Academie Duello is proud to announce our listing of official study groups and affiliate schools around North America! All of these groups are run by certified study group leaders or ranked instructors. If you’re keen on learning what we have to offer, but don’t live in Vancouver, now is your chance to connect with a…
Public registration for the Academie Duello Instructor Intensive taking place March 6th to 10th is now open! Join us in beautiful Vancouver, Canada for a fun and challenging 50-hour immersion in the arts of the rapier and longsword. If you have ever dreamed of being a teacher of Historical European Martial Arts or simply want…
Read More... from March Instructor Intensive Registration Now Open!
For the past many years my focus in the pursuit of Historical European Martial Arts has been very much on safely exploring the “martial" aspect. I want to get as close to the original martial art as I realistically can without actually putting myself, my training partners, or my students in mortal danger. Yet that is…
Read More... from Ways To Test Your Art — Triangulating on Life and Death
A good teacher doesn’t just impart information to their students, they empower their students to be excellent learners. In my classes, I’m thinking not just about how I can increase my students' ability with a given technique in that moment, but what I can give them that will help them meaningfully practice, implement, and build…
Read More... from How to Create Empowered Learners; Not Just Competent Practitioners
A study group is a group of peers devoted to helping each other get better in a particular martial practice. If you don’t have an experienced and savvy instructor in your area, or you want to pursue learning something that is not offered by your group or school, or you simply want to get in…
Read More... from 10 Steps for Running a Successful HEMA Study Group
This week I have been leading an instructor training intensive at Academie Duello. 50 hours of instruction in Italian swordplay technique, theory, and teaching methodology. So far it is living up to its name — intense — for both the students and the teachers. That's not a statement of distress, simply one of fact. The…
With one instructor intensive behind me and another coming in February, I've been thinking a lot about what it takes to be a great instructor. There are many false roads along this path and I've certainly had my share of internal struggles. I thought I'd share a few pieces of advice that I have found valuable.…
Read More... from Five Rules for Being a Great Martial Arts Instructor
Phew! It’s done! It was indeed an intense but satisfying experience teaching Academie Duello’s first formal, week-long instructor training intensive. From October 26th to 30th, thirteen aspiring instructors joined us here in Vancouver for a five-day, 50-hour intensive to kick off their ongoing instructor training program. Attendees hailed from both our local area (British Columbia's Lower Mainland) as well…