"What to say about Academie Duello? I didn't really know what it meant to belong, until I started taking classes here. The environment is one of acceptance, enthusiasm, and personal growth. I have made many awesome friendships that extend beyond the training floor. If you're even remotely interested, try a free lesson, and immerse yourself…
Devon's European Teaching Dates
I will be teaching and travelling in Europe (and Eastern Canada) in May and June. The following dates are confirmed. Please see the specific websites for workshop booking information. If you're interested in connecting up for a workshop in your area in between weekends feel free to be in touch. May 2 – 4 The…
Defending from the Mount
The second checklist item in the Swordplay from the Falsemount section is: Demonstrate proper defences and counter-attacks to all attacks from in-front on the far and near side. In this section we are looking for the ability to deal with descending, rising, and horizontal attacks on either side of the horse, performing core defences of…
Easter Hunt Sword Press
We seem to have a large number of peers engaged in some Easter-season hunt – be it for a new skill, a new experience, an old blade or even a national ranking! If ever you wondered if HEMA/WMA was just this seasons’ ‘flash in the pan’, We think that this weeks’ offering should demonstrate that…
Training the Top; Training the Bottom - Part I
In my post on Training the Ranges of your Ability I shared the idea that if you were to measure your martial ability on a scale of 100 you would never be able to pin point an exact value in a meaningful way because we all fluctuate on that scale based on our fitness, mindset,…
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Fun for the Whole Family with Introduction to Swordplay for Youth and Families
Spring is here and it is not just the bees that have started buzzing. The city is filled with flowers and blooming trees as we are treated by pink petal cherry blossoms that dance down to the ground covering the sidewalks. The weather is inspiring parents and children to get out of the house…
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Annual Bonfire and Work Party!
Friday 18 April at around noon we are planning to burn those piles of brambles. Providing the weather cooperates, those blackberries will be toast! Bring your work-clothes and your marshmallows and join us for some revenge! We also have several other chores on the to-do list, such as putting the lovely new trough in the…
Spring has Sprung Sword Press
For those of Us in Upper Canada that have recently dug out of a long winter, only to face the return of sub-zero temperatures tomorrow evening, We really envy those in the community that can practice their arts outdoors year round. Australia particularly. On the other hand, there is something to be said for one…
Controlling Audience Attention
I call stage combat the illusion of violence because I realized that convincing an audience that a fight is genuine while hiding the safety features is a magic trick. This is especially obvious if you watch magicians who saw their assistants in half or thrust swords through them. Misdirection About half of the effects in…
The Real History That Inspired Events in Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones. Whether you have read the Song of Ice and Fire books by George R.R. Martin or are glued to the tv screen every week when HBO debuts a new episode, one thing is clear: this is some of the best story telling out there. The characters feel so real and multifaceted- there…
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Swordplay from the Falsemount
Blue Spur Curriculum: Cutting from the Falsemount What is a falsemount? Our falsemounts are simply wooden horses from which we can safely work on perfecting techniques with steel weapons without the distraction of an animal with a mind of it's own, or the worry of injuring it. Falsemounts don't buck, bite or bolt, and most…
Court of Public Opinion Sword Press
Swords in public venues? Under the right conditions, the public will flock (and sometimes pay) to see your historical swordplay demonstration or visit a historical exhibition of swords. But, display those very same blades in a park or dimly-lit alley, and the public reaction is apt to be significantly different – notwithstanding your best and…
Violent Italian Sport
The Calcio Storico in Venice is purported to be the most violent sport still practiced today. In fact, it has remained unchanged in the last 600 years. The Inside Story: The main thing I noticed in watching these films is that although they count score as a team, they tend to compete as individuals. They…