Three Types of Practice
The more knowledge you gain, the more aware you are of what you do not know. The more ability and awareness of that ability you have, the more you can…
Author: Devon Boorman
Three Things You Should Be Saying to Your Swordfighting Students
When teaching a martial arts class you have an opportunity to not only convey technique but to positively shape thinking. The psychology with which we…
Using Curiosity to Stay Slow in Slow-Fencing
The reality is that at full speed a reactive desperation to parry or an opportunistic desire to hit at all costs often create tunnel vision and lead t…
Learn the Language of Swordplay, Not Just its Tricks
Tricks and secret techniques have been a part of sword fighting since the beginning. From masters who advertised their “botti segreti” to teach for a…
Combat Mindset: Fight All The Way to the End
Perhaps this person is saving themselves from expending unnecessary energy contesting the inevitable. Perhaps they’re trying to soften some blow to …
Criticality versus Judgment
For many of us the process of critical analysis and negative self-judgment have become bonded with one another. If this is the case, you may avoid ana…
A Peek Inside the Swordplay Masterclass
I see advertisements for "Masterclasses" nearly anytime that I open social media, or Youtube. They're offered by filmmakers and artists, business exec…
Don’t Judge Your Performance Based on One Training Event
I’ve had many frustrating training and combat encounters. It’s easy to jump to a conclusion “I’m just not practicing enough”, “I’m not l…
30-for-30 Swordplay Challenge 2021
If you haven't heard already, the eighth annual 30-for-30 Swordplay Challenge starts on January 2nd. If you’ve heard of yoga challenges, you know wh…
Tune Your Training, Part 4: Universal-Systematic vs Specialized-Focused
We’ve looked at the benefits and pitfalls of training specialization. And we’ve explored the goals of a more general training focus. I personally …