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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 ·
A week ago I returned from the Western Martial Arts Workshop (WMAW) in Racine, Wisconsin. I have been honoured to be a part of this event for the past 15 years and this year was a special one. This year featured workshops, deeds of arms, engaging discussions, swordy hijinks, skillful demonstrations and more. It was…
Devon Boorman ·
About 300 kilometers (186 miles) south of Taipei is the tropical beach city of Tainan. Known for its good food, vibrant night markets, and richly mixed cultural heritage. Tainan was the first landing and settlement site for the Dutch presence on the island of Taiwan (known to them as Famosa Island) in the 17th century.…
Devon Boorman ·
I’ve just returned from a month working with students and instructors across the middle kingdom in Fuzhou, Nanjing, Chongqing, and Beijing. China is one of the fastest-growing hotbeds of European Martial Arts in the world. In this post I’m excited to share some of the highlights from my trip both as a tourist in these…
Devon Boorman ·
The Vancouver International Swordplay Symposium (VISS) is a premier event in the Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) community, drawing practitioners and instructors from around the world. This year's symposium marked the seventh gathering since its inception in 2011, offering a rich blend of instruction, sparring, and discussion at the newly expanded Academie Duello Centre for…
Devon Boorman ·
Among the foundational concepts in Italian Swordplay is "tempo," a term that extends beyond mere timing to encompass the rhythm, opportunity, and decision-making critical to combat. A good fighter can see these critical moments, match the rhythm of an opponent, provoke predictable action, and then strike or seize control based on that action. Today we…
Devon Boorman ·
Deception is one of the most alluring ideas in martial arts. Yet good deception is significantly more complex and subtle than simply being sneaky. Today we're going to break down where deception fits into overall strategy, the most common pitfalls, and how to build feints and invitations that reliably succeed and don't lead to double…
Devon Boorman ·
Each defense or counter-attack is what demands the next piece of the form, the next counter. A good form demonstrates a series of obedience-inducing threats.
Devon Boorman ·
On my recent trip to Los Angeles, my friend Mark Mikita took me to a hidden gem of a shop near his place in Marina Del Rey. In a strip mall between a payday loan place and convenience store (not sure this was exactly the neighbours but you get the idea) was one of the…
Devon Boorman ·
The rondel dagger is quite different from a modern tactical knife in that its primary function is as an armour-piercing spike. This changes how you address defending yourself from many modern systems. You don’t have sharp slicing edges to worry about, yet it is nearly a foot long meaning you can’t let your opponent get…
Devon Boorman ·
“I, the tiger, am so quick at running and turning that I can’t even be overtaken by a lightning bolt.” Fior di Battaglia, Getty Museum, Tom Leoni translation I love slow fencing and I think it is an essential part of training. However, slow alone does not prepare you for combat. Martial art exists along…
Devon Boorman ·
Maintaining a slow and relaxed pace is difficult for most people when they first approach it. If this is you, you’re not alone. It’s worth it to stick it out and develop your slow training skills. I have coached thousands of students through effective slow drilling and sparring and have had its benefits proven to…
Devon Boorman ·
Time compression, the time dilation effect, or being able to see the code. These are all metaphorical ways of expressing the phenomenon of those moments where time appears to slow down and your capacity to act (or at least to think) appears to expand. Time Doesn’t Really Compress Of course we’re not actually affecting time,…
Devon Boorman ·
For some, brutality is what makes martial art "real" or egalitarian. They feel that a real art or artist must routinely test their metal against those who care more about landing powerful blows than for the long-term health and safety of their sparring or training partners.
Devon Boorman ·
I’ve brought a new practice into my life this spring. Something that has been more about altering my mood and resetting my rhythm than just purely about martial arts. I started doing a cold ocean swim in the mornings. I had been looking for a way to reset my morning routine. My schedule had been…
Devon Boorman ·
Disarms, or "sword takings" (prese della spada) as they’re typically called in Italian martial arts, are not just the cool fodder of movie sword fights. They are an important part of martial traditions from around the world, including those from Europe, and to get good at them requires that you develop exceptional timing, dexterity, and…
Devon Boorman ·
The spear combines the intricacy and control of the rapier, the blows of the longsword, and the ambidexterity of the poleaxe. It’s a fast and engaging weapon worthy of your attention. Spears of All Sorts Spears come in many different forms from long and thrusting oriented to short and capable of both thrusts and cuts…
Devon Boorman ·
A solo form involving attacks, defenses, guard changes, facing changes, and footwork might be referred to as a kata or an assault (italian: assalto), and more recently (especially when it’s improvised) a flow. Longsword Flow - Multi-directional The idea in this kind of form is to challenge yourself to move continually and improvisationally with your…
Devon Boorman ·
When I post videos of sword and buckler techniques online, it's not unusual for a few comments to incredulously remark on the size of the buckler: "You call that a shield?" "What's that hubcap you're holding?" Instead of simply responding, "It's not the size, it's what you do with it," I thought it would be…
Devon Boorman ·
The new Longsword vs Sword & Buckler course is live on DuelloTV and as part of the festivities I’m taking some time in these posts to explore the unique powers (and weaknesses!) of each of these disciplines both in facing each other and in meet-ups with other weapons. Last week we looked at some of…
Devon Boorman ·
The new Longsword vs Sword & Buckler course is live on DuelloTV and as part of the festivities I’m taking some time in these posts to explore the unique powers (and weaknesses!) of each of these disciplines both in facing each other and in meet-ups with other weapons. Let’s dive in! The power of the…
Devon Boorman ·
Martial Artists can often get caught into their own silos of practice and learning, exploring and only facing other practitioners doing the same thing you’re doing. At many points in learning this is the right thing to do. I advocate for symmetrical practice when you’re establishing foundational proficiency in your art. Yet there comes a…
Devon Boorman ·
It’s time to get 2023 started off right with the 10th-annual 30 for 30 Swordplay Challenge! Yes this is the 10th Swordplay Challenge, and whether you’ve been there for all 10 of this is your first, I hope you’ll join me by picking up your sword (or sword like object) and help usher in 2023…
Devon Boorman ·
I thought I’d take some time to share a few classics I enjoy—of a sword fighting variety of course! These sword fighting movies are the ones that gave me some of my earliest inspiration and still do to this day. The Duellists This is probably my all time favorite sword fighting flic. From 1977, this…
Devon Boorman ·
Martial arts can have a lot of inherent intensity to them. They are violent, often competitive, and bring many into spaces that are uncomfortable, be that from the stresses of learning or the stresses of apparent conflict. It can be easy to find yourself suddenly going faster or harder than you planned as you chase…
Devon Boorman ·
