"Who would win in a fight, a samurai or a medieval knight? The answer is: the better fighter." - Maestro Sean Hayes

Guest Instructor Sean Hayes' workshop series is selling out fast. Right now there are only 4 spots left! This is your last chance!

Friday, December 2, 2011 7pm-9pm

Developing Solo Drills for Armizare - 2 hour class

Solo drills are a fundamental part of any martial training. In this class we will study key drills for unarmed as well as armed combat, and the means to put them into an effective personal training program.

Saturday, December 3, 2011 3pm-9pm

Abrazare, Dagger & Longsword - 6 hour class

Fiore's Armizare is an integrated system of combat that employs multiple weapons - or none at all. We will study the key actions of abrazare, dagger, sword, spear and poleax and learn their common elements, and then employ these in a series of drills, and finally in the context of combat.

Sunday, December 4, 2011 10am-2pm

Longsword Body Mechanics - 4 hour class

Delivering a cut is more than simply swinging a sword: each action has a tactical logic that is supported by the mechanical actions of the swordsman's body. We will study and apply core body mechanics in solo and partnered drills, and examine how these mechanics translate into tactical advantage.

Special Workshop Pricing:

2 Hour Friday Session: $30 + HST
6 Hour Saturday Session: $90 +HST
4 Hour Sunday Session: $60 + HST

Or All Three Sessions: $150 + HST

About Sean Hayes:

Maestro Sean Hayes initially studied classical French fencing under Maitre d'armes Adam Adrian Crown in Ithaca, New York; and also pursued studies of rapier and dagger under Maitre Crown. In 1995 he began his studies of traditional Italian fencing at California's San Jose State University Fencing Master's Program, under the direction of fencing master Dr. William M. Gaugler. The program employs the system of instruction developed by Masaniello Parise, first director of the celebrated 19th century Scuola Magistrale (Master's School) in Rome.

Hayes apprenticed directly under Maestro Gaugler from 1995 to 1999. In 1997 he started his own school, the Northwest Fencing Academy in 1997 where he's been teaching ever since. Sean also taught at the Vancouver International Swordplay Symposium in February of last year.

For more information about Sean, please see his school website at http://www.fencingacademy.net/

To sign-up online please see out workshops page: http://academieduello.com/workshops.php

To sign-up over the phone: 604-568-9907, Monday-Friday 10am-9pm and 10am-5pm on Saturdays.

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.