Each summer, Fight Directors Canada, the national certification body for stage combat, holds an intensive workshop at which students can earn their next level of certification. It is attended by as many Fight Masters as possible, including international guests. For those living in places other than the big theatre centres in Canada, it may be…
What is Prix Fiore? ‘Prix Fiore’ is a term coined by Academie Duello and refers to a dressage test that includes sword forms. The Prix Caprilli is a dressage test with jumps, named for Federico Caprilli, innovator of the modern jumping seat. With the Prix Fiore (named for Fiore dei Liberi, author of the 14th…
If you are going to spend any time on horseback one thing is guaranteed: at some point you will fall off. This is inevitable, and most horse-wisdom agrees that you must eat dirt a minimum number of times before you're considered a rider. One way to make this inevitability less traumatic, both physically and mentally,…
Read More... from The Short Fall: Falling from the Falsemount
Hitting things is usually satisfying. Watching a villain get away is stressful because we want to see the hero fight him into submission, and if he’s a murderer, we’ll root for the hero to kill him in revenge. Violent video games are best-sellers. Let’s not deny that if you practice swordplay or stage combat, you…
As predicted this summer's schedule in the Cavaliere program is a little wibbly-wobbly, but I will do my best to keep this blog up to date with the most recent information. Instead of weekly Mounted Games Practices on Fridays at 5-7pm, we will use this time slot for varied activites (including games practices). Here is…
By popular demand, here is a list of books on Bartitsu: The Bartitsu Compendium I & II edited by Tony Wolf Sherlock Holmes School of Self-Defence by Ivy Press Related Period Material: The Secrets of Jujitsu by Re-Nie Jiu Jitsu and Other Methods of Self Defense by Percy Longhurst Boxing by R.G. Allanson-Winn Scientific Boxing…
This past weekend I was in Helsinki Finland visiting Guy Windsor’s School of European Swordsmanship. It was the last stop on my teaching tour of Europe and a very nice place to make my last major visit before coming home. On Saturday both Guy and I travelled to Tampere, about 2-hours North of Helsinki for…
Read More... from Devon's visit to the School of European Swordsmanship in Helsinki
This summer's schedule is a tad scattered due to various events, such as plans to re-do the arena footing, and the fact I'll be away teaching Mounted Combat in Zwiebrucken for part of July. So I thought I'd take a break from instructional blogs to give you what scheduling I can. Intro to Mounted Combat…
‘Will you please pick that up Hagar! I swear, someday you’re going to forget where you put it down and somebody is going to trip over it and hurt themselves!’ As interesting as swords found in archaeological excavations are, we’re near always left wondering … “Just how did that sword come to be left there”?…
I was conflicted about posting this video, so click the link below with the understanding that: I do not condone the behaviour of any person depicted or involved in the video I am posting this in order to discuss the historical precedent (below) and not for mere entertainment This video and portions reposted are already…
A weekend ago I attended the HEMA gathering in Dijon, France. This is one of the oldest events in Europe and has grown from a small gathering of friends to a very large gathering of friends. This was my first time being at the event and it was a pleasure being there as an instructor…
Read More... from My Experience at the HEMAC-Dijon Swordplay Conference
Riddle me this: what would you say is your primary weapon? If you said longsword, rapier, sidesword... sorry, but in swordplay, your body is actually the most crucial part of your martial practice! It's what makes it possible to then train with or without other weapons. We oil our swords, but what about basic body…
Read More... from Coming Up: Conditioning and Foundational Movement Skills Seminar!
Just as grappling can be done from the saddle, so can disarms. For the Blue Spur you will need to show how to: Conduct three disarms from the falsemount at the halt and in motion "In motion" means at the walk. Disarms are typically conducted when riders are at a standstill or their horses are…
Hello Academie Duello friends and family, Have you received a message from Nicky Dexter titled, Document? Don't open that file! The message reads, Please kindly review the important document I uploaded for you on google secured drive. Click Here for immediate access Thank You Be advised that this was sent by a virus, and not by your…
We all know that HEMA/WMA is flourishing … and for the greater part is dominated by Italian rapier play or German long sword – with significant amounts of English and Viking sword and shield work added when available. But what is just as impressive is the reappearance of ‘niche’ swordplay forms … Spanish dagger/scissors combat;…
Mother's Day may have happened but last week, but this week's blog post is going to be looking at some of history's most hardcore Mum's from around the world. As though birthing children into the world wasn't an exceptional feat of strength, fortitude, and endurance these women not only raised their kids, but often…
Read More... from You're One Badass Mother! Tough Mommas from the Pages of History
In any knight's career there is likely to come a time when you find yourself deprived of your sword. No matter, grappling is a valid and common tactic from the saddle. For the blue spur you need to demonstrate how to: Conduct three grapples from the falsemount at the halt and in motion The three…
This month, we are introducing levels within the Bartitsu program at Academie Duello, following the pattern of other programs in the school. In the sword programs, we have coloured cords inspired by heraldry. In the mounted combat program, we have different spurs. In the Bartitsu program, we are designating our levels by sashes, based on…