Well, it falls out that the only thing I should write about on this quiet Thursday is the recently released second installment of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. I'm not looking forward to the rest of this article, or the fallout it may generate. It's a dangerous game. I'll change directions often, sometimes in response…
Read More... from A Game of Dark Knights Should Set, Not Rise
A mixed bag of (sometimes barely) equine related frivolity for you this week: Bronies Seriously? When I heard this interview on Q a couple of weeks ago I had to do a reality check to make sure it wasn't actually April 1st. But apparently there's a sub-culture of twenty-something guys who watch My Little Pony…
It's here! It's here! Capoferro has finally arrived at the Academie Duello store in time for last minute Christmas presents, the perfect thing for all the boys and girls on your shopping list! Also in is the premiere issue of Katsujinken, a sword arts journal featuring articles on both Eastern and Western swordsmanship. Come on…
Jen Landels and Kim Roseblade were interviewed for the attached article in the image. It's on the new-stands now if you want your own copy!
I've gained some insights lately, specifically in longsword play that I thought I'd share. These all came from self-diagnosis, which is crucial for learning and is best done during your practice sessions when you can direct your own exercises. First, credit goes to Sean Hayes, Devon and Roland for their individual contributions and to me…
This week in Bartitsu: Review of jujitsu: basic throws and evasions Cane Lesson: Lang's exercises from high guard, preemptive strike to head Integration: preemptive strike to back heel throw and variants See you at 3pm!
"Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of seperation." - Kahlil Gibran Academie Duello will be closed from Saturday, December 24, 2011 through Sunday, January 1, 2012. We will be open for class again on Monday, January 2, 2012. We wish all our members, friends and business collegues…
We all know that stage combat's first priority is safety, as we learned in Safety...Boring. We also know that many actors like stage combat classes because they learn cool-looking flourishes and how to look like a bad-a__ which we explored last time in Style and Expertise. Both of these are in service of our main…
Read More... from Stage Combat Priorities 3: Storytelling is Not a List of Events, Stupid
At the beginning of the month Academie Duello hosted Maestro Sean Hayes of the Northwest Fencing Academy for a weekend seminar that included 3 component workshops. The weekend was a resounding success and a joy to be a part of. I put a full review of the workshop up on SwordForum and you can read…
We're really excited to be able to offer our new Integrated Training Packages for the Cavaliere Program. Starting in January you'll be able to pay a single monthly rate of $120+HST for all your mounted combat training. This includes the monthly Mounted Combat workshop and two Riding & Horsemanship sessions, saving you $60 off the…
Read More... from New for 2012 - Cavaliere Integrated Training Packages
As promised, some reflections on practice garnered (or directly lifted) from Sean Hayes' workshop.A brief review: Sean was in Vancouver on 2, 3 & 4 December to teach three workshops on Armizare, Italy's knightly arts. He taught a workshop on solo practice, longsword body mechanics and unarmed, dagger and longsword. I'll be writing about the…
This week in Bartitsu: Introduction to Bartitsu workshop 1pm-5pm Ongoing class 3pm-5pm: Review of Savate: Knee strikes Jujitsu: Alternatives to standard throws, scissor take down Integration: Softening the opponent's base with leg strikes
"At its most basic level, the job is to choreograph fight scenes. But to do this effectively you need more than an arsenal of combat skills. You need an actor’s understanding of character, a director’s eye for story and a dancer’s feel for movement." - Daniel Levinson, Stratford Shakespeare Festival - Scene Notes Intro to…