I was slow-sparring with a new student the other day and there was a moment a few minutes in where I struck them with a slow thrust to the face. Just before getting struck they leapt back and tried desperately, and very quickly, to try to beat my sword away. Afterward they exclaimed, “you sped…
Devon Boorman ·
I wrote recently about our first examination for Longsword Free Scholar at Academie Duello in Vancouver. This was a big milestone for the school and I was really proud of examinee Ben Davis for the work he put in to get there as well as in the community for supporting him both in the process…
Devon Boorman ·
The HEMAsphere is abuzz again with an oft-revisited discussion about whether sword parries should be done with the flat or the edge. As I’ve covered before, parrying with the edge has historical precedent, biomechanical superiority, and provides stability in the blade. Yet two questions continue to come back to the fore and they’re worth addressing:…
Devon Boorman ·
It’s an exciting week for Academie Duello and Duello Armizare. We’re running our first Free Scholar exam specifically for Longsword on Friday, September 30, 2022. Armizare Scholar Ben Davis will be participating in a three-hour examination that includes skill demonstrations for Abrazare (wrestling), Sidesword & Buckler, and Longsword, as well as a combative examination where…
Devon Boorman ·
I’ve returned home from the 2022 Western Martial Arts Workshop in Racine, Wisconsin, re-inspired and with some stories to share. This event is truly one of the premier HEMA events and it is an honour to have been a teacher at it for so many years. In today’s newsletter I’ll be sharing my event report…
Devon Boorman ·
Greatswords (spadone in Italian) are a class of two-handed swords that tended to be longer and heavier than your typical medieval longsword. They had longer blades, handles, and quillons, as well as sporting additional features such as ricasso quillons — two short spikes a handspan or two from the crossbar. Most were typically about 4.5…
Devon Boorman ·
Twice a month Academie Duello hosts a sparring night we call Open Floor. Members from all of our programs come out on this one night to train, practice, and fight. One of the more interesting and entertaining explorations is the meeting of different weapon disciplines. In this post I want to explore one of the…
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 art where a successful instructor was teaching many people above their own social station, the bowing and scraping usually came from the instructor—just the opposite direction to what we see…
Devon Boorman ·
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 is a problem that many groups face if they’re in areas of the world where HEMA equipment is hard to import or expensive to acquire. But even for those who…
Devon Boorman ·
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 report about this amazing event. This year we decided to run a “mini” event with a focus on Bolognese swordsmanship, which we dubbed the Quincentenary in honour of the 500th…
Devon Boorman ·
Historical European Martial Arts come from a rich historical tradition that includes a wealth of instructional books written from within the period where those arts were most actively practiced. Picking up an ancient fighting manual is by no means necessary to learn, practice, and enjoy these martial arts, but doing so can offer a significant richness to that practice.
Devon Boorman ·
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 essential to victory. You must also develop a heightened sense of "feeling" through your sword so you can respond quickly and easily to adjustments in your opponent's pressure.
Devon Boorman ·
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 answer it in a few parts across multiple posts.
Devon Boorman ·
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 a competition for points, as a game, or as a kind of dance. Each type of framing brings with it a particular attitude, set of assumptions, and way of seeing…
Devon Boorman ·
When training, there are long periods where even well-disciplined chunks of movement are not organized into useful overall models. Much of your mind will still be occupied with managing what’s going on inside while you try to respond to what is happening outside. This can be a very frustrating stage, especially in swordplay.
Devon Boorman ·
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 coordination of the actions can be difficult. Fortunately the novelty and excitement of doing a new thing—like sword fighting—tends to give us the energy to push through these discomforts and…
Devon Boorman ·
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 think of obedience as making your opponent dance to your tune. This concept is pretty central in a lot of weapon based martial arts, it is certainly well represented in…
Devon Boorman ·
Fighting for less two than minutes I was already gassed. The first minute of the finals match had been active but not enough to warrant the level of exhaustion I was feeling already. What happened? Was I pushing myself too hard? Had I peaked too early in the event? That’s when I realized, I wasn’t…
Devon Boorman ·
When I set out to write this article I was reminded of this old Jim Carey sketch from In Living Color (be warned it involves some stab wounds and bad 90s humour). In the sketch, Jim Carey as the martial arts instructor informs his demonstration partner, who has just stabbed him with a knife, that…
Devon Boorman ·
On our Friday night open sparring sessions I like to get in and do a few fencing passes like everyone else. It’s not uncommon for one of my students, after we’ve fenced for a bit, to ask me for some feedback on their fencing. I’m glad to be asked this question, and I’m glad that…
Devon Boorman ·
This is not an accounting of how you "are a failure." Quite the opposite: it is an accounting of how you "are someone who dares."
Devon Boorman ·
Every martial arts meetup, whether it’s a class, a study group, or a tournament, is a type of gathering. It is so easy to approach these in the way we have inherited from others, rather than thinking intentionally about our purpose in those gatherings and what it takes to foster the community, learning, training, or…
Devon Boorman ·
Whether you call it randori, kumite, sparring, or touching hands, many martial arts provide space and time for students to explore the art in a less constrained environment. In my school we call this time “Open Floor”: it has typically been a weekly 2–3 hour block of time where students are invited to come and…
Devon Boorman ·
Having a form that you can practice without a training partner provides structure for improving and maintaining your martial ability when training solo, and allows you to explore and enjoy the internal side of the art that is not about competition or self-defense.
Devon Boorman ·
Solo forms are a part of many different martial arts from around the world, and European martial arts are no exception. Solo and partnered martial forms appear in many different Italian fighting manuscripts, particularly from the Bolognese tradition, as well as in German sources like one included in Döbringer’s treatise. Forms play a diversity of…
Devon Boorman ·
The main failure I see in most people’s resolution setting is that the resolutions themselves tend to live in a vacuum without any clear systems around them for support. If you are relying solely on your willpower and excitement to get you to some new achievement you are likely to run out of both—well before…
Devon Boorman ·
Which hand should go on top with a two-handed weapon? Across martial arts there are actually a lot of arguments for placing your dominant hand on both the top and the bottom of the grip. I want to dive into this interesting topic. Jogo do Pau and Left Hand Lead Check out this video from…
Devon Boorman ·
I have long heard that ballet has its origins in historical fencing. It's a romantic idea and as someone who both teaches martial arts and dance (though not ballet) I certainly find tons of parallels in how they are both taught and practiced.
