Happy New Year everyone! With 2022 beginning on similar footing to how we began in 2021, it’s hard not to feel sad and frustrated that we are again separated from each other and unable to share the passion of swordplay as a community. Yet as I look back over the past year, I can’t help…
Dear Academie Duello Members and Customers, Due to the public health orders in effect from December 23rd to January 18th, we are required to cancel all adult group classes and bookings during this time. We will, however, be able to continue our Youth program, Knight Academie, for its winter term beginning January 8, as well…
Read More… from Public Health Closure December 23rd to January 18th
Dear Friends, Supporters, and Swordplay Fans! We couldn’t be more thankful for all the contributions we have received throughout the campaign, both big and small. Your support has reminded us how important Academie Duello is in our community for our members, students, and supporters from around the world (so many of you!). We started this…
Thank you everyone for your continued support of our school and GoFundMe campaign. Everyone’s contributions have continued to make a difference in our ability to weather this challenging time. We are working our hardest to bring programs back to life and get Academie Duello back to a place of full health. We still need to…
This past week has been exciting for Academie Duello. We have nearly reached the halfway mark in our GoFundMe campaign, we’re coming to the close of our So You Think You Can Sword? online forms competition, we just hosted our first in-person classes since we closed down, we are expanding online offerings, and we’re hard…
Greetings Academie Duello members, friends, and followers! It’s been a while since we posted to the blog. I’m sure you can understand that we’ve been a bit occupied as have all of you. It’s about time that we reach out to all of you and let you know that we’re still alive and swinging! On…
Greetings Academie Duello friends and family! I hope that you have all had a wonderful holiday season and are looking forward to a special 2020. It is pretty amazing to me to be moving into the second decade of the new millennium already. Academie Duello marked its 15th anniversary in 2019 and it has been…
There is plenty happening at the barn this month, and all of it safely out of the November weather, thanks to our beautiful indoor arena! If you haven’t been to Cornwall Ridge Farm yet, now is a great time to check it out. Mounted Combat Mastery Mastery classes happen this month on the 11th…
Our Mounted Combat Program has made a huge leap forward! The horses, the program, and the Program Head, have moved to Cornwall Ridge Farm in Langley BC. The farm, which covers 12 acres on 16 Avenue near Campbell Valley Park, is ideally equipped to suit the needs of the program, and provide greater comfort for…
Exciting changes are a-hoof in the Mounted Combat Program. As of August 1st, 2018, the horses and the program will be moving to 21955 16 Ave in Langley. This beautiful property (formerly Ridge Meadows Farm) near Campbell Valley Park has an indoor arena, heated lounge, two outdoor arenas, and ten acres of pasture for our…
On the weekend of June 1st, 2018, Academie Duello hosted our third annual Vancouver Martial Challenge. This is a weekend focused on the joy of sparring in a relaxed and collaborative environment. Each day all of the participants endeavour to spar with one another (in a diversity of disciplines) and at the end of each day…
Read More… from Event Report: Vancouver Martial Challenge 2018
Mounted Combat Arts Intensive New for 2018, we are planning to offer a full five-day Mounted Combat Arts Intensive from July 2nd to 6th. This 50-hour program offers you the chance to immerse yourself in a full week of mounted combat arts both in and out of the saddle. Throughout the week you will learn the…
Read More… from Mounted Combat Arts Intensive: Pilot Program Registration Open
“The duel took place on Easter Eve, and Herr von Kotze was slightly wounded and taken to hospital. The next morning he received the congratulations of the Kaiser and an Easter egg, …”[1] Ah yes, Easter Bunnies with blades Hares and HEMA Rabbits …. well, you get the idea! Sting like a Hummingbird … a…
Read More… from Festive Easter Sword Press News for March 2018
The Masters of Fence? Who came to your mind first? Ridolfo Capo Ferro of Italy? Hieronimo de Caranza of Spain? Joseph Swetnam of England? Richard Sheridan of Ireland? Wait a minute … Who? From Where? A Broad Overview If the latter country, let alone the personality, does not resonate with a vision of civilised small…
Read More… from Book Review: “Irish Swordsmanship” by Miller
“A characteristic of adolescent games is that they are preparation for adult games and sport. Organized tournaments, for instance, were for adults, but adolescent males began to train for ritualized or real fighting. The city fathers were against such training, because … it would simply lead to a disruption of civic order if urban youth…
Recently, many female identified practitioners in my life have been bravely and gracefully sharing with me their challenges in being students in martial arts. One of the main things that comes up time and time again is how difficult it is to be a student when their, typically male, partners seem eager to constantly offer…
Due to unseasonably late snow, we have decided to delay starting the Riding Level 3, Jumping and Riding Level 4+, Jumping courses at Red Colt for two weeks. This will give the ring time to recover from its late-season slush and firm up enough for jumping. These courses will now start on Saturday March 17th. Note that all…
Snow may have fallen this week, but that didn’t keep us from riding and practising mounted combat. And with spring just around the corner, we have many more course offerings to get you out of the salle and into the saddle. Spring Courses at Red Colt Mounted Combat Mastery February is sword & shield month,…