We’re all over the map this week, but we have selected a ‘dominant theme’ for this slightly lengthy effort! Respects, Wes Romantic Sword BIRMINGHAM WEEKLY (Alabama) 13 October 11 Garden Variety Gallantry We often read of European knights swearing oaths on their hilts – the sword representing the very best of honour and…
Category: Community
Start Something New!
"What then is chivalry? So strong a thing, and of such hardihood, and so costly in the learning, that a wicked man or low dare not undertake it... Whoso would enjoy high honor first must suitably display that he has been well-schooled in such arts..." - The Biography of Sir William Marshall Intro to the…
Guest Instructor: Sean Hayes!
Hello folks, Exciting news today! We have what a special guest instructor from the WMA community coming to town. Sean Hayes is Maestro D'Armi of the Northwest Fencing Academy in Eugene, OR. Maestro Hayes' school focuses on Armizare, the martial art practiced by Italy's knightly class and draws his teaching from the Fiore de' Liberi…
A Fistful of International Sword Press
We offer an eclectic mixture for this round and though not all of them are useful in our ‘studies’ – hopefully, they will appeal to your ‘interests’. Respects all, Wes In Memory THE PROVINCE (Vancouver, British Columbia) 13 November 11 Surrey Sikhs offer sword to military Sikhs of the Surrey Dasmesh Darbar Gurudwara…
Buying a Rapier
So, now you've got your green cord and you're getting tired of wrestling for the loaner rapiers: it's time to think about getting your own sword. The Academie Duello store has a variety of entry-level rapiers, falling into two categories.The CAS Hanwei practical rapier is available in two lengths, 37" blade or 43". This is…
The Evolution of Sword Design in Pictures
@octaypus forwarded along a very cool diagram of the evolution of swords, looking primarily at their hilts and grips, throughout the centuries. It is a very cool diagram that I felt was worth passing along. Ahh the display we could make with just a few more swords in our museum!
Job Opportunities at Academie Duello
Greetings all! Academie Duello is looking to fill a couple exciting positions: one instructor and one volunteer. Please consider these postings yourself and pass them along to anyone who you feel might be a great fit. SwordFit Coach & Instructor Academie Duello is looking for a dynamic, fit, and charismatic teacher to be the…
Another Black Mare at Red Colt
Introducing Calo Heros Jolie: See the full gallery on Posterous Jolie is a 12 year old registered Canadian Horse. She has a sweet temperament, excellent manners and she loves to go. Her job will be mainly eventing and Pony Club testing, but you can expect her to put in a few hours of Mounted Combat…
Digging Up More Press about Swords
Old techology, current technology and maybe future technology – the swords of our past will figure prominently in our future. Lots of Digging to Do HARBURGER ZEITUNG (Germany) 07 November 11 Mit Schild, Schwert und Lanze (Carsten Weede) With Shield, Sword and Lance: An archelogical dig is exploiting a Saxon burial site…
The ballad of (T)Roland
Easy post to write today... I'm simply linking to Roland's notes on practice from his blog, Terminal City Duellist. I'll keep my commentary out; Roland's put in a lot of thought to this and writes it out very well. I will re-mention something that bares repeating. Freeplay, while an opportunity to let loose (it is freeplay), is…
By the Book
I just picked up a copy of the new book on Armizare. For those of you that aren't in the know, armizare is the word used by 14/15th Century swordmaster Fiore dei Liberi to describe the system of combat that he taught. Armizare is a whole system, featuring unarmed combat, daggers, swords, spears, axes, and…
Bring sword fighting into your workplace for 20% off!
Greetings members and friends of Academie Duello! For a limited time we are offering 20% off our corporate programs to companies referred to us by Academie Duello members and friends – so if you've read this blog post consider yourself invited to take advantage. We have a great diversity of corporate programs including…
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Academie Duello featured on Cheapass Romance and @CheapD8Van
Rolando Fuentes Ruiz of Vancouver's Cheapass Romance blog came by Academie Duello the other day to explore our free intro class as a potential destination to recommend for an economic tryst. It looks like he and his date, the self-styled Hopelessly Romantic Girl, had a great time. Go check out the post on their blog…
Read More... from Academie Duello featured on Cheapass Romance and @CheapD8Van
Game 7 Sword Safety
For those of you that haven't noticed, tonight is game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, and downtown is going crazy. All of our evening classes are still on as normal, however, but if you are coming downtown please keep in mind the following: DO NOT bring your own weapons to class tonight! BORROW the…
Cavaliere Tournament
Exactly one year less a day after our first ever Cavaliere workshop, Academie Duello hosted its first ever Mounted Tournament. The weather was beautiful, the crowds enthusiastic, the volunteers awesome, and the competition both fierce and friendly. We started our day with the Team Groom Competition, in which teams of two had 45 minutes to…
A Fighting ‘faux pas’ or a Fencing Fashion? News from the world of Western Martial Arts
Things were quiet of late, but there should be at least one following that can provide water cooler talk between bouts. A Press Gang in Polite Action BBC (London, UK) 09 June 11 Shoppers cross swords with Olympic hopefuls A short news-time video on the efforts of two of Britain’s fencing team to increase…
Fight-night Mini-focus!
Exciting news for those who've ever wondered "I wonder if I should bring my X to Open Floor"; we'll be introducing a mini-focus to Open Floors! It's something I've been thinking about for a while: a regular day for everyone who wants to practice with, say, longswords, to come out. We're going to reserve off…
Targeting Families
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana." - Groucho Marx Family Archery Workshop Sunday, June 19, 2011 10am-2pm Archery has been a family business since ancient times. From Cyrus the Great of Persia teaching his son and heir Cambyses to 'draw a mighty bow' to Henry the VII teaching a young Henry…