Like all mammals, equines have three core needs: food, shelter, and security. In the grasslands of Eurasia, where the modern horse evolved, these needs were met quite differently than they are for most domesticated horses today. A wild horse lives in a herd, travels many miles each day, grazes constantly, and seeks shelter from whatever…
Sword Press (Fencing Press Actually) From Around the World
Given the dearth of WMA related material available this week, I thought We’d take a look at some unique elements of what has fallen out of our Art – Olympic-style fencing. Respects, Wes Everything Old is New Again FIRST COAST NEWS (Jacksonville, Florida) 15 January 12 Jacksonville Fencing Tournament Debuts 'Dagger Fencing' (Jovi Irwin) The 225…
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Bartitsu 21-Jan-2012
This week in Bartitsu:1. Review of Boxing: straight punches, dynamic motion 2. Jujitsu Lesson: entry to standing holds 3. Integration: chancery and escapes See you at 3pm!
Disappointment Abounds! Workshops Are Full Next Weekend!
"If we are quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every disappointment." - Henry David Thoreau Unfortunately both of our workshops next weekend are already at capacity!: Intro to Bartitsu Saturday, January 28, 2012 1pm-5pm Learn the mixed martial art of the Victorian English Gentleman. In this four-hour workshop, you'll acquire the essential…
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The Versatile and Deadly Umbrella
On Sunday, one of our most popular workshops debuts for the new year. Here's a smattering of what we'll learn: Fairburn-Style Javelin-Style The London Riots (no laughing matter... feel free to chuckle, though): Penguin-Style (not Linux, you geeks!) Batman: Umbrella Attack (Flash game) http://dcbeyond.kidswb.com/games/umbrella-attack Poppins-Style If you can find one, I'd recommend the Poppins, which…
On the path of mastery; savour the plateau.
Last week I posted about the 10,000 hours it takes to master an activity and how you must savour the journey and not the destination. One of the biggest challenges that people face in putting in their 10,000 hours of mastery is the feeling of the plateau in learning. Where you don't feel like you're…
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English or Western, part II
Last week we looked at the relative merits English and Western saddles. This week we're looking at the much thornier issue of reining style. It's one of the hardest adjustments to make when switching from one type of riding to the other, and proponents of each will often argue fiercely against the other. In dressage,…
New Initiatives and Continuing Legacies - Sword Press from Around the World
This week, we concentrate on swords (and sword masters) in modern times – and from area that we do not uaually consider to be WMA or sword centres of activity! A New Initiative Under Down-Under SOUTHLAND TIMES (Invercargill, New Zealand) 13 January 12 Knight likes his swords (Alex Fensome) Members of Medius Auvum Comitatus, a…
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Connect the dots
Today's topic: where to make adjustments. This is one of my big secrets; you're in for a treat. One of the novice fencer's greatest challenges is getting used to the posture. Toes and knees tend to point every which way other than the way they're supposed to face. I chalk this up to the…
Archery - Open Range Begins This Sunday!
"A long bow and a strong bow, And let the sky grow dark. The nock to the cord, the shaft to the ear, And a foreign king for a mark!" -- Robert E. Howard Archers grab your kits, bows and arrows and get ready as Academie's Duello Open Range begins this weekend on Sunday January…
Fantasy and Practical Stage Armour
Armour serves two purposes, as does most clothing: protection and fashion. On stage and in film, if you can see the armour, it's for fashion, and if you can't, then it's for protection. The Illusion of Practicality From the blindingly reflective plate on Zeus to the leather scraps on orcs, armour should match the character…
Mastering an activity - Putting in your 10,000 hours
Malcolm Gladwell in his book Blink states that it takes approximately 10,000 hours at an activity to master it. So if you commit one hour a day to practicing an activity, it's going to take you 10,000 days to find mastery, or about 27 years. Woah, that's a lot of years. Fortunately we can probably…
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English or Western?
I'm often asked why we use English saddles in our Cavaliere program. After all, doesn't the western saddle, with it's high pommel and cantle, better mimic the shape of the medieval jousting saddle? Isn't it easier for beginners to stay secure in the embrace of all that extra leather? The short answer to both these…