Hello fellow sword and fitness enthusiasts! This morning was the first morning of May Swordfit Bootcamp. Bleary eyed and yawning when I rolled into Academie Duello at 7am, I was nevertheless prepared to get my butt whipped into shaped. Today's theme was precision, and like all bootcamp days , we started with a 10 min…
What's on the Menu?
There's a lot of news and fun stuff this week, so lets get the lesson over with right away, shall we? Basic Feeding First of all, go and re-read this post from January, which covers basic feeding. There is an entire science to equine nutrition, but for Horsemanship level 1 test we ask specifically about:…
Sword and Shield Dirty Plays Workshop Recap
This past Saturday I taught a workshop on the grittier, all-in, side of Sword and Buckler combat. We explored shield strikes, wrestling entries, arm binds, disarms, throws, and counter-wrestles. The workshop had 12 participants and went superbly. I've included a few photos taken by Greg Reimer during the workshop showing a few techniques in action. …
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Sword Press of the Nations
We have an embarrassment of riches this week, albeit most are stale-dated by about a month. We get a look at some of the teams that participated in the recently concluded Battle of the Nations (BOTN), we find two new ‘old’ swords and we get a look at what it is like to approach WMA/HEMA…
[Video] Check out SwordFit Bootcamp in action!
This Monday we'll be starting up a new session of SwordFit Bootcamp and I must tell you that it's awesome! I went out this morning to support the last day of the April series and I must say I am incredibly happy with how the program has developed. The pace was excellent, students were working…
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Workshopping In May
"Violence and smut are of course everywhere on the airwaves. You cannot turn on your television without seeing them, although sometimes you have to hunt around." - Dave Barry Intro to Stage Combat Sunday, May 13, 2012 In this intensive 4-hour workshop, we’ll cover the basics of stage combat, including: ▪Slaps ▪Punches ▪Chokes ▪Push and…
Bourne to Fight
The three Bourne movies are often cited as favourites of modern film fights. Let's take a closer look. The Bourne Identity Fight Summary: This is the one that made Bourne: Pen Versus Knife. Fight Length: 97 seconds Notes: There is time and space given to character choices, but flurries of attacks are fast and close.…
Vancouver International Swordplay Symposium - Board Position Opportunities
Planning for the 2013 edition of the Vancouver International Swordplay Symposium has begun! We had our first board meeting just this last weekend and began setting out our vision for next year's conference to be held February 16 - 18, 2013. This will be the second time we have run this conference in Vancouver and…
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Red Colt is now a Yearling!
It’s been one year today since Red Colt Equestrian Farm Co-op took over the operation of the stables on No 2 Road in Richmond. Over the year we have taken in three new horses and welcomed back one other, held a dozen work parties to build on, repair, and improve the property, adopted a handful…
Possibly Out-of-Control Sword Press
An eclectic mix this week, including a couple of hits from long-absent France.Wes Not Your Daddy’s Fencing Match EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE (Mesa, Arizona) 27 April 12 EV men test their mettle -- and their metal -- at 'Battle of Nations' (Mike Sakal) A last look by one newspaper at some of the American competitors going…
Dirty Tricks and Handmade Protection
Sword & Shield: Grapples, Shield Strikes and Other Dirty Plays Saturday, May 5, 2012 3pm-7pm Close engagements, throws, disarms, pommel strikes, shield strikes, and many more rough and tumble plays are the heart of this workshop on sword and shield grappling. This workshop will offer practitioners of any experience level a set of useful tools…
Beginner Courses Starting in May
Taste of the Renaissance Mondays & Wednesdays from 7:00pm-8:30pm for 8 classes beginning Monday, May 7, 2012 Tuesdays & Thursdays from 5:00pm-6:30pm OR from 7:00pm-8:30pm for 8 classes beginning Tuesday, May 8, 2012 The eight class introductory course for Academie Duello's Mastery Program.Students focus on the rapier, the dueling weapon of the Italian nobility, as…
Bartitsu's Sister Weapons
There are many weapons contemporary with Bartitsu, but not included in the canonical system. Bartitsu was developed for personal defense in the street, using only what the gentleman would have at hand: the walking stick or bare hands. The personal weapons popular with proper men at that time were mainly used in the duel: the…