Devon Boorman ·
The path to mastery is as little as 25% technical, and 75% psychological. Not to diminish what it takes to learn and apply a martial art physically, but I have met very few students that I didn’t feel were physically capable, with sufficient practice, of mastering their arts.
Devon Boorman ·
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. Now technical ability is essential to mastery, but the barriers it…
Devon Boorman ·
I have broken some fingers in intense bouting, separated a shoulder while doing armoured combat, and have certainly had my share of sprains and strains. That being said it has been a relatively healthy career thanks to a lot of care and attention. Yet, even with that, injuries happen. What to do with your training when they do?
Devon Boorman ·
Technical jargon can seem like a burden when you're first learning a martial art. European martial arts in particular have dozens of guard names, positions, attack types, and terms for movements of the sword and body. It can be daunting when you're learning a new movement language to also learn the spoken and written language that accompanies it.
Devon Boorman ·
Finding the rhythm of your training, and simply enjoying the process, are beautiful states to work toward in your martial endeavours. However, for most of us we also want to see progress. There’s a natural desire to be able to do a technique more deftly, swing a sword more powerfully, or defeat an opponent you…
Devon Boorman ·
Everyone has their own pace of learning. However, there are many strategies that can both help you to make the most of your capacity as well as enable you to learn faster and more effectively. Here are a few useful ideas. Fundamentals First Every advanced technique is made up of several fundamental ones. Many students…
Devon Boorman ·
Challenging yourself to be better is daunting, daring, and rewarding. On this road you must find the edges of your comfort, push beyond your physical limitations, and surmount many an emotional hurdle. And though much of this is truly hard, little of it is "hardcore".
Devon Boorman ·
Research has shown that we humans use a tremendous amount of our brains in spaces beyond our conscious awareness. Learning is a process that is far broader than simply the conscious practice of new skills. One Good Sleep I have found many situations in my personal experience where, after having worked on a problem extensively…
Devon Boorman ·
A good teacher doesn’t just impart information to their students, they empower their students to be excellent learners. In my classes I’m thinking not just about how I can increase my students ability with a given technique in that moment but what I can give them that will help them meaningfully practice, implement, and build from that technique after.
Devon Boorman ·
In many of our classes at Duello we have a section where students of all levels drill with one another, one-on-one. It’s a great opportunity for inexperienced students to gain from the physical knowledge of experienced partners, for members of the school to meet and connect with one another, and for technique to be tested…
Devon Boorman ·
I've entered into combat with an opponent expecting a particular type of response, only to have them defy my expectations. They may do something that is foolish, inefficient, or simply unorthodox and I find myself taken off-guard because I had not properly understood what I was facing and I left too many options open to consider. In the final part of this series on awareness, we look at the "understanding" side of awareness.
Devon Boorman ·
Within an environment that develops as quickly as a sword fight there is no time to actively reason your way out of it. You enter with a plan and then you have to leave it to your conditioning to execute appropriate tactical responses in the situation you encounter.
Devon Boorman ·
Awareness is an essential part of martial performance and learning. It allows you to know and understand your successes and failures—an important goal of good training. The sense of where your body is in space is at the heart of of bio-mechanical conditioning, and without sharp and broad perception in a fight, it's hard to adapt, respond, and take opportunity when required.
Devon Boorman ·
Objective measures can be compelling. They’re easy to inspect and they can allow you to see progress in a way you can graph. However, often people choose the wrong goals to measure and this has a detrimental effect on their development.
Devon Boorman ·
The route from learning a new skill to pulling it off in combat is not a simple process. Though you can take many skills immediately into combat and make some progress, it is more effective to follow a formal process that targets the skill in a focused manner at each stage of its development.
Devon Boorman ·
One of the first major workshops I ever taught internationally was entitled “The Art of Not Sucking”. This workshop ended up being so popular that it has become one of my most delivered (at well over a dozen). I would bring students through concepts I have honed over years of practice and teaching about how…
Devon Boorman ·
Anyone can get caught in a dark place in terms of how they view themselves and their progress in a skill. Making demands of ourselves to be at our best can be a powerful motivating force, but it can also be supremely destructive. In my own growth as both a swordsman and a dancer I…
Devon Boorman ·
Parries often get a bad rap. Yet it's mostly because people suck at them. In today's post I am going to teach you how to make a strong and efficient parry that will allow you to defeat the most powerful of attacks and counter-attack like a wizard.
Devon Boorman ·
Though winning can be thrilling, I recommend setting your sites on different targets for the best long-term success in becoming a master of these arts.
Devon Boorman ·
Great performers are recognized because of their consistency, so get consistent in your warm-up so you can always show up fully.
Devon Boorman ·
Sometimes you just need to allow your body/brain to figure things out through exposure and repetition. Your unconscious mind is far better at identifying patterns (positive and negative) than your conscious mind.
Devon Boorman ·
You know that person who stands across from you and just can’t seem to do their part correctly in the exercise? Perhaps they feel compelled to outsmart every exercise with a counter, or maybe they have their own ideas of what the exercise should be, or don’t care to listen to what’s offered, or perhaps…
Devon Boorman ·
In the past I have written posts about posture and my journey to build it in myself. How we hold, carry, and move our bodies is essential to our practice as martial artists in two ways: Effective Martial Arts Requires Effective Mechanics. The heart of martial arts is body mechanics. Every technique you can perform…
Devon Boorman ·
Not every training day is a brilliant one. Not every tournament is your best. Not every performance shows all that you’re capable of. Sometimes things are just plain crappy.
Devon Boorman ·
If you plan to improve in your martial practice you need outside feedback. Here are three quality sources that you can seek out to get the most of your training time. Use these three E’s to keep your feedback accurate and reliable.
Devon Boorman ·
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 become aware of your flaws. Here are three approaches to an old training problem.
Devon Boorman ·
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 approach learning and practice is incredibly influential over our success at that practice and our energy to keep at it long term.
Devon Boorman ·
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 to unwise actions, overextension, and exaggerated movement. These are all leading causes of losing bouts, not winning them.
Devon Boorman ·
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 special price, to those who ever only taught the one or two techniques they felt would get you out of a tight corner. Even more expansive writers such as Ridolfo…
Devon Boorman ·
Perhaps this person is saving themselves from expending unnecessary energy contesting the inevitable. Perhaps they’re trying to soften some blow to their ego by arresting the final strike with words instead of their torso. What I do know is that they’re giving up too early.
