The second item on the Riding 1 checklist is: 2. Mount safely and correctly from block or ground, picking up reins correctly Mounting your horse may seem like the simplest of skills, but it's one that takes a lot of practice to make smooth, effortless and kind to your horse. As you can see from…
It’s another one of those week’s where We’re all over the place – we just about circle the world with this edition … and happily so. Cutting Class from your couch? PC MAG (New York, New York) 11 June 12 Author Neal Stephenson Solicits Funds for Sword-Fighting Game (Chloe Albanesius) TG DAILY (Portland, Oregon) The…
Fight Directors Canada holds the National Workshop every summer. It's a two-week intensive in which actors and fight choreographers from across the country meet to train and work with the best international fight masters. It's also an opportunity to earn certification if a student does not have a certification course in their community. And this…
Today's post features another guest poster. Nels Anderson is a recent addition to the Blue Cord. I requested his perspective because, as you'll soon read, Nels had to take an extended break from class, and returned the month before his successful test for Blue Cord. A great story on the power of practice. Thanks…
When it comes to head protection, most of us use fencing masks, whether we're fighting with rapiers, knives, longswords, or anything else. Anyone who's done this for a while, however, will be well acquainted with the idea of mask failure. All masks have a limited lifespan: over time, and with repeated blows, the mesh loses…
Tonight, and the second Friday of every month from now on, will be a Bartitsu focus night. As with all weapon-specific Open Floors, everyone is welcome to spar with their usual weapons: rapier, longsword, etc. The difference is that I will be there to referee bouts of cane fighting and unarmed techniques. Those who are…
"When I reached the end I stood at bay. He drew no weapon, but he rushed at me and threw his long arms around me. He knew that his own game was up, and was only anxious to revenge himself upon me. We tottered together upon the brink of the fall. I have some knowledge,…
My grandma visited Academie Duello last week while she was in town for my birthday. This is the first time she’s ever been to Academie Duello and as you can see from the photo she took to it right away! My grandma's visit and her excitement at being able to put on gauntlets and wield…
8 new photos from the bow making workshop have been added to our Flickr gallery. Including a view of our students posing with their raw yew staves at the beginning of the workshop. Check it out.
Read More... from [Gallery] New photos from the bow making workshop
Over the past dozen weeks or so I've written posts detailing the requirements for our Horsemanship Level 1. If you read through those posts, look at the relevant chapters of the Manual of Horsemanship, and attend at least three Horsemanship classes in which you have the opportunity to practice handling, grooming and tacking up, you…
In Our modest social circles, WMA enthusiasts are seen to be a somewhat ... umm, eclectic group of characters at the best of times. So, what happens when you mix WMA with another socially-“interesting” group – say science-fiction authors? Speaking of mixing, We also offer an item on a ‘mix’ of combatant’s that has yet…
The crew from today's intro to mounted combat and intermediate mounted combat workshops pose with swords and horses on June 2nd, 2012. Sent from my iPhone
Read More... from [Photo] Another successful mounted combat workshop
I was standing firm in Longsword focus the other day, with my sword in posta longa. My partner was doing rising cuts to me through my sword. I realized after a few moments that I had a good opportunity to get some practice in. So while my partner reset I performed cuts to the air,…
Read More... from Every moment in class is available for practice