Author: Devon Boorman

In the Western martial traditions the master of a school was typically an employee of the student, like a hired coach or tutor. In an…

A question came up in a webinar once from an instructor in Indonesia about how to get by when minimal training equipment was available. This…

It’s been nearly a week since the 2022 Vancouver International Swordplay Symposium and I’m finally back on my feet enough to write up a brief…

Historical European Martial Arts come from a rich historical tradition that includes a wealth of instructional books written from within the period wh…

When the blades are in contact, small movements and having a better sword position (one that applies leverage and body structure in your favour) are e…

Rapiers and longswords are both swords, but aren't they as distinct as sky diving and skin diving? I think it's a great question, and I'd like to answ…

There are many ways that you might look at sparring: As a simulation of life-and-death encounter, as an effort to kill or be killed, as…

When training, there are long periods where even well-disciplined chunks of movement are not organized into useful overall models. Much of your mind w…

Everything tends to be uncomfortable when you are learning something new. The challenges loom large. The postures are new, the terms are unfamiliar, and the…

To put one’s opponent into obedience is to force them into predictable action based on threat and cover (control of their attacking lines). You can…