword focus classes.

Green Cord (Level 1)

http://duello.tv/featured-videos/this-week-in-class/

In this first week of work with the offhand (the hand not holding the sword) you will focus on the basic motions the offhand can make to protect you, and the positions you can place it in to help support the defence of your sword. When using the offhand the goal is always to have the sword and offhand work together. When the sword defends high, the offhand defends low, both closing the line on one side or the other.

Blue Cord (Level 2)

http://duello.tv/featured-videos/this-week-in-class/

Building on your existing knowledge of the offhand, this week blue cords will work on the core rapier and dagger unified positions and how to transition effectively between them.

Red Cord (Level 3)

http://duello.tv/featured-videos/this-week-in-class/

We're back to the rapier with Red Cords. This week we are working on disarms that can be made from positions where you have gained control of the opponent's rapier and have won the crossing. We'll look at disarms at three distances that can be made on the inside and outside. These disarms are useful with all single handed weapons and largely applicable to the longsword as well.

Solo Exercise of the Week

http://duello.tv/featured-videos/fundamental-exercises-longsword

This week we're giving the longsword some attention with a sequence that brings you through all six cuts of the longsword and the thrust. This is a nice way to remember all of the blows and to practice some fundamental transitions between them.

Devon Boorman is the Co-Founder and Director of Academie Duello Centre for Swordplay, which has been active in Vancouver, Canada since 2004. Devon’s expertise centres on the Italian swordplay tradition including the arts of the Renaissance Italian rapier, sidesword, and longsword, as well as knife and unarmed techniques.
Read more from Devon Boorman.