Devon Boorman ·
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 analysis altogether out of a fear of bringing in that judgmental voice. If you do this, you’re throwing out something useful.
Devon Boorman ·
I see advertisements for "Masterclasses" nearly anytime that I open social media, or Youtube. They're offered by filmmakers and artists, business executives and artisans. It's hard to know what's really inside but the promise is engaging: a deep immersion with a passionate expert.
Devon Boorman ·
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 learning”, “My opponent is just way better than me”. Yet there are so many factors that go into a given performance.
Devon Boorman ·
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 what this is about. It’s like that, but with swords!
Devon Boorman ·
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 enjoy the middle ground–the blending of specialization and generalization that I think of as universal practice.
Devon Boorman ·
Studying a more general and broader set of skills matters when the context is not fixed or your desired outcome does not have a pinpoint focus.
Devon Boorman ·
There are a lot of reasons for not training at home, we sometimes tell ourselves. But how to counter those arguments, and make it (nearly) effortless to transition into practising at home? One way is to designate a space for training, and work to make it both practical and inspiring.
Greg Reimer ·
Mindset can feel chemical and mercurial. If I have a good start to training then everything is great, but if something goes sideways it can feel unrecoverable. The reality is that mindset is something to incorporate in your practice, like every physical skill.
Devon Boorman ·
Today the main driver of specialization is competition. By specializing, a combatant can focus every hour of their training on a single end, whether that be victory in a tournament, or survival in a duel.
Devon Boorman ·
Many people ask me what my reason is for practicing something that is arguably esoteric and a few centuries past its true usefulness. The answer may not be what people are expecting.
Devon Boorman ·
The most essential part of a practice system is its regularity. Generally the individual who practices more consistently over the long-term will see larger gains over the sporadic practitioner.
Devon Boorman ·
Being able to perform a technique with the least amount of extra movement and in a manner that does the job as directly as possible is essential to high level practice. Use the following paradigm when teaching a technique for the first time and when correcting or refining a technique to increase its effectiveness.
Devon Boorman ·
Students often spike during slow work in their speed or strength. We'll explore the tools of "soft work" to help us train smarter, not harder.
Devon Boorman ·
When students are first learning to use slow work, one of the biggest challenges is maintaining a consistent speed and strength, not spiking up to a much higher level when you’re about to be struck or there’s an opening to exploit.
Devon Boorman ·
There is something important in our lives about working toward a particular outcome, facing the stress of that, feeling like you don’t want to go through with it and going through with it anyway. There is almost no better skill that you could acquire for success in life.
Devon Boorman ·
Blocked practice can allow you to focus on the structure and order aspects required to succeed in the technique. Varied practice is however the needed destination as it is far closer to the real combat environment.
Devon Boorman ·
It’s important as a student to practice in the most effective and efficient manner for getting results in your desired performance environment (e.g., a duel, a tournament, a melee, etc.). These are two primary practice schema that can be applied when acquiring new skills.
Devon Boorman ·
Many set different rules and governors around their practice with different goals and aims. These rules change the art that is practiced. Our goal is to get as close to the martial art of the Renaissance and Middle Ages as possible—without actually killing anyone.
Devon Boorman ·
An “abort” often occurs when you catch yourself applying old skill "A" when you intended to do new skill "B", and you stop yourself mid-action. The risk of this behaviour is that you bring over-thinking into your sparring.
Devon Boorman ·
After their first night at sparring, a new student of mine engaged me in a conversation. She had enjoyed herself, but felt like she was flailing and a bit out of control. Here’s what I told her.
Devon Boorman ·
“Alright, the next drill is even more difficult,” I said to a chorus of groans. It’s worth setting a target that is well beyond your reach once in a while.
Devon Boorman ·
You’ve just finished a sparring match. You were struck, but what happened? The ability to recall a fight in a useful manner is a different skill than those required to have that fight.
Devon Boorman ·
The trouble with an end-goal metaphor is it doesn’t account for the ephemeral nature of destinations in personal growth, skill development, and on a spiritual path. More often than not we reach our destination only to find the next day that we’re not there anymore. The achievement of yesterday seems impeded today.
Devon Boorman ·
You’re injured, you’re sick, you’re exhausted, you're stuck on your own. Does this mean that practicing the art you are passionate about is out for today? Not necessarily. There are many ways to explore a physical skill without twitching a muscle.
Devon Boorman ·
One of the main errors I see people making in solitary practice is over-practicing a single action. Generally this comes in the form of practicing a complex, multi-part action, without the needed external stimulus to give the technique its contextual relevance, timing, and feeling.
Devon Boorman ·
Being able to mechanically conduct a technique is important for establishing a combative base. However to be successful with a given technique requires a much greater level of understanding of its application.
Devon Boorman ·
Even brand new students who’ve never held a sword before share experiences of feeling like they look stupid at their first class. Many resist ever having a first class because of this.
Devon Boorman ·
Keeping a new skill in the active portion of the brain allows you to return to serious study of that skill (for example in a weekly class) more ready for new information and with a much higher level of retention of previous material.
Devon Boorman ·
I’ve recently become more aware of a "helpful" person in my classes. This person is so helpful they want to make sure that their partner never fails, never feels bad, and is successful in all that they do.
Devon Boorman ·
Ideally every lunge, every cut, parry you perform on your dominant side you would echo on your non-dominant side. This not only leads to a more physically pleasing physique, one where you don’t have a massive shoulder on one side, butt cheek on the other, but also to a healthier and higher performing body.
Devon Boorman ·
Slow practice and fencing does not prepare you for combat. The truest test of martial combat exists without self-imposed limitations on speed.
Devon Boorman ·
Often when we start into something new, we’re eager to get past that first awkward and potentially embarrassing stage and get onto looking like a badass as quickly as possible.
Devon Boorman ·
Perfection is the enemy of a healthy training mindset. Not simply the pursuit of it but more dangerously the achievement of it. There’s no ‘up' from perfection, only the stagnating and psychologically draining task of trying to maintain it.
Devon Boorman ·
This week we’ll examine some useful tools to help alleviate stress during combat training and get us on the path to sound tactical responsiveness.
Devon Boorman ·
My student's flight response has been engaged. She is reacting, not responding. She knows what she wants to do but every time the particular stimulus comes her body leaps to its most conditioned panic response.
Devon Boorman ·
Remember back to the beginning of March, oh so many weeks ago, when we could stand close enough to one another to cross swords, or tap feet and elbows in greeting. All the way back on the weekend of March 6–8 we hosted 25 instructors and over 100 students from around the world to an amazing inter-cultural martial arts event.
