As of this week on Duello.TV we have over 250 videos posted! We have content on longsword, sidesword, rapier and dagger, cloak, buckler, and more. It's been exciting getting to this stage and we're looking froward to bringing even more cool stuff soon.

This month all three levels of the Mastery Program are focusing on the use of the rapier and the offhand. You'll notice as you look at the videos across each level that whether you are using the offhand alone, with a rapier, with a buckler, or with a cloak, the positions in our system or universal.

Green Cord (Level 1)

http://duello.tv/featured-videos/this-week-in-class/

This week in our classes we focused on inviting our opponent to strike through our sword to lead them into the primary defence of our sword with our offhand support or the reverse with the offhand playing the dominant role.

Blue Cord (Level 2)

http://duello.tv/featured-videos/this-week-in-class/

In Blue Cord, like Green, we are working on solidifying and testing our rapier and offhand or dagger positions where both the sword and offhand join together to make the defence. The first video focuses on approaching the opponent, the second on situations where the opponent approaches you. Look to these videos for some added advanced tips on the joined positions that build on what you learned at Green Cord.

Red Cord (Level 3)

http://duello.tv/featured-videos/this-week-in-class/

Red Cord students this week are working on the use of the small buckler in combination with the long rapier. The first video gives you a transition exercise you can use to move between the 4 closed positions smoothly and safely, as well as exercises for testing your positions as you approach. The second looks at primary defence with the sword when the opponent attacks. Because of the size and slipperiness of a steel buckler, joining the sword and buckler together is essential for a complete and reliable defence.

Solo Exercise of the Week

http://duello.tv/featured-videos/fundamental-exercises

This week we are breaking down one of the most common and powerful actions with the rapier: the lunge.

Devon Boorman is the Co-Founder and Director of Academie Duello Centre for Swordplay, which has been active in Vancouver, Canada since 2004. Devon’s expertise centres on the Italian swordplay tradition including the arts of the Renaissance Italian rapier, sidesword, and longsword, as well as knife and unarmed techniques.
Read more from Devon Boorman.