You've all heard it (well, those of you attending class).Homework abounds at Academie Duello. Every rank in the Mastery program was assigned homework for the month of January. The homework we've assigned has two specific qualities simple: it can be explained easily in a sentence or two quick: it doesn't take long to do; about…
Category: Programs
Bartitsu 7-Jan
Happy New Year, Bartitsuka, This week, we'll be looking at: 1. Review of cane from before the holidays: Lang's techniques 2. Savate lesson: combinations and slow work 3. Integration: Staying at long range, creating distance See you at 3pm!
Cavaliere 2012
What's up in the next few months in the Mounted Combat Program? Riding & Horsemanship Our next series of Riding & Horsemanship classes begin Sunday January 15th. These classes are for all levels and cover the information needed to progress through our Horsemanship levels, followed by a minimum 30 minute Riding session to help you…
New Year's Resolutions for Fencing - A Review of the Slight Edge
Over the winter holiday I have been reading a book on the subject of personal mastery called The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson. It is a good and relevant read for those interested in mastering fencing (and not just because of the title!) or really any type of new year's resolution or goal you might…
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Google maps next update
Merry Christmas!Where ever you happen to be, grab something sword-y. A pencil will do, or a stick, or a toothbrush, just about anything will do. Point it down to the ground and then cut a montante. What did you think about? Some possible answers moving to guardia alta moving the sword up cutting a montante…
A Game of Dark Knights Should Set, Not Rise.
Well, it falls out that the only thing I should write about on this quiet Thursday is the recently released second installment of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. I'm not looking forward to the rest of this article, or the fallout it may generate. It's a dangerous game. I'll change directions often, sometimes in response…
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Horsey Holiday Fun
A mixed bag of (sometimes barely) equine related frivolity for you this week: Bronies Seriously? When I heard this interview on Q a couple of weeks ago I had to do a reality check to make sure it wasn't actually April 1st. But apparently there's a sub-culture of twenty-something guys who watch My Little Pony…
Solo Insights
I've gained some insights lately, specifically in longsword play that I thought I'd share. These all came from self-diagnosis, which is crucial for learning and is best done during your practice sessions when you can direct your own exercises. First, credit goes to Sean Hayes, Devon and Roland for their individual contributions and to me…
Bartitsu 17-Dec
This week in Bartitsu: Review of jujitsu: basic throws and evasions Cane Lesson: Lang's exercises from high guard, preemptive strike to head Integration: preemptive strike to back heel throw and variants See you at 3pm!
Stage Combat Priorities 3: Storytelling is Not a List of Events, Stupid
We all know that stage combat's first priority is safety, as we learned in Safety...Boring. We also know that many actors like stage combat classes because they learn cool-looking flourishes and how to look like a bad-a__ which we explored last time in Style and Expertise. Both of these are in service of our main…
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New for 2012 - Cavaliere Integrated Training Packages
We're really excited to be able to offer our new Integrated Training Packages for the Cavaliere Program. Starting in January you'll be able to pay a single monthly rate of $120+HST for all your mounted combat training. This includes the monthly Mounted Combat workshop and two Riding & Horsemanship sessions, saving you $60 off the…
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What did you expect to happen?
As promised, some reflections on practice garnered (or directly lifted) from Sean Hayes' workshop.A brief review: Sean was in Vancouver on 2, 3 & 4 December to teach three workshops on Armizare, Italy's knightly arts. He taught a workshop on solo practice, longsword body mechanics and unarmed, dagger and longsword. I'll be writing about the…
Bartitsu 10-dec
This week in Bartitsu: Introduction to Bartitsu workshop 1pm-5pm Ongoing class 3pm-5pm: Review of Savate: Knee strikes Jujitsu: Alternatives to standard throws, scissor take down Integration: Softening the opponent's base with leg strikes
Just in Time for a Bartitsu Workshop... Careful with the Face.
What is this marvellous fighting style from Victorian England that includes distractions, low kicks, and controlling the balance and reach of attackers? Why, it’s Bartitsu! Plus a little Wing Chun, since that’s Robert Downey Jr.’s previous training. Bartitsu Workshop This Saturday 10-December is an Introduction to Bartitsu workshop at Academie Duello in downtown Vancouver. For…
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Congratulations to Our New Horsemen & Last Chance for Mounted Combat 2011
Last Sunday six participants in the Riding & Horsemanship series enjoyed the beautiful weather at Red Colt while they proved their prowess at handling and caring for their mounts in assessing Horsemanship 1. Congrats to Alex, Rick, Percy, Moutie, Kat and Tyrel who are now ready to move onto Horsemanship 2. Kat and Moutie also…
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Slow work
I know you're probably wondering about all the great ideas that came out of Sean Hayes' workshop this past weekend. In truth there are many, but, I thought I would instead write about slow work and the things to keep in mind when you're practicing slow work.Here, then, are my seven rules to doing slow…
Bartitsu 2-December
This week in Bartitsu: Cane review: bayonet strikes Savate lesson: knee strikes Integration: cane defense versus kicks and other close combat combos See you at 3pm.
Stage Combat Priorities 2: Style and Expertise
The overall goal of stage combat, as we discussed in episode 0: The Illusion of Violence, is creating a violent scene that is safe for the actor and believable to the audience in the context of the show. Last time, we broke down some of the ways in which our first priority, Safety, plays out…
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