Devon Boorman ·
The more secrets under your belt, the easier it is to stay on top. But this is a limited view that keeps you from truly expanding your ability as a martial artist.
Devon Boorman ·
Be mindful about how you use your energy. Be efficient about your movements. Only do what you need to do and remember that distance between you and your opponent is your friend.
Devon Boorman ·
I’m often asked how one should divide up their training and learning time for optimal effectiveness. Every training activity can be divided into further divisions and there are good and bad strategies for all of them.
Devon Boorman ·
Martial Arts have meant many things to me over time. Here are some of the outcomes I feel are found within the HEMA disciplines we practice at Academie Duello.
Devon Boorman ·
It can feel wonderful to receive praise. But these types of compliments may be programming you to avoid risk and seek approval.
Devon Boorman ·
I was turned on by sparring right away. Win or lose, I loved the environment, I loved the contact, and being able to truly test my skills with a weapon that allowed me to practice a large percentage of its deadly techniques in a safe, non-injurious manner. Yet for all the rewards that sparring can offer it can also be a destructive force in one's pursuit of a martial art.
Devon Boorman ·
One of the core reasons to set goals and work to achieve them is to build happiness, fulfillment, and sense of self. But if you're using your goals to beat yourself up or hold yourself back, you'd do better to change your strategy regarding goals.
Devon Boorman ·
If you want to become an excellent practitioner of something (and that is a worthy goal), then you are going to need to call on yourself to do something you can't yet do and keep asking for the yet-unreachable again and again.
Devon Boorman ·
Goals are something that are always on my mind in one form or another. Sometimes I forget them for a time, get lost into the activities themselves, or just find myself drifting along, but I can't go far without popping my head up and wondering where I am and where I'm going.
Devon Boorman ·
Our emotional state while learning has a dramatic effect on our brain's readiness to absorb new information, act creatively, and retain new content.
Devon Boorman ·
A sometimes-heard phrase around the Academie is "doing things wrong will help you figure out when something's right." This is an often-understood but rarely appreciated concept.
Devon Boorman ·
One day while teaching a private session one of my students brought in an old book of stretches and stretching routines and asked which ones were best for swordplay.
Devon Boorman ·
We're bringing together the martial arts traditions of countries from across the globe in the spirit of collaboration and learning. This year we have 10 intensives in 5 paired tracks each that compare a European martial tradition with an Eastern one.
Devon Boorman ·
The seventh annual 30 for 30 Swordplay Challenge is just about to start on January 2nd. If you’ve heard of yoga challenges, you know what this is about. It’s like that, but with swords! Featuring a 30% OFF coupon for subscriptions!
Devon Boorman ·
We often overestimate what we can accomplish in one day, while we underestimate what we can accomplish in five years if we were to start taking small steps now.
Devon Boorman ·
Learning how to see what's happening and then build relevant responses is one of the more challenging aspects of swordplay but also one of the most satisfying.
Devon Boorman ·
Last week I was an instructor and director (referee) at the South East Renaissance Fencing Open (SERFO) in Atlanta, Georgia. This is definitely one of the smoother and more professionally run events in North America. In addition I was asked to teach two workshops focused on rapier and dagger.
Devon Boorman ·
I have had the opportunity to be teaching at this event for the past 10 years and it is always one of my favorite events as both a teacher and participant.
Devon Boorman ·
Self-calling of tournament blows has the challenge of being more difficult to implement when groups with different cultures interact and when there is more on the line. This system of third-party judging involved the fighters in an efficient fashion and received very positive reviews from all involved.
Devon Boorman ·
When you let go of the idea that you can't remember names, then the possibility of remembering them begins. Here are three tips to get you started.
Devon Boorman ·
This event aims to be a meeting of Historical European Martial Arts practitioners from HEMA clubs and from historical re-enactment backgrounds (primarily the Society for Creative Anachronism). The focus of the event is on disciplines that often get overshadowed by the longsword, namely the rapier, sidesword, and sword and buckler.
Devon Boorman ·
This past week I hosted an online webinar about how to take a technique learned in class and make it something that is actually an internalized skill. This is a process that is well understood in sport science but very under-practiced within HEMA.
Devon Boorman ·
This event was hosted by Valour HEMA with support from Winnipeg Knightly Arts and Manitoba Broadsword. It featured two tournaments on Saturday and several workshops and lectures on Sunday. I feel that the hosting groups have done a particularly good job of emphasizing personal growth, learning, community, and art in their given groups.
Devon Boorman ·
Swordfighting is a lot about problem solving. By selecting the right tool for the job, we can begin to solve these problems by having our partner give us one little sequence at a time.
Greg Reimer ·
This was our fifth bi-annual event and each time that it comes around it provides new adventures and opportunities for everyone. I'll share some of my thoughts and recollections from what was an amazing weekend of interaction between instructors and students of swordplay.
Devon Boorman ·
I didn't like this game when first introduced to it years ago. I found the Mortal role especially frustrating; I kept getting hit all the time! Gradually I've learned to appreciate the value of the game, and today it's something I recommend to everyone.
Greg Reimer ·
I love having the opportunity to step into the classes of other HEMA instructors as well as classes offered by my own students. It can be a tremendous opportunity to be opened to new skills and new teaching approaches.
Devon Boorman ·
Though I have said it is not your top speed that is important but rather how many speeds you have, being fast has its advantages. To cultivate speed in your martial art you need to consider several aspects of training.
Devon Boorman ·
The goal of this event (and similar past and upcoming events put on by Immersion Labs) is to bring together martial artists from diverse cultures and traditions. In this case everything was unified by humanity's oldest weapon: the stick.
Devon Boorman ·
It is difficult to manage levels of challenge within a mixed level group. The needs of the experienced practitioner and those of the newcomer are quite different.
Devon Boorman ·
The idea of pursuing personal excellence is great, but functionally how do you do it? I put together this material for instructors that touches on three lenses used for targeting both correction and improvement in any technique.
Devon Boorman ·
Myself and three members of the Academie Duello crew visited the February 8-10 Capitol Clash in Washington, DC. I had the pleasure of being part of the reffing staff, a workshop instructor, and at the last minute a participant in the combined Longsword, Sidesword, and Rapier team tournament.
Devon Boorman ·
Excellence is the evidence of diligent, attentive, and purposeful practice.
Devon Boorman ·
I have an earnest desire to help create and foster masters of our art. My interest is less on the identity of master but on the job of master.
