Perplexed Sword Press

There’s nothing local found this week, but Eastern Europe continues its traditional love-affair with all things historical and sword-like.  The Ukraine, Poland, Belarus and Russia all have WMA/HEMA competitions that have ‘hundreds’ of participants, with thousands of spectators – and often have strong municipal and provincial support as well. Their different sword-cultures are long and…

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Briefed and Monte Cristo cover Duello

Some cool spots about Academie Duello showed up in a couple publications in the last two weeks. Patrick von Stolk of Briefed.ca an online men's magazine focusing on the Vancouver area came in and tried out Warrior Fundamentals last week. Briefed is beginning a new series of articles on fitness in the Vancouver area that's…

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Plot in Choreography

Choreography should be more than stringing together combat movements in a random order. Based on last week's post Character in Choreography, you have some ideas how to customize your performance of a fight, but what about fight design? The Videogame Fallacy I love fighting games, and you can learn a lot about fighting styles from…

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Mind Your Manners, Ruffian

Is etiquette just silly pretension taken to an extreme in the Victorian era? Is there universal etiquette? What about the etiquette in a martial arts school? Where Are Your Manners? Etiquette is a manner of social interaction, that's why it's sometimes called "manners". Modes of address, gestures including eye contact, eating rituals and clothing (such…

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Sword Press, eh?

We lead with two Canadian items this time around, a first We think for this blog.  HEMA/WMA ‘is’ alive and well in the ‘True North, strong and … well trained’.  Given the late start that Canada had with discovering a European martial arts heritage (no medieval nor renaissance-period sword fighting actually took place here in…

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Muted Sword Press

It’s quiet out there (again) … too quiet (still).  But, there are whispers of sword-sounds in the far off distance – though We had to dig hard this week to find them.   Playing the Prize in Poland GAZETA (Warsaw, Poland) 26 July 13  Znów powalczą o miecz króla Kazimierza. Turniej rycerski w Szydłowie (Paweł…

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Culturally Influential Sword Press

Swordplay in books, swordplay in movies, swordplay in the public venue.  There are plenty of examples out there (and We do mean ‘out there’) on how swordplay (and by inference ourselves) is viewed by those that have not yet joined us.  For better or for worse; movies, television, demonstrations and yes, even books; will influence…

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Beginner's Courses: August Cycle

Whether you're looking for a fun way to get and stay in shape, or a new mentally and physically stimulating hobby, our Beginner's Courses have something for everyone. Take it from one of our Taste of the Renaissance graduates and now ongoing student: First off, if you are thinking about stopping in here, stop thinking…

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Grounded Sword Press

Ground.  Those interested in WMA/HEMA use and history are always trying to manoeuvre on it, dig around in it, or landing on it … usually with somebody’s assistance!   With somebody’s enthusiastic assistance. Ground Zero. OTTAWA CITIZEN (Ontario) July 13  Medieval Festival in Osgoode a smashing good time (Gemma Karstens-Smith) Zach Lovering was one of Knights…

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Academie Duello and Bard on the Beach: Shakespeare's Rebel Book Launch

Shakespeare's Rebel Book Launch DATE/TIME: July 22nd, 7:00pm to 10:00pm LOCATION: Vanier Park, Vancouver On the night of July 22nd, Bard on the Beach, together with Academie Duello, Canada’s premier medieval martial arts school will put on a swashbuckling night of swords and words! Come join us at Vanier Park to celebrate the launch of…

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Rainy Day Sword Press

As We sit here trying to sort through the wealth of links that have appeared this week, We take a moment to look up at the omnipresent rain clouds that have dogged Ottawa so far this year and think: “I wonder where the roof went to?”  And like the rain, We’re all over the place…

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