This past weekend saw a contingent of Academie Duello instructors and students at the fine Armizare Academy event in Racine, Wisconsin. Workshops focused on the Italian combative system of Fiore dei Liberi (a fencing master from 14th century Italy) which is part of the heart of the Academie Duello syllabus. There were fine instructors from…
[photo] Armizare Academy Deed of Arms
The combatants at the Saturday afternoon deed of arms, after 90 minutes of fighting in harness. Fighting at axe, spear, sword, and dagger.
Bartitsu Fight Night
Tonight is the second Friday of the month, and that means it's Bartitsu Focus Night. You can spar with any weapon you like on the main floor, and we'll be using the museum space for sparring using cane, boxing, savate and jujitsu. See you at 8pmComment on this post on our Posterous Blog.
Stick 'em up ... or down
I had to be careful with the title of this week's post. Didn't want it turning up in the wrong sort of searches,* as the next item on the Riding 1 checklist is: 9. Show correct way to hold a whip/crop This is one of the skills we ask for in our level…
Rapier Receiving, Sidesword Guards, and Longsword Thrusts
Welcome everyone to another week of Duello.TV. This week we have videos on the rapier receiving, sidesword guards, and longsword pressure sensitivity and we'll be continuing with all three weapons throughout the month. This week at Academie Duello several of our instructors are preparing to go to Armizare Academy in Racine, Wisconsin. Devon Boorman will…
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‘Modern’ Cutlass Sword Press
From time-to-time, a simple WMA-HEMA-related press item leads (this) one into the most pleasurable rabbit holes of never-ending research. The’ fine art’ of cutlass fencing is alive and well, and classes can be attended just south of the Academie Duello. And if you’re of the opinion that cutlass-work is a dead or boring art-form, try…
[Photo] Great Mounted Combat Workshop Turnout
Thanks everyone who came to our mounted combat workshop today! We had a great turnout and everyone did a fantastic job of learning a very diverse set of content.
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Who's gotta practice?
We had rank examinations in the Mastery program just this past Friday. Congratulations to all who tested, whether you succeeded or not. Congratulations to you because you have each put in a lot of effort to achieve level that you're at. For those readers not aware of how the Mastery program works: students must meet…
Abrazare: Wrestling That's Fun to Say
"Greatness lies not in being strong, but in the right use of strength." - Henry Ward Beecher Abrazare Workshop Saturday, September 22, 2012 3pm-7pm Learn the art of Abrazare, the fundamental system of Italian wrestling that underlies the martial system of historical fencing master Fiore dei Liberi. This workshop begins with grappling and wrestling fundamentals,…
Closure: Collapse the Possibilities, Go All In
Keeping your options open is an attractive concept and feels like freedom. It permits room for debate, changes of opinion and forgiveness. In most circumstances, I believe that the gentleman and the rational person avoids taking sides until the most information is analyzed. I believe in science. I wanted to get that messiness out of…
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Compassionate Demand - Pushing your boundaries and enjoying it.
Last night in class I brought up this idea of being a combination of demanding and compassionate with yourself when learning something new. If you want to become an excellent practitioner of something (and that is a worthy goal) then you are going to need to call on yourself to do something you can't yet…
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Mille Grazie!
A thousand thanks to everyone who contributed some of their precious long weekend time to our double-barrelled work party on Saturday and Monday! On Saturday our team augured post holes, and made concrete footings for the post saddles in preparation for Monday's framing team, which measured, sawed, drilled and bolted the bones of the shedrow…
Beer-based Sword Press
“You’re a mule, Brennan, fitted neither to a rustic life nor a professional one – a bloody anachronism – a social mule, public school educated, trained to appreciate Chartreuse in a world where you cannot afford beer, taught to use a rapier in a world where other bastards use guns.” Plummer, D. Brian. ‘Lepus’. Coch-y-Bonddu…