Devon Boorman ·
Some are blessed and cursed with the insight to see the full mountain, while realizing they are legitimately at the bottom of it.
Devon Boorman ·
On January 2nd, join hundreds of martial arts practitioners from around the world in a swordplay and European martial arts training challenge!
Devon Boorman ·
Finding time enough in our busy lives for quality martial arts practice can be difficult. One thing that has helped me is recognizing there are many moments in life where I can give a little attention to my martial arts, and that giving many small moments to martial arts can be very impactful as a whole.
Devon Boorman ·
Repetition training is, well, repetitive. And repetitiveness can be quite challenging to manage for our easily distracted minds. Boredom is one of the biggest enemies of effective training.
Devon Boorman ·
We all lead busy lives, there are limited times to catch up with friends or spend time with family, and there are tons of distractions that can occupy you into the wee hours if you let them. Perhaps if general life needs won't motivate you, consider how your lack of sleep might be affecting your training.
Devon Boorman ·
Registration is open! The event, which takes place from April 5-7, is a conference focused around intensive three-day programs with an aim to help people along the path of mastery in the many disciplines of Historical European Martial Arts.
Devon Boorman ·
Not only is swordplay a wonderfully fun and fulfilling physical activity, it is also a great way to build physical health and to do so in a low impact way.
Devon Boorman ·
Full speed sparring is a type of simulation that has a hard time approximating the real world, and as training environments go it is not focused enough for efficient skill development. So what's the use?
Devon Boorman ·
Slow sparring is used in boxing, MMA training, diverse Eastern martial arts, as well as sharing many similarities to slow tactical training exercises in lots of different sports. And I have found few swordplay students that don't benefit greatly from its practice.
Devon Boorman ·
I recently visited many groups in all the major cities of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and found myself reiterating over and over why I was there and what I was personally wanting to get out of our meetings. It came down to three activities I used to get closer to the centre of the art of swordplay.
Greg Reimer ·
If my only need was to survive martial encounters in a specific environment, I would most certainly focus my practice on the narrowest set of skills with the highest percentage chance of success. But martial arts and its mastery is more than this.
Devon Boorman ·
When I speak with people who have found places of deeper proficiency and mastery, a common thread among them is often "I just kept showing up."
Devon Boorman ·
One of the primary benefits to practicing assaults is that they provide a means to build your strength and capacity with moving your weapon (or weapons). A good assault brings you through common attack and defense patterns, as well as a great diversity of them.
Devon Boorman ·
One of the most challenging things to deal with in sparring is the mental or emotional intensity of a very forward motivated opponent, someone who throws powerful blows, or someone who comes very ferociously.
Devon Boorman ·
This event sought to rid its attendees of at least some aspects of its ignorance of the art of arms as taught by Marozzo and his contemporaries in early 16th century Bologna. And I feel that it very much succeeded.
Greg Reimer ·
Instead of trying to find and advocate for one tournament format as being the best or most authentic format, we need to realize that authenticity may only be realized by having as many different environments to play in as possible.
Devon Boorman ·
What is the purpose your art is serving? What are the ends that you're driving toward? What will it look like when you're done? Who will you be?
Devon Boorman ·
Martial arts practice on my own can be one of the great pleasures of my week. I don't have to worry about providing for a partner or guiding a student. I can simply focus on my own body, my own sense of flow, and my own desires from that practice.
Devon Boorman ·
Having a collection of sparring partners who by nature were as focused or as broad as you needed to best meet your training needs would be ideal. You could practice combatively and target your weakest areas with pinpoint precision. This is what drilling is about.
Devon Boorman ·
Many are afraid that if they really enjoy themselves they’ll lose their edge. Yet I do think there is much more to be gained from the type of joy that is equated with growth, fulfillment, and satisfaction.
Devon Boorman ·
These are principles that we look to in our approach to armed and unarmed fighting. In particular I look to them not just as single avenues upon which you can create defense but as a triumvirate that you look to combine as much as possible.
Devon Boorman ·
What makes an expert coach is that they have a strong sense of the goals of given techniques, and have made lots of attempts to pinpoint key areas and give focused corrections.
Devon Boorman ·
How do you really make someone a master? How do you know where you should set the goal posts and when you've reached them? We're defining the route while we walk it.
Devon Boorman ·
How do I make the other people in my group drill and do exercises? The short answer is that you don't "make" them do anything. But with a bit of empathy you may find an effective strategy to bring a few of them on board and increase your overall quality of practice.
Devon Boorman ·
I had the pleasure this past weekend of being a judge, ring director, and instructor at Lord Baltimore's Challenge in Washington, DC, an event put on by David Biggs and a large crew of people from diverse groups such as Maryland KDF, Virginia Academy of Fencing, and the DC-area SCA chapters.
Devon Boorman ·
Coming back after a long break? Stepping it up in a way you haven't before? Fact: the first week will be hard.
Devon Boorman ·
Don't expect the schedule to stay the same forever. It's normal and natural for a rhythm that worked last month to not work now. Here are some rhythms that work for others and might work for you.
Devon Boorman ·
The Vancouver Martial Challenge is a weekend focused on the joy of sparring in a relaxed and collaborative environment. Throughout the weekend there are also individual challenges between participants and personal challenges that up the stakes and create a spectacle for the event.
Devon Boorman ·
This past weekend we held a charity event at Academie Duello called Duelling with Cause. It featured a tournament, swordplay demonstrations, and a lot of cool audience participation. One of the things that the attendees got to try out was sabering a bottle of champagne. Here's how it's done.
Devon Boorman ·
Making sweat angels on the floor after every training session or working out to the point of injury aren't going to get you very far very fast. But if you never push yourself you'll also never have your capabilities expand to encompass new possibilities.
Devon Boorman ·
I'm a big fan of sparring games and other exercises that help bring a skill from drilling into a more fluid and combative environment. The Five Things Exercise is a sparring game that allows you to focus on five different techniques or ideas with just this goal.
Devon Boorman ·
A bulk of medieval and renaissance fighting manuals depict swordplay in shirts, jerkins, or gambesons, generally with light gloves, with both two handed and one handed weapons. These are often presented alongside depictions of combat in full armour.
Devon Boorman ·
I thought that today I'd revisit one core strategy I have found very valuable in my journey, keeping a simple training journal.
Devon Boorman ·
This past weekend I had the special honour of seeing one of my senior students, Matheus Olmedo, elevated to the rank of Provost (the fourth level, just before Master). It was a superb thing to be a part of, along with my fellow examiners Maestros Greg Mele and Sean Hayes.
