I’ve just returned from Nanjing, China, where I had the pleasure of teaching a two-part seminar over the weekend. The first day took place at the Nanjing Wall Museum, and the second at Nanjing Axon Martial Arts. What made the experience especially meaningful was not only the quality of the hosting, but the quality of…
Devon Boorman ·
After an excellent final week in Taiwan, teaching workshops across Taipei and Taizhong and spending time with the growing Duello community, I returned home just in time to celebrate another major milestone: our very first Scholar (Blue Cord) exam in China. Plus, this week marked the launch of our new live online series on Sword…
Devon Boorman ·
It’s been an inspiring week here in Taiwan from presenting at the Chimei Museum to teaching in Kaohsiung, and now preparing for another full weekend of workshops in Taipei and Taizhong. Meanwhile, back home in Vancouver, our community is getting ready to “Beat the Crap Out of Cancer” in support of the BC Cancer Foundation.…
Devon Boorman ·
I’ve just wrapped a 50-hour Level 1 Instructor Intensive with five outstanding candidates in Vancouver, and I’m about to head to the island of Taiwan for museum lectures, a collection tour, public workshops, and a few private-lesson slots. Read on for details, plus news about VISS 2026. Level 1 Instructor Intensive — Coaching for Control…
Devon Boorman ·
Students often ask: what’s the difference between strategy and tactics in fencing? It’s an excellent question—and one that sits at the heart of martial development. We often use these words interchangeably, but they describe distinct levels of decision-making that influence how we train and fight. Strategy: The Big Picture Strategy is about how you approach…
Devon Boorman ·
Last week I had the pleasure of teaching at Queen’s University’s Training the Heart conference, a rare chance to dive into historical fencing with professors of English, medieval studies, and linguistics with a focus on Shakespeare, his works, and his world. My workshop brought ~30 participants (most brand new to swords) through fencing actions from…
Devon Boorman ·
This past week I had the pleasure of teaching a two-day workshop at Signum Corvus in Mississauga, Ontario. Led by the passionate and principled Nick Bauer, this school blends reverence for tradition with a living, evolving martial spirit. It was a joy to teach such an engaged and capable group of students both from Signum…
Devon Boorman ·
When you step into a fight, how do you decide what to do first? Do you press in aggressively, or do you stay at a safe distance and probe for openings? The answer isn’t just about personal style—it’s about reading your opponent, understanding their tendencies, and recognizing the space between you. Wide and Narrow One…
Devon Boorman ·
One of the most interesting things about Historical European Martial Arts is that original teachings of masters from the 14th to 17th centuries are available to us as students and practitioners to read. One of the challenges is that these old fight books are usually written in languages you don’t know and using conventions you…
Devon Boorman ·
When working with two weapons the biggest mistake is to try to manage them independently from one another. This type of divided attention forces you to rapidly switch between one weapon and the other increasing your cognitive load and slowing your response time. This makes it easier for an opponent to isolate one of your…
Devon Boorman ·
