Swordplay from the Ground - Guards of the Sidesword Our core weapon for Mounted Combat is the longsword, but we use it in one hand when mounted. For that reason it is useful to look at guard positions from the sword and buckler tradition. In the Blue spur we ask that you Demonstrate six core…
Saturday’s Viking Ragnarök follow-on to the Y2K and the Mayan calendars 2012 cataclysmic predictions was similar in effect in that we’re all here together to read this bit. But the recent Viking (non) event did have a HEMA/WMA bonus. We were reminded for a short time of the spirit and fighting techniques of the medieval…
The month of March heralds the start of Spring and an extra hour of daylight! What better time to start learning a skill? Whether you're a practitioner looking to expand your horizons or completely new to WMA, start by checking out our various Beginner's Courses: Fight Like Sherlock Holmes Bartitsu is a complex martial art…
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One of the primary challenges that I see my students face and that I have personally faced over years of practice is boredom. Most techniques take hours of focused time to improve and hone. Yet the mental discipline it takes to put in these hours does not come naturally, certainly not to our rapid fire…
We are super excited to announce a brand new Leather Working & Armour Course at Academie Duello. It has been quite awhile since last we ran this on-going workshop. Instructor and armourer Mark Charke will take you through the steps involved to go from hide-to-finished product in this 6-week course in the art of leather-working. Students…
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Swordplay from the Ground: methods of attack Whatever your trade, having more than one trick is an advantage, and swordplay is no different. For your Blue Spur we want you to be more than a one-trick pony and so we ask that you: Demonstrate diverse methods of attack and counter-attack. First of all, review your…
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So, why did You take up HEMA/WMA? Fitness? Historical interest? Social leveler? A Pointed Introduction. HA'ARETZ (Tel Aviv, Israel) 31 January 14 Herzl, swords and the Nazi salute: The curious history of Jewish fencers (Shay Fogelman) “Jews were forbidden most duelling groups, and formed their own. And reached a degree of expertise to establish…
People with "dark skin” and “Europeans” are not separate and mutually exclusive groups. There has never been a time when Europeans were exclusively white people. Europe was never a culturally or racially isolated place. Europe has been connected through trade and politics with many different nations where the locals were black, and many countries…
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A few years ago I was in a very high pressure rapier tournament. It was the largest and hardest fought tournament in the Northwest with a list of 50 fencers who were arguably some of the best fencers around competing. On my way down my travel companion asked me “So how do you think you’re…
*Forgive the pun. I know all you horsemen out there are eagerly looking forward to this type of shedding: For that you'll have to wait for Mother Nature's good graces. Today though, we're looking at Swordplay from the Ground: Shedding the Blade The Blue Spur curriculum requires you to Demonstrate shedding the sword while standing…
Talhoffer takes the Train DER KURIER (Vienna, Austria) 07 February 14 Rapier, Säbel und Pluderhose: Fechten wie die Musketiere (Anna-Maria Bauer) Dreynschlag, one of the 20 historical fencing groups in Austria, hosted 200 of their peers during their 10th annual "Dreyn Event" in Brigittenau. Combatants learned new skills and competed in rapier, sabre and pole-arms…
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When I look at my pursuit of mastery and proficiency in the various arts of my life I see more clearly now that truly a very small percentage of what is between me and mastery (meaning a high level of proficiency) is technical ability. Obviously technical ability is essential to mastery but the barriers that…
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Swordplay from the Ground: turns of the sword In the Green Spur checklist we ask you to demonstrate the three turns of the sword, ie, the volta stabile, the mezza volta and the tutta volta. These are described in this post from last year, so first go back and familiarize yourself with the turns. For…