The overall goal of stage combat, as we discussed in episode 0: The Illusion of Violence, is creating a violent scene that is safe for the actor and believable to the audience in the context of the show. Last time, we broke down some of the ways in which our first priority, Safety, plays out…
Read More... from Stage Combat Priorities 2: Style and Expertise
Academie Duello has been demoing it up over the past few weeks (and will be for another week at least). Two weekends ago we were at NerdFest a fantasy, mythology, and swordfighting inspired music event that got a fun writeup in Rockstar weekly, including a mention of our demonstration and booth. Check it out here. …
... well, it would be, but, it's cancelled! A reminder to all of you looking to let off steam or just place a few good-natured bets, Open Floor is cancelled this Friday (2 December). Why? Sean Hayes is coming to town to do a 3-day workshop! Want to attend? You can't: it's FULL! We do…
It was dentistry day at Red Colt yesterday. Unlike us, horses have teeth that grow throughout their lives. In the wild equines forage constantly on tough plants, which causes them to wear their molars down. Domesticated horses don't get the same chewing regime and can wear their teeth down unevenly, causing sharp hooks or points…
Tis getting close to that season where we want to purchase gifts (or strip them from our battle-won hostages) for those we care for. Oh yes, since sword-wielding Mr Bloom is otherwise engaged, our intermittent Page 3 effort for the ladies comes from closer to home … my home actually. (Meaning 'close by where I…
Read More... from Sword Press Gift List & CRTC-mandated Canadian Content
A crew of twelve braved the wet November weather this morning to duel through the streets of Vancouver in the Grey Cup Parade. In the gallery you can see a couple pre-parade shots. One in gleeful anticipation, the other a view of everyone crowding together for warmth under a shop awning. The parade was…
The Academie Duello store carries a wide variety of items: books, toys, swords, armour, and sports equipment, with a number of different suppliers for each. In this post, we'll look at one of our book publishers: Freelance Academy Press. From their website: Freelance Academy Press brings readers innovative books and rich supporting material in the…
This week in Bartitsu: 1. Review of boxing: combos 2. Cane lesson: bayonnet position 3. Integration: unarmed defence versus cane, cane combos with fisticuffs See you at 3pm!
"Who would win in a fight, a samurai or a medieval knight? The answer is: the better fighter." - Maestro Sean Hayes Guest Instructor Sean Hayes' workshop series is selling out fast. Right now there are only 4 spots left! This is your last chance! Friday, December 2, 2011 7pm-9pm Developing Solo Drills for Armizare…
Another combination of my favourite subjects: stage combat and Edwardian self-defense. To add "...and ladies" would have been very sexist, why would you think I'd say something so rude? Oh yeah, the title of this article. Let me just say at the outset that women tend to be more concerned with personal safety than men…
If you are following the videos we are producing for our beta Duello Learning channel, you'll be happy to know that they have been organized into playlists. The lists are not all in order as of yet but like content has been grouped with like content so its easier to follow all the lessons of…
Read More... from DuelloLearning videos have been put into playlists
I don't think I'll be going to see the movie "War Horse". Not because I tend to find most Spielberg movies a bit too treacly, and not because most horse movies make me yell at the screen (why do movie makers think we won't notice when they swap a 16 hand bay for a chestnut…
We’re all over the map this week, but we have selected a ‘dominant theme’ for this slightly lengthy effort! Respects, Wes Romantic Sword BIRMINGHAM WEEKLY (Alabama) 13 October 11 Garden Variety Gallantry We often read of European knights swearing oaths on their hilts – the sword representing the very best of honour and…