During the holiday break Academie Duello will be opening our doors Monday nights to allow our students to keep their swordplay skills sharp. We shall be offering two workshops that are free for all current Duello students. BODY MECHANICS Learn how to apply both power and efficiency to every strike, step, cut, and…
Category: News
Four Examples of When Bringing a Sword to a Gunfight Was a Grand Idea
1.) The Samurai Servant of God One morning in 2006 when Bishop Kent Hendrix’s teenage son came barging into his bedroom screaming that a woman was being attacked out on the street, the Mormon man did not get on his knees and pray to god for help, but instead took matters into his own…
Read More... from Four Examples of When Bringing a Sword to a Gunfight Was a Grand Idea
Gifts for the Hard-to-Get-For Swordfighter on Your List
I've always been a very hard person to buy for when December comes around- which is the month for Yuletide gift giving as well as when my birthday falls. As a crafty person who makes a of my own jewelry, accessories and DIYs a lot of day to day household items, I have often been…
Read More... from Gifts for the Hard-to-Get-For Swordfighter on Your List
The Leading Hoof
Riding Level 2 - Identifying the Canter Lead Although we don't ask you to ride the canter on a particular lead at Level 2, we do want you to be visually able to identify the lead on which a horse is cantering . 12. Identify canter leads while watching another horse. What is a canter…
Modern Grappling for Self-Defense (Videos)
As Bartitsu is a martial art that aims to borrow from every effective method, especially with the goal of peacefully resolving a violent situation by disrupting an attacker's balance, grappling arts of every type are great to learn from. We will be exploring many of the moves from these videos in Bartitsu classes focused on…
Read More... from Modern Grappling for Self-Defense (Videos)
Waiting to be Discovered Sword News
Rapier-thin HEMA/WMA pickings from the press on this pass, it’s much akin to getting a Christmas stocking, but no presents under the tree! Thankfully, there are other things happening around the world to prove that the interest in swords, medieval or modern, is not on the wane. If It’s not Scottish, It’s Crap! CHRONICLE…
Catch Up Sword News
We’ll not apologize for our absence last week, preoccupied as We were in the home salle in Vancouver. It’s only when you hesitate while moving into what you ‘think’ is a guard - after you’ve been away for a half year -, that you recognize that ‘muscle memory’ isn’t going to cut it (no pun…
Performance News
We'll start with news items curated by Major WES VON PAPINEÄU. Wes was in town last week, I hope you had a chance to engage him in his always insightful conversation, and read his blog posts about swords and combat pulled from headlines around the world: https://www.academieduello.com//news-blog/author/wesvonpapineau/ Custom Swords for a Play For authentic fight…
Strange Sword Uses- from History to Modern Times
From history to modern times the sword is not just a very prolific instrument but also a very versatile tool. Here are some of the strangest, funniest, clever and most utterly bizarre ways a sword can- and has- been used! Sword-Ka-Bob Why not spruce up your next camping trip, or BBQ by roasting your hotdogs…
Read More... from Strange Sword Uses- from History to Modern Times
Holiday Gift Ideas for Kids 8-14
As a youth instructor at Academie Duello, I often find my students approaching me this time of year regaling me with their Yule time wish lists. I also have parents asking me what sort of gifts they can get for their kids that are unique as well as educational and connected with their child's…
Is Bartitsu Practical?
In a preview of a course in Bartitsu taught at the Idler Academy in London, the Kensington & Chelsea Today newspaper summarized: ‘Bartitsu has been devised with a view to impart to peacefully disposed men the science of defending themselves against ruffians or bullies’. The language of the fighting style is enthralling and truly Victorian.…
Family Values Sword News
Notwithstanding the number of snippets We offer up, it’s another quiet week on the HEMA/WMA front. The one item of potential interest is so, not so much for its’ discussion of the science as much as it is for its' nod to swordplay being a potential ‘family event’. Most of us have read something in…
Trailer Ricochet: Triple Damage
This week, we have three trailers of upcoming films that will hopefully have some great fight scenes. Let's take a look at each of these trailers, and analyze what we can expect. Hercules: The Legend Begins Hercules: The Legend Begins Trailer 2014 Movie - Official [HD]Watch this video on YouTube Progenitors The obvious comparison will…
November Workshop Highlights: from Medieval Swordplay to the Modern Umbrella
As Autumn begins to transition into Winter don't get stuck indoors with a case of the rainy day blues. Take this opportunity to try something new at Duello and push the limits of your practice and perhaps discover a new passion! Here's a look at of few of our upcoming workshops in November: INTRO TO…
Read More... from November Workshop Highlights: from Medieval Swordplay to the Modern Umbrella
More Bow than Sword News
With the imminent release of the Hunger Games sequel later this month, We're not surprised that the press is covering more of archery lately than they are swordplay, jousting, or stage combat (though We supposed one could make an argument that bow use in film could fall into the fight-managers’ realm!) Of note though, is…
The More You Holmes
For the Sherlock fans, I direct you to Bonzuko the webpage of fight director Jenn Zuko-Boughn. She has a regular feature called The More You Holmes, which is a reference to the 80's shooting-star factoid segments. Her explanations of obscure facts in the many Holmes TV series, films and stories are concise and always informative.…
Pounding Out Sword News
Aside from our Ukrainian peers pounding on each other, today’s offering concentrates of some of those unique individuals that enjoy their study of swords and sword history in a way totally different from the blow-by-blow techniques used by HEMA/WMA practitioners. We are lucky in this modern day to have a few skilled craftsmen that…
The Short and Long of Sword Press
Another eclectic offering of items … fight schools, stage, literature, history and popular culture. Whether you’re interested in the historical background of your favorite blade or chosen discipline; or interested in having some sort of kick-butt ‘white arm’ to bring to your Wii-fight, swords continue to consistently (if somewhat sparingly at times) appear in the…