“There is always strength in numbers. The more individuals or organizations that you can rally to your cause, the better”. Mark Shields, PBS NewsHour commentator Today, Our modest offering concentrates on numbers – or rather the growth in numbers of the art. Not only does HEMA/WMA have a international, cross-cultural and cross-gender reach, but from…
So I’ve just completed day 2 of my workshop with the Hallebardiers in Bruges, Belgium. Today the focus was on Italian Rapier. There were 21 participants in attendance of varying levels of experience from brand new to several years of experience. The first half of the workshop focused on body mechanics, from the simple fundamental…
I just finished Day 1 of my workshop for the Halbardiers (and associated groups) in Bruges. There were 26 people in class today which was a nice turnout. The topic was Italian Longsword ala Fiore. We had 8 hours and covered a tremendous amount of material, which is a testament to both the ability and…
Remember the good old days when you would spend hours making that perfect mixed tape? You’d pick all the tracks, find good transitions from the end of one song to go into the start of a new song all while trying to make sure the mix fit perfectly onto both sides of the cassette without…
It’s easy in a technical art to develop a mechanic that functions as a solo action but fails when it meets the application environment. Yet attempting to develop a technique in a purely tactical environment can be overwhelming for many who are working to build governance of their body or in the absence of having…
Read More... from The Mechanical/Tactical Spiral for Skill Development
It's going to be a full weekend down at Red Colt, with Games Practice, Horseback Archery, and Mounted Combat, Friday through Sunday May 2nd - 4th. Mounted Games Practice Our weekly Games Practice starts up again this month, and will run every Friday from 5 - 7pm right up until Carosella in mid-September. This is…
"What to say about Academie Duello? I didn't really know what it meant to belong, until I started taking classes here. The environment is one of acceptance, enthusiasm, and personal growth. I have made many awesome friendships that extend beyond the training floor. If you're even remotely interested, try a free lesson, and immerse yourself…
I will be teaching and travelling in Europe (and Eastern Canada) in May and June. The following dates are confirmed. Please see the specific websites for workshop booking information. If you're interested in connecting up for a workshop in your area in between weekends feel free to be in touch. May 2 – 4 The…
The second checklist item in the Swordplay from the Falsemount section is: Demonstrate proper defences and counter-attacks to all attacks from in-front on the far and near side. In this section we are looking for the ability to deal with descending, rising, and horizontal attacks on either side of the horse, performing core defences of…
We seem to have a large number of peers engaged in some Easter-season hunt – be it for a new skill, a new experience, an old blade or even a national ranking! If ever you wondered if HEMA/WMA was just this seasons’ ‘flash in the pan’, We think that this weeks’ offering should demonstrate that…
In my post on Training the Ranges of your Ability I shared the idea that if you were to measure your martial ability on a scale of 100 you would never be able to pin point an exact value in a meaningful way because we all fluctuate on that scale based on our fitness, mindset,…
Read More... from Training the Top; Training the Bottom - Part I
Spring is here and it is not just the bees that have started buzzing. The city is filled with flowers and blooming trees as we are treated by pink petal cherry blossoms that dance down to the ground covering the sidewalks. The weather is inspiring parents and children to get out of the house…
Read More... from Fun for the Whole Family with Introduction to Swordplay for Youth and Families
Friday 18 April at around noon we are planning to burn those piles of brambles. Providing the weather cooperates, those blackberries will be toast! Bring your work-clothes and your marshmallows and join us for some revenge! We also have several other chores on the to-do list, such as putting the lovely new trough in the…