The last week has been an interesting week in Western Martial Arts. The Audatia sword fighting card game being spearheaded by Guy Windsor of the Helsinki Sword School has well surpassed its funding target on IndieGoGo and is into some cool stretch targets. This project is absolutely worth funding so I recommend you follow the link and check it out.

My colleague, Ken Mondschein, was recognized as the first Maitre d'Escrime Historique (Historical Fencing Master) of the US Fencing Coaches Association. He has been working on a program of certification within this particular body for historical fencing. This would expand their prevue beyond the modern fencing world where they currently reside. I don't know that this organization should really be playing in our field but if they are going to, Ken is an upstanding guy and certainly one of few people who might be able to hammer something of value from this endeavour. Congratulations Ken!

At Academie Duello we are getting ready for a weekend of swordplay in the great outdoors at our event: the Cascadia North Accolade Tournament. There are still spots available if you feel like dropping into the Vancouver, BC area to enjoy a weekend of swordplay and camaraderie.

At Duello.TV we have been on limited production through the summer because our studio is near constantly occupied between classes, workshops, and Knight Camp but next week we are going to be back at it in force. Keep your eyes peeled for new content on dagger, wrestling, poleaxe, spear, sidesword, and more in the coming months!

Now onto this week's class videos.

Longsword Focus

http://duello.tv/featured-videos/this-week-in-class/

Mezzo tempo means 'half time' and refers to opportunities to strike the opponent as they move their weapon non-offensively while they are in your range. The best mezzo tempo opportunity often comes as the opponent raises their weapon in preparation for a cut. In this class we look at how to capitlize on these opportunities..

Green Cord (Level 1)

http://duello.tv/featured-videos/this-week-in-class/

In the next two classes we are looking at how to counter the oncoming cut of an opponent in three ways: 1. As the cut is prepared (in mezzo tempo), 2. As the cut falls (contra-tempo), and 3. After the cut passes and the opponent attempts to bring their weapon back on-line (dui-tempi).

Blue Cord (Level 2)

http://duello.tv/featured-videos/this-week-in-class/

In this week's classes we continue our exploration of feints looking at how to safely deliver a false attack to your opponent from a position of cover, where you have your opponent's line already closed, and using tempo as your cover, feinting in a moment where your opponent is unable to strike and more inclined to respond in a way that opens them.

Red Cord (Level 3)

http://duello.tv/featured-videos/this-week-in-class/

Dui-tempi is perhaps one of the most useful and commonly employed tempos of operation in fencing, though often undervalued. In this week's classes we look at a variety of ways that actions in Dui-Tempi can be employed and defeated.

Devon Boorman is the Co-Founder and Director of Academie Duello Centre for Swordplay, which has been active in Vancouver, Canada since 2004. Devon’s expertise centres on the Italian swordplay tradition including the arts of the Renaissance Italian rapier, sidesword, and longsword, as well as knife and unarmed techniques.
Read more from Devon Boorman.