First off, thank you to all you wonderful volunteers who came out yesterday, post-Canada Day hangovers notwithstanding, to pound posts, hammer rails, attack weeds and re-hang gates at Red Colt! We got a lot done in a short time and we couldn't have done it without you! Transitions Up until now in our Riding level…
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…
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Today I wanted to talk about warming up. There is a lot of information available on the importance of warming upand the benefits we derive from it. Almost every class at the Academie starts with an instructor-led warm-up, featuring joint-movement, medicine ball-tossing and exercises. Something that has always been stressed at the Academie, though not…
A common question at a sword fighting school is whether it is legal to carry a sword through the streets of Vancouver. This article from the Iaido Journal goes into some length about the legalities for martial arts students carrying swords to and from class. It's a worthwhile read to better understand your rights. The…
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Back in the spring, Clint reminded us about the importance of reading - and understanding - the texts necessary to progress within the Academie Duello ranks. Further, as an Instructor, he also reminded us of the importance to read, and possibly re-read the required texts whenever we have new experiences or knowledge. Reading should not…
Today's post features another guest poster. Nels Anderson is a recent addition to the Blue Cord. I requested his perspective because, as you'll soon read, Nels had to take an extended break from class, and returned the month before his successful test for Blue Cord. A great story on the power of practice. Thanks…
Over the past dozen weeks or so I've written posts detailing the requirements for our Horsemanship Level 1. If you read through those posts, look at the relevant chapters of the Manual of Horsemanship, and attend at least three Horsemanship classes in which you have the opportunity to practice handling, grooming and tacking up, you…
Rank examinations have just finished up today for the Mastery Program with two new Blue Cords entering the ranks. They have a whole new set of topics to look forward to as we roll over into the next month of curriculum at Academie Duello. Green Cord - Rapier and Offhand This month in Green Cord…
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Discussion of concussions often centres around contact sports. Here in Canada, news is made when hockey players must miss games, and the same is true of American football, and the most relevant for this Bartitsu blog: boxing. All you really need to know is hitting your head is bad. What is a concussion? “Concussion” means…
Rats – We’re apparently recycling titles as well as press items now!While Canada has a day of rest and recreation for the ‘(Queen) Victoria Day” federal holiday, WMA enthusiasts might be more au fey with respecting the 102nd anniversary of the passing of Captain Alfred Hutton – late of the King Dragoon Guards and possibly…
Check out this article from Time. It's a pretty short read. Think on its meaning and how it can best aide your practice. Thanks to Heather for sharing it.
There's a lot of news and fun stuff this week, so lets get the lesson over with right away, shall we? Basic Feeding First of all, go and re-read this post from January, which covers basic feeding. There is an entire science to equine nutrition, but for Horsemanship level 1 test we ask specifically about:…
The three Bourne movies are often cited as favourites of modern film fights. Let's take a closer look. The Bourne Identity Fight Summary: This is the one that made Bourne: Pen Versus Knife. Fight Length: 97 seconds Notes: There is time and space given to character choices, but flurries of attacks are fast and close.…
The Chicago Tribune has posted an article about our friends Forteza Fitnessthat includes some quotes from an interview with me as well as Tony Wolf, and Keith Jennings. Check it out on their website:http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-sun-0422-vintage-fitness-techniques-20120421,0,918731.story?page=1
Here's a recent find that you may have seen on Google+: Installations The idea of an installation is that theatre does not need a building called a "theatre" in order to be a legitimate live performance. When you enter a theatre, you know this: You are a spectator and will not be expected to participate…
The Internet has been a great boon to us as historical swordplay practitioners. 15 years ago access to resources regarding historical fencing were much harder to come by and generally required actuallyvisiting repositories of historical manuals. Now through the power of the Internet you can have high quality copies of nearly any manuscript and the ability to connect and…
The art of dying is dying, according to a recent article on NPR: Now 69, Fukumoto recalls landing his first job in the movies as a stuntman and extra with Toei studios in 1959. "When I was younger, our studio had some 400 stuntmen and extras," he remembers. "I wanted to stand out. I…
It's nice to read inspirational happy stories that encourage you to train harder and feel great. It's also nice to get clear information and details to help your chosen studies. Normally, I try to give you both. Today, I have to draw your attention to bad news. Vancouver Playhouse Closed I saw one of their…