Devon Boorman ·
An examination for the rank of Provost is taking place this Saturday in Vancouver, BC. The Provost level fits within five martial ranks. Each level represents a different achievement of applied skill and knowledge within our martial system. These ranks have a long and historical tradition within schools in Italy and throughout Europe.
Devon Boorman ·
Feeling in a bit of a slump in your sparring? Perhaps overwhelmed or under-challenged? Sparring games, where you create restrictions and alternate objectives, can be a great way to up the strategic challenge and interest, or allow you to focus on a smaller subset of skills.
Devon Boorman ·
Classes are a great place to learn, but building proficiency is what happens in between learning sessions. Here are five ways you can make the most of your personal practice time.
Devon Boorman ·
I'm a big fan of slow sparring as a training tool. It is an ideal way to focus on mechanics and precision, develop strategic and tactical awareness, and work on the necessary relaxation and fluidity required for high speed combat in a more manageable setting.
Devon Boorman ·
I've seen students haltingly muddle through each and every motion of a technique, attempting to perfect it while in progress. I also see them judging the quality of each stage, and judging themselves, long before such judgments are necessary or useful.
Devon Boorman ·
Rhythm is the most important thing to cultivate on the path to mastery. Whether you leverage our online course or simply get started with your own practice ritual, start making those little steps. Five minutes of real practice time honours your commitment more than hours of good intentions.
Devon Boorman ·
There are many techniques, tricks, and traps one can employ, with relatively little practice, that will score you some hits on mediocre fencers. The challenge is that none of these approaches provide a base for later excellence.
Devon Boorman ·
This is not an article about not giving help, it’s simply about being effective and constructive with the help you offer. If you truly want to help those around you grow, which I’m sure you do, find ways to do it that genuinely create the outcome you want.
Devon Boorman ·
The key to being able to catch a ball—or to parry a sword blow, or strike a moving target—is giving your brain enough exposure to the problem in its many permutations, and then identifying the patterns in what works or what doesn't.
Devon Boorman ·
It takes practice to meet challenges, recover from failures, and take stock in growth. I think one of the most valuable things that martial arts, and the rituals that surround them, can offer us is the opportunity to have this practice.
Devon Boorman ·
Over the month of January Academie Duello and Duello.TV hosted a 30-day swordplay training challenge. Along with weekly groups of practical exercises we posted daily training advice on topics as broad as physical training, recuperation, discipline, psychology, and mastery. I thought it would be useful to compile them here for reference.
Devon Boorman ·
In the path of mastery I see tournaments as a tool to help challenge, inspire, and expand one's practice. They're not for everyone, and they're a poor end in and of themselves if your goals are long-term and martial. To fit tournaments into the mastery journey it helps to step outside of their inherent structure and make them work for you.
Devon Boorman ·
Cultivating the competitive spirit is often used to drive one to harder training and to overcoming one's opponents in a game or tournament. Yet, if it's based in making negative comparisons to others, I think competition is something you should let go of for your long-term growth and health.
Devon Boorman ·
I am often asked why people practice martial arts or why I practice swordplay specifically – considering it’s unlikely that I’ll be in a life-and-death sword fight anytime soon. The fulfillment I get from martial arts is both richer and deeper than a simple practical outcome.
Devon Boorman ·
Our capacity to stay on the long road to mastery and move through its various stages is highly connected to our relationship with ignorance. There is a lot more "not knowing" than there is "knowing" on this path.
Devon Boorman ·
Starting today (January 2nd) and for the next 30 days, we are challenging every sword fighter (new or experienced) to commit to at least 30 minutes per day of practice (solo or partnered). DTV is here to help with loads of training advice and practice videos!
Devon Boorman ·
Martial arts done well can improve your strength, endurance, and physical comfort. But done poorly, they can have the exact opposite effect, leading to strain, pain and injury.
Devon Boorman ·
Relaxed muscles are quicker to respond, easier to adapt and change, and more capable of feeling connections through your weapon. Yet so many of us have a difficult time being relaxed, or even being aware of our current state of tension.
Devon Boorman ·
Let us explore how our desire to help one another can often get in the way of allowing others to both help themselves and connect with a vital part of learning: failure.
Devon Boorman ·
Greg here. Two years ago my partner and I set out on an epic adventure to sword fight across Western Canada. It went so well we repeated the loop again this fall. I'd love to share a few highlights from the 13-day, 8-city journey.
Greg Reimer ·
Sometimes, no matter who your sparring partner is, copycat behaviours can kick in and you begin to mimic and match your partner, even if what they're doing is less than ideal. How do you avoid mimicry when it doesn't serve you?
Devon Boorman ·
Swordplay is something I truly love and has been an enduring passion of my life. But when the fire is gone a sense of resentment, frustration, or anger can remain in its place.
Devon Boorman ·
To achieve any goal outside of your current path requires behavioural change, whether that is the goal of simply learning something new, achieving a particular martial goal, or making a change for your health.
Devon Boorman ·
This article, cribbed from my forthcoming "Introduction to the Italian Rapier" book, looks at the range of historical rapiers and my opinion on how to best select a modern reproduction.
Devon Boorman ·
The story says that through competition you are always being pushed by the people below you and challenged by the people above you. That may be true, but the question is: is it the most effective way to learn and grow your practice?
Devon Boorman ·
Having a form that you can practice without a training partner provides structure for improving and maintaining your martial ability when training solo, and allows you to explore and enjoy the internal side of the art that is not about competition or self-defense.
Devon Boorman ·
Hosted by the Chicago Swordplay Guild, this is one of North America's oldest European swordplay and martial arts events. The weekend features workshops, social activities, a feast, and copious amounts of free sparring and sharing between attendees.
Devon Boorman ·
Considering the number of things that I have taken up, loved, and then put away over time, it's quite remarkable that the rapier still holds my interest today. It is a weapon that has truly transformed me, as a martial artist, for the better in every discipline I practice.
Devon Boorman ·
It's a beautiful thing that we live in a time when fighting can be whatever we want it to be.
Devon Boorman ·
HEMA is a broad term that includes potentially thousands of martial arts, disciplines, and practices. I thought it would be interesting to break down the term and some of what is potentially included within it.
Devon Boorman ·
My student asked a question about the nature of longsword fencing as it is often seen now in tournaments and in many videos online: "Why don't we see more play at the bind?"
