Robert Borsos, my horseback archery instructor, raced down the lane and planted 12 arrows in the target. An impressive feat from horseback. As he rode past me back to the starting gate to do a second run, I noticed that he had passed his bow into the other hand and was going through a series…
"It's the most wonderful time of the year!" At least that is what the classic song lyrics celebrate, but for some the holiday season can be very stressful-- especially when it comes to finding the perfect gift. If you have a swordfighter or HEMA practitioner on your list, Academie Duello has many items available in our…
Read More... from Yule Time Gifts for the Swordfighter on Your List!
Horsemanship Level 3: Wound Treatment Last week we looked at when to call the vet and what to do until she arrives. In the case of wounds, some warrant a vet call and some don't; some need treatment and others don't. How do you tell, and how do you treat the wound before and after…
Throughout the history of cinematic fights, a variety of stunt coordinators have come to prominence, and with them their iconic styles. When a movie becomes popular and has fight scenes that are appreciated, the market is flooded with imitators. Sometimes their style is overgeneralized to apply to every weapon. These days, if you wield two…
I’ve recently become more aware of a helpful person in my classes at Academie Duello. This person is so helpful that they want to make sure that their partner never fails, never feels bad, and is successful in all that they do. One place I see this person in action is in target drills. In…
Read More... from Help Your Training Partner Discover Failure
Learn to fend off ruffians and rapscallions with Vancouver's most common weather-based accoutrement: the umbrella! With the rainy winter season returning to Vancouver we are pleased to announce the return of this very popular workshop. Loaner umbrellas and canes will be available, but we encourage to bring your own sturdy device, especially if there is…
Read More... from Practical Umbrella Self-Defence for Every Vancouverite
Horsemanship Level 3: When to Call the Vet No matter how well your look after your horses the inevitable day will come when you encounter an accident or illness that requires a vet call. For Horsemanship Level 3 we want you to know: 10. When to call the vet; types of wounds and treatment Again,…
The most recognizable element in Bartitsu is walking stick self defense. It is both a differentiator from other martial arts, and unique in shape compared to other stick fighting arts. However interesting the uses are in Victorian and Edwardian settings such as Sherlock Holmes productions or fantasy settings such as steampunk, it seems to be…
Congratulations to everyone who examined in our November 28th rank examination at Academie Duello. This was a very special event as it not only had examinees within the Mastery program (our core adult martial arts program), but also had two members of our Youth Program who were the first ever to test for the Blue…
A little more than a week ago, Academie Duello hosted its very first Jogo do Pau intensive course with Luis Preto (originally from Portugal, currently from Slovenia.) This course delivered 25 hours of content over 5 days with an optional Assistant Instructor Certification add-on which added approximately 5 more hours of class focused on coaching…
Horsemanship Level 3: Maintaining Good Health This is a continuation of last week's post on 9. Signs of good health, TPR, maintenance of health, signs of colic. Last week we looked at signs of health, including vital signs (temperature, respiration and pulse). This week's post focusses on keeping your horse healthy, which falls into two…
Film Riot is a YouTube channel (as the host Ryan Connolly puts it, speaking very fast) that takes the mystery out of the effects and techniques that go into your favourite Hollywood films. While this does mean that most of their combat is dependent on visual effects and editing, it also means that they can keep their…
I love slow fencing and I think it is an essential part of training. It will help you develop strategic and tactical awareness, develop flow, and overcome your reactionary qualities and replace them with more effective responses. However, slow work on its own does not fully prepare you for combat. True martial combat exists without an…