2020 marks ten years since Devon, Adam, and I started the Mounted Combat (Cavaliere) program at Academie Duello. And now, as of this summer, the program has a life of its own as Academie Cavallo! What's Changing Aside from the awesome new logo (thanks to my talented daughter Kate Landels), payment and registration for classes…
Reopening Plans Are Underway!
This past week has been exciting for Academie Duello. We have nearly reached the halfway mark in our GoFundMe campaign, we’re coming to the close of our So You Think You Can Sword? online forms competition, we just hosted our first in-person classes since we closed down, we are expanding online offerings, and we’re hard…
Get Back in the Saddle with the Mounted Combat Program
We're delighted to announce the return of scheduled Riding, Horsemanship, and Mounted Combat classes at Cornwall Ridge Equestrian, starting June 7th! COVID-19 Precautions We have always had small class sizes and plenty of open space at our stables. Riding class size will remain at the maximum of four, and we are restricting Mounted Combat classes…
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A Third of the Way to Our Funding Goal!
We have made it over a third of the way toward our GoFundMe campaign goal! At the time that I’m writing this we have raised nearly $27,000! Thank you everyone for your support and generosity! We have a lot on the go as we seek to support our school and keep things growing. By Donation…
Help Us Hit Our Crowdfunding Goal!
This past week we launched a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe to help support Academie Duello through this difficult time. Since Friday we have raised over $20,000 of our $75,000 goal! Our centre is one of only a few institutions of its kind in the world that are seeking to revive the martial arts of Europe…
We've Got a Lot of New Stuff Going On!
Hello to all our Academie Duello students, members and friends! It’s amazing how time flies even when you’re isolated at home. Through this time we have been hard at work delivering online classes and staying connected with our members while also exploring new ways to teach and create community online. Before we share about all…
Celebrating VISS 2020
Long ago in a pre-pandemic world we held the 6th Vancouver International Swordplay Symposium (VISS). If you can, remember back to the beginning of March, oh so many weeks ago, when we could stand close enough to one another to cross swords, or tap feet and elbows in greeting. All the way back on the…
We're Still Going Strong!
Greetings Academie Duello members, friends, and followers! It’s been a while since we posted to the blog. I’m sure you can understand that we’ve been a bit occupied as have all of you. It’s about time that we reach out to all of you and let you know that we’re still alive and swinging! On…
Double the Swordplay Opportunities at Cornwall Ridge
Good news! For those of you who want more swordplay practice and who can't make it downtown, there are now swordplay classes almost every Sunday at Cornwall Ridge. Mounted Combat Mastery continues to run twice a month, and now Mounted Combat Fundamentals has a twice monthly section open to apprentice level (green cord or green…
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Swordplay Symposium Early Registration
The Vancouver International Swordplay Symposium is taking place March 6th to 8th, 2020 and this year's theme is our most exciting yet: East Meets West! We're bringing together the martial arts traditions of countries from across the globe in the spirit of collaboration and learning. This year we have 10 intensives in 5 paired tracks…
Getting Back in the Saddle for 2020: 5 Easy Exercises for Equestrians
Classes start up again on January 12th after our December hiatus. If you missed our Christmas playday and therefore haven't been on a horse since November ... or perhaps even longer ... here are some quick exercises and stretches to prime your body for riding once more. Five Easy Exercises for Equestrians Plank. Core strength…
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Happy New Year 2020
Greetings Academie Duello friends and family! I hope that you have all had a wonderful holiday season and are looking forward to a special 2020. It is pretty amazing to me to be moving into the second decade of the new millennium already. Academie Duello marked its 15th anniversary in 2019 and it has been…
30 for 30 Swordplay Challenge 2020
The seventh annual 30-for-30 Swordplay Challenge is just about to start on January 2nd. If you’ve heard of yoga challenges, you know what this is about. It’s like that, but with swords! The challenge: practice swordplay for 30 minutes per day for 30 days in January from the 2nd to the 31st. This requires no…