Academie Duello is the home of Duello Armizare, the Italian swordplay system taught by schools and instructors around the world. After teaching across Taiwan, our founder and Maestro d’Armi, Devon Boorman, was back in Taipei for a weekend of workshops.
On November 7 and 8, after his workshops across Taiwan, Devon taught two workshops in Taipei, six hours each day: Two Swords on Saturday and Marozzo Sword in Two Hands on Sunday.
Both workshops were hosted by Tai Lee, a Senior Student and Duello Armizare Instructor, and Sakura Sanguineus, the Duello Armizare school he leads.
Saturday: Two Swords
The two-sword workshop covered a lot of ground. It began with the closed positions in the thrusting system, moved into the cutting system and its combination patterns, and finished with circular movement and dealing with opponents on all sides.
Sunday: Marozzo Sword in Two Hands
Achille Marozzo was a 16th-century fencing master from Bologna.
Sunday’s workshop began with a range of foundations, then foundational cutting patterns, attack and defence, and the anatomy of a combat action. From there, the group worked through parts 1 to 4 of the First Assault, Marozzo’s ten-part solo and partner form for the sword in two hands.
There were 16 students on Sunday.
A Diverse Group, and a Real Workout
The group was diverse, from people with very little experience to people who had been practising swordplay or other martial arts for a number of years. In Devon’s words: “It was a lot of fun. The group was enthusiastic and a real joy to work with.”
It was also a workout, with some really big swords. As Devon put it: “I was swinging a 7-pound sword for the whole workshop, and my back and arms were really feeling it by the end of the day, but I was also feeling really satisfied.”
Next: Level 1 Instructor Intensive in the Philippines
From Monday, November 16 to Friday, November 20, Devon is teaching a five-day Level 1 Instructor Intensive in Cavite, in the Philippines, hosted by True Edge Historical Martial Arts Guild. The Level 1 Intensive is the entry point to Duello Armizare instructor certification.
There’s still time to sign up through the Duello Armizare Instructor Intensives page.
Follow Along
Devon tells the story of the weekend in his own words on his blog, Path of the Sword.
Train at Headquarters
Academie Duello in Vancouver is the headquarters of Duello Armizare, and the Level 1 Instructor Intensive is taught here too. Every official Duello Armizare Level 1 Intensive follows the same core curriculum and certification pathway, whether it’s held in Cavite or at 412 West Hastings.
The 2027 Vancouver intensive runs Monday, April 12 to Friday, April 16, 2027, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm each day: five days and 50 hours of rapier, longsword and learning methodology. It’s limited to 12 participants. The Both Weapons Track is $1,195 CAD, and the One Weapon Track, rapier or longsword, is $995 CAD.
You don’t have to be planning to teach. The intensive is also for serious practitioners who want to make a major leap in their own fencing.
About the Author
Academie Duello
Centre for Swordplay
Academie Duello is the home of Duello Armizare and Vancouver's centre for historical European martial arts. Since 2004 we've taught rapier, longsword, archery, and more to students of every level at 412 West Hastings Street.
