Welcome to another week of curriculum at Academie Duello. We have had a lot of interesting things going on including a tournament this past weekend that featured competitions with the longsword, sidesword, and rapier for beginners and advanced practitioners. We haven't put out our own official recap yet (we're editing lots of video) but you can read a bit about the longsword tournament on the website of the Lonin study group that came up from Seattle here.

If you're new to Academie Duello or Duello.TV we recommend that you get started with the Intro to Rapier or Fundamental Longsword Exercises.

Green Cord (Level 1)

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

These two videos represent the end of our month on use of your offhand and as is often the case we conclude our last week with techniques you can use to counter everything that has come before. The first video will help you with the fundamentals of getting around the offhand parry of your opponent when they start in an open position, and the second when they are in a closed position.

If you're new to this content, subscribers should jump back to the beginning of the month here.

Blue Cord (Level 2)

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

Quinta and Sesta, are the fifth and sixth rapier guards where the offhand or dagger is extended and lowered or extended and raised, respectively. These positions open up a new realm of possibilities for bringing your offhand into play to constrain your opponent or gain direct control of their sword. After those topics our third video will start into some advanced fundamentals for defeating the offhand.

If you're new to offhand use, I recommend you check out the Level 1 offhand content here.

Red Cord (Level 3)

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

This week we're delving into perhaps one of the most romantic and flashy of secondaries with the rapier: the cloak. The cloak or cape is essentially the coat off your back. Historically most gentleman wore a cloak for style and utility and in a pinch it could assist your defence by protecting the arm in a tight double wrap and dangling down to screen your side and legs.

Solo Exercise of the Week

http://duello.tv/featured-videos/fundamental-exercises

The passing lunge is the longest range attack that can be made with the rapier. This video will help you focus on doing this attack smoothly, efficiently, and with stability.

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.