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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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…
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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"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…
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.…
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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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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
A few weeks ago, Jamie MacDonald from Ravenbeak Natureworks contacted Academie Duello to find out if we'd be interested in offering a very unique workshop at our school. The workshop offered the opportunity to make your own bow right from a yew stave (a split piece of yew wood from a fallen tree). We invited…
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Congratulations & Thanks! Before getting to our weekly topic I’d like to thank everyone who lent a hand at the work party on Sunday. We got an great start on Jack-proofing our fences, replaced several posts, built and installed two gates, and hauled those logs out to the back field to start building new cross…