Hello everyone, I have some exciting news. On October 26th we are launching our first Instructor Training and Study Group Program! This program will give you the basis to start an official Academie Duello study group in your area or take the first step toward being an Academie Duello instructor. By joining the program you…
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Riding Level 3: Safety, Confidence, and Control of Pace This is the final checklist item on your Riding Level 3 test. In some ways 'safety, confidence and control' seem like nebulous criteria, and it is true that the final mark in the this category is based on an overall impression generated from your whole ride. …
I am “Eduardo-from-Spain”. Most of you know who I am, but I guess some others do not. Well, I lived for two amazing years in Vancouver. I thought it would be fun, but I could not believe that a place such as Academie Duello was possible. So I’m writing here about how lucky I was…
This weekend there’s a gathering of steampunk enthusiasts in Portland, Oregon called Gearcon. Steampunk, like cyberpunk, is a genre of speculative fiction, a fashion trend and a community of fans with shared interests. In literature, it’s usually an alternate history of the Victorian era in which mad scientists played a much larger role. The fashion is…
Academie Duello was founded on two tenets: Proper Arms Proper Respect The purpose of these tenets was to provide a guiding light and governing principle for the way we pursue and practise our art, as well as remind us to do so more authentically. What I mean is, our goal was to get as close…
Day Seven Today is poleaxe day! My excitement abates slightly when I discover that we don’t actually get to use real ones. Adrian insists that our waivers do not cover that level of damage. The trainers we use are just as heavy with nice hardwood poles and tough rubber end bits to pierce and crush…
Cavaliere Assessments are coming up this Sunday. Please note the later-than-usual start time of 4:00pm to keep us out of the mid-day heat! Cavaliere Assessments Sunday 5 July 4:00 - 7:00pm cost: $50 (single assessment); $80 (both Riding & Horsemanship) This assessment is for Riding and Horsemanship only. If you plan to assess please contact jennifer…
Day Five I have a confession to make. I was neither able to attend Class 5 nor was I able to take advantage of the evening classes to make up for it. What’s a sword-fighting student to do? Thankfully, my trusty blade-wielding comrades filled me in on the general content for the class, and, wonderfully,…
This piece could have also been called: "Punching women respectfully; a guide" or, "How to be a douchebag by not hitting girls." I’ll frame this a little first. I am writing this as a man, drawing on two perspectives that are largely and unfairly male-dominated. The first is martial arts. The second is security work.…
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Canada Day is fast approaching and as our country celebrates its 148th birthday, it is important that we as Canadians recognize that this birthday is based on Canada’s post-colonial history. On July 1st 1867 Canada became its own self-governing dominion within great Britain (and originally only included the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario…
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To any action in combat there are typically multiple responses that can functionally deal with that action (for example you can parry it, control it, strike into it, and so on). The choice of responding action is generally dictated by overall strategy or tactical needs. There are times when you want to strike into an…
The weather is gorgeous, the footing is good, and the grooming is easy. Make the most of our glorious summer by spending at least part of it on the back of a horse. We have a whole line-up of clinics and classes over the next two months for both experienced riders and complete beginners. Refine…
I have pledged to do better this week. I am inspired by my latest Cornwell book, as well as by the lovely bottle of mead I was presented with by one of my shield mates. He offered it in exchange for a promise that I would not overly bludgeon him during our training. Day Three…