This is an intense week in Mastery class with some of the most detail oriented yet prolific topics at hand at the various levels.

For Green Cords we are working on gaining control of the opponent's weapon as they move toward us. This is one of my favourite months and weeks for its beautiful efficiency. Let your opponent do all the moving while you help them run onto your sword. Check out this week's videos on Duello.TV to do some pre-class warm-up or distance ed.

For Blue Cords we are continuing our exploration of the sidesword guards looking at the Stretta and Alta guards. These point online positions employ much of the structure and approach we know from the longer rapier but also integrate powerful slicing and cleaving cuts. We posted a video that goes through all of the guards and their names on Duello.TV, check it out:

Red Cords are working on Dente al Cinghiara and Porta di Ferro. Both of these guards are excellent defenders and great positions from which to provoke an opponent. Take a look at the videos for last week's making and defeating Posta Finestra for some good review.

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.