This week at Academie Duello we are looking at a fundamental strategy with the rapier, known as the True Fight; we are exploring deceptive attacks with the sidesword, designed to draw the opponent out of position; and we're employing the blow or strike with the side of the staff and learning how to counter them.…
Read More... from Swordplay Training Videos for July 23 to 29
"So... why didn't that work the way you wanted to?" "I didn't move fast enough." This is a conversation I often have with my students in class. The student has correctly identified an issue in tempo (typically everything else is being done correctly) but they've made a mistake in the aspect of tempo that…
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Jenn Zuko Boughn Her book, Stage Combat: Fisticuffs, Stunts and Swordplay for Theatre and Film is the required textbook for Metro State and other stage combat programs in colleges across the country. She has been practicing and teaching the arts of stage combat since 1997, and Japanese martial arts since 1998. I visit her website:…
Our very own Rosie Jones came across an interesting article from a website called the the99percent (unrelated to occupy wall street) that contrasted the idea of focusing on goals vs focusing on experience or process. The findings suggest that focusing on the process or the feeling in the experience (ex. enjoying a good workout) was…
This post provides links to videos for every lesson we covered in the Mastery Program at Academie Duello for July 16 to 22. This week Green Cords (level 1) learn about control of the opponent's sword and take advantage of their opponent's movement to strike. Blue Cords (level 2) continue their work on provocations by…
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Take a lesson at almost any riding school and you will hear a stream of letters flowing past: "twenty metre circle at C", "between K and A develop working canter", "change rein FXH" and so on. These letters are not acronyms or arcane code, but simply markers on the dressage arena. No one seems to…
Last week was Our 50thposting of Sword Press – which under other circumstances might qualify this One for some sort of modest ‘atta-boy’ award involving beer and an affectionate but manly pat-on-the-head. However as I’ve learned to my sorrow, my iron-fisted, steel-hearted, way-too-fast-to-hit, workaholic Master insists that it’s all part of ‘business normal’ in getting…
Devon's asked me to put together some videos and posts for drills and exercises that we can all use as references and inspiration. I've got an idea of where I'm going to start (see my WIP wmawiki glossary, or the post on my Terminal City Duellist blog), but I'm interested in where you want it…
"par·ry [par-ee] verb, par·ried, par·ry·ing, noun, plural par·ries. verb (used with object) 1. to ward off (a thrust, stroke, weapon, etc.), as in fencing; avert. 2. to turn aside; evade or dodge: to parry an embarrassing question. verb (used without object) 3. to parry a thrust, blow, etc." -dictionary.com Parrying Workshop with Luis Preto Saturday, July 21, 2012…
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Tonight's sparring is Bartitsu focused. We'll be boxing, wrestling and cane-fighting in the museum area while the main floor will still be open for general sparring with any weapon you prefer. You don't need any experience, but it will also not be a lesson. Challenge whomever you want, and shake on the rules you agree…
Studying self-defense and combat too often starts with blocks, parries or other methods of intercepting attacks. All of these techniques rely on seeing the opponent attack and choosing the appropriate movement to deal with it. The reactionary stance will keep you moving backward, looking for the next threat, and a victim of the attacker's speed,…
No, this is not about blogging, or fenceposts (that was last week), but on rising or 'posting' to the trot. The trot is a 2-beat gait in which the horse's legs move in diagonal pairs. It is the roughest gait to sit, which is why the technique of posting, or rising in the stirrups on…
We seek him here, we seek him there,Those Frenchies seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven?—Is he in hell? That demmed, elusive Pimpernel. Orczy, Baroness Emmuska. The Scarlet Pimpernel. Tis slim pickings this week – even the Russians and Ukrainians seem to be quiet. It must be the heat. You’ll forgive Us if We…