New Year's Resolutions for Fencing - A Review of the Slight Edge

Over the winter holiday I have been reading a book on the subject of personal mastery called The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson. It is a good and relevant read for those interested in mastering fencing (and not just because of the title!) or really any type of new year's resolution or goal you might…

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A Game of Dark Knights Should Set, Not Rise.

Well, it falls out that the only thing I should write about on this quiet Thursday is the recently released second installment of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.   I'm not looking forward to the rest of this article, or the fallout it may generate. It's a dangerous game. I'll change directions often, sometimes in response…

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Solo Insights

I've gained some insights lately, specifically in longsword play that I thought I'd share. These all came from self-diagnosis, which is crucial for learning and is best done during your practice sessions when you can direct your own exercises. First, credit goes to Sean Hayes, Devon and Roland for their individual contributions and to me…

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Holiday Closure

"Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of seperation." - Kahlil Gibran Academie Duello will be closed from Saturday, December 24, 2011 through Sunday, January 1, 2012. We will be open for class again on Monday, January 2, 2012. We wish all our members, friends and business collegues…

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Stage Combat Priorities 3: Storytelling is Not a List of Events, Stupid

We all know that stage combat's first priority is safety, as we learned in Safety...Boring. We also know that many actors like stage combat classes because they learn cool-looking flourishes and how to look like a bad-a__ which we explored last time in Style and Expertise. Both of these are in service of our main…

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New for 2012 - Cavaliere Integrated Training Packages

We're really excited to be able to offer our new Integrated Training Packages for the Cavaliere Program.  Starting in January you'll be able to pay a single monthly rate of $120+HST for all your mounted combat training.  This includes the monthly Mounted Combat workshop and two Riding & Horsemanship sessions, saving you $60 off the…

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What did you expect to happen?

As promised, some reflections on practice garnered (or directly lifted) from Sean Hayes' workshop.A brief review: Sean was in Vancouver on 2, 3 & 4 December to teach three workshops on Armizare, Italy's knightly arts. He taught a workshop on solo practice, longsword body mechanics and unarmed, dagger and longsword. I'll be writing about the…

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Just in Time for a Bartitsu Workshop... Careful with the Face.

What is this marvellous fighting style from Victorian England that includes distractions, low kicks, and controlling the balance and reach of attackers? Why, it’s Bartitsu! Plus a little Wing Chun, since that’s Robert Downey Jr.’s previous training. Bartitsu Workshop This Saturday 10-December is an Introduction to Bartitsu workshop at Academie Duello in downtown Vancouver. For…

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