Today as we remember those soldiers who have sacrificed their limbs and lives in war, remember also the horses, donkeys and mules who went with them. Over 8 million equines died in the first World War. The horse has been at our side through almost all the wars of human history. No other animal has…
This week, we are thrilled to have Academie Duello play host to internationally acclaimed, award-winning martial artist and author Luis Preto. Luis will be teaching a 25-hour, week-long intensive on the Portuguese stick fighting martial art Jogo do Pau. Many people were unable to find the time to convince their employers to give them a week off…
Panic! Something went horribly wrong in your stage fight. First off, assess the situation. "Horribly" is a matter of perspective: serious injuries can happen, which is truly the worst-case scenario. Problems with a fight scene might derail a performance, which can seem catastrophic, but should be handled calmly. Let's take a look at broken swords and…
Sometimes a lot of failure can be easier to deal with than a little. Failing at something that you feel you "should" be able to do can have some sting to it. Failing at something that is downright "impossible" to do is expected and can thus seem less risky from a psychological or social perspective.…
Read More... from Taking on a Ridiculous Challenge May be Easier Than a Small One
Horsemanship Level 3: Coolout Procedures Just like you, your horse needs to cool down gradually after strenuous exercise to avoid stiffness. Unlike you, your horse, with his larger mass to surface area ratio, is especially prone to overheating. A very hot horse that isn't allowed to cool down properly could go into shock, colic, or…
This post was originally published on the Terminal City Duellist blog. A few years ago, Luis Preto was living in Vancouver, getting his Masters in Coaching Sciences at the University of British Columbia, and stopping by Academie Duello every week or so to get some practice time in with either myself or the school's director, Devon Boorman,…
Defending against a punch is a priority for many people when learning self-defence. We are aware both instinctually and through the media that an unarmed person can lash out with a fist and knock out teeth or render a victim unconscious with a blow to the head. Our second beginner's lesson in the Bartitsu program…
It’s that time of year again. Autumn is in the air and today is Hallowe'en! For the past few weeks, shops have been filling their windows with jack-o-lanterns, mannequins have been dressed in spooky costumes, and cheap candy seems to be on the shelves at every grocery store. We also saw the season 5 premiere…
Read More... from The Walking Dead: What Weapons Would Western Martial Artists Use Against Walkers?
You want to get action hero roles, so you're going to audition. There are two types of audition in today's industry for a casting director to get a first look at you: a live audition or a taped one. This week, we'll discuss the difference between a taped audition and a reel, and some tips…
Horsemanship Level 3 - Grooming For Horsemanship Levels 1 and 2 you needed to show how to use the basic grooming kit, which included the hoof pick, curry comb, dandy brush and body brush. For Level 3 you need to demonstrate: 7. Use and knowledge of full grooming kit First of all, to review your…
Today while teaching a class on falling I had a funny exchange with one of my students; we talked about how much toddlers fall down in the process of learning to walk and be stable. Each time they fall, they get right back up again. Generally there’s no crying or interruption, except if they’re tired…
Read More... from Be As Resilient as a Child When Dealing with Failure
Horsemanship Level 3: Feeding Horses are creatures of habit and do best on a regular feed schedule. As a Level 3 Horseman you are expected to: 6. Know the feed schedule and amounts for your own horse. If you don't own or lease a horse, you should be prepared to answer questions about the schedule…
In 1898, E.W. Barton-Wright combined his own name with the term "jujitsu" to describe his new hybrid self-defense system: Bartitsu, the first martial art to combine Asian and European fighting styles. Over a century since its creation, many people recognize immediately that Bartitsu is known for cane fighting and that Sherlock Holmes stories feature his…