Devon Boorman ·
Nearly everything we work with today is written by instructors for a consumer audience. These notes provide an invaluable alternate view into the historical systems of fencing we study now. They are surprisingly readable for a modern audience and remind me of both notes I have taken and things that I say in class to my long-term students.
Devon Boorman ·
At the end of July we hosted the Vancouver Martial Challenge at Academie Duello in Vancouver, and it was a tremendous weekend of inter-disciplinary sparring and camaraderie.
Devon Boorman ·
The benefit of practicing a martial system that includes multiple disciplines is that this learning from alternate perspectives is baked in. It is also part of what separates sport from art.
Devon Boorman ·
If you can practice with other folks, in person, that is really the best way to learn a martial art. HEMA groups predominantly fall into a few categories: Sparring practices, study groups, and schools.
Devon Boorman ·
Our goal is to help people find the path of mastery. To develop an understanding of the art on a deep and fundamental level in multiple dimensions and to explore those dimensions in as useful and effective a manner as possible.
Devon Boorman ·
Putting yourself out into the world is a surefire way to invite criticism. All who *do* encounter those who detract. Yet is there really any other way one would want to be in the world?
Devon Boorman ·
Like getting caught into a conversation with the pedantic child who always asks "why?", down the why-hole lies madness.
Devon Boorman ·
For each goal, each set of values, each person, there is a different art to explore and practice.
Devon Boorman ·
Istanbul is a city steeped in both European and Asian history. Every site you visit reveals layer upon layer of history that goes back at least 2000 years. This makes Istanbul both an interesting and fitting place for the study of Western martial arts.
Devon Boorman ·
A little more than a week ago I was arriving in Italy to the sala of Roberto Gotti for a special gathering of swordsmen called Giocatore. This was a weekend of martial encounters across disciplines, opportunities to share knowledge, and time to immerse oneself in study and camaraderie.
Devon Boorman ·
Elevating our teachers to a realm beyond what is humanly achievable can be a strategy for minimizing our own expectations, and thus our disappointments. It can also be a way of giving away our own responsibility for being our own teacher.
Devon Boorman ·
For many these are the learning skills that they've had the most practice with, since our school system focuses so much on them. It may not be that you are "wired this way", simply that you have not had the same opportunity to develop learning skills and strategies in the other styles.
Devon Boorman ·
This week I'm exploring kinesthetic learning, which can be understood as the act of learning by feeling or doing. Kinesthetic sense is often best engaged through experiencing the stimulus for the skill and feeling the consequence of right and wrong action.
Devon Boorman ·
For this week's post in our continuing series on empowered learning I am going to suggest some strategies for maximizing our auditory learning abilities. If new knowledge is pleasing to your ears: read on!
Devon Boorman ·
Visual learning is the process of learning a new skill by seeing it demonstrated or receiving correction through visual modeling. Here are a few things to consider that can maximize this form of information acquisition.
Devon Boorman ·
Your learning is only based partly on the effectiveness of your teacher. It is largely based on your own personal effectiveness as a learner. Good teachers should certainly help you on this journey, but the more you can help yourself, the more you stand to gain in each of the learning situations of your life.
Devon Boorman ·
As tournaments (and competition in general) started to wane for me, I needed new ways to explore and deepen my passion for my art. I found that many of the most inspiring practitioners I knew put more attention into other avenues of practice and growth than tournaments.
Devon Boorman ·
Having a solid approach to safety in your group is important for retaining members, keeping your body healthy, and for creating the space for experimentation.
Devon Boorman ·
If your group does things one way it can be difficult to allow that those who practice a different system may also be doing something right.
Devon Boorman ·
Don't think this material is just for beginners. We've endeavoured to be very thorough about the mechanics, structure, and fine points of each technique.
Devon Boorman ·
If you have a desire to keep "true" to your art, as I do, I think it is important to make the "martial" a planned and intentional part of your practice and exploration on a regular or semi-regular basis. Here are a few of the avenues I recommend for doing this.
Devon Boorman ·
One of the best things I can do for myself and my students is to keep renewing my openness to change. I can do my best to equip them to be their own guides and model what I have learned as my own teacher.
Devon Boorman ·
These events are amazing opportunities for learning and inspiration. They also tend to be super-packed events with more goodness than one human being can effectively cram into their brains and bodies. So here are a few tips to make the most of your time without burning yourself out.
Devon Boorman ·
At the end of January we finished up the fourth 30-for-30 Swordplay Challenge. I took some time to reread a bulk of the training reports and compiled some interesting collections based on the diversity of training represented. I hope they're as interesting and entertaining to all of you as they were to me.
Devon Boorman ·
I had fought hard, reached a certain peak of success, received ample rewards, but then felt completely deflated. Then I began to investigate both the martial and the historical part of this pursuit and realized something more lasting than simple competitive success.
Devon Boorman ·
Not everyone has the luxury of being able to regularly attend classes at a school like Academie Duello or get together with regular training partners. So how do you train on your own in a way that is effective?
Devon Boorman ·
Halfway points are both exciting and challenging. On one front, you've made it half way! However, you also have as far again to go. Here are a few tips to get through the halfway hump.
Devon Boorman ·
This is not an accounting of how you "are a failure." Quite the opposite: it is an accounting of how you "are someone who dares."
Devon Boorman ·
Practice 30 minutes of swordplay per day for 30 days starting January 2nd until January 31st. This can include your current training or be in addition to it. Join us on Facebook today!
Greg Reimer ·
As with most years, 2016 has been a year of growth, struggle, triumph, and celebration. We have experimented, challenged ourselves, had a few stumbles but in the end made some great strides. There is so much done, and so much to look forward to. Here are a few of the things we're proud of from 2016.
Greg Reimer ·
We just finished our last curriculum week for the year at Academie Duello. It will be two weeks before we're back onto our regular program, and depending on where you practice you might be stepping into a similar break yourself. So what to do with the time off?
Devon Boorman ·
To create something doesn't take much. Just a start. From that start, with some love, rhythm, and resilience, you can create something really special and notable, over time.
Devon Boorman ·
It's back! The fourth Vancouver International Swordplay Symposium runs February 17–19, 2017. The theme this year is This vs That: An Exploration of Martial Asymmetry. This really is a do-not-miss event and I heartily recommend that you attend. Here is what is exciting me about the event.
Devon Boorman ·
Mistakes are not the realm of the beginner, they’re the realm of the innovator. If you’re not making errors you’re not trying hard enough, challenging yourself, or pushing your edges.
Devon Boorman ·
It can be challenging to fail your own students. I care for them and empathize with both the disappointment and frustration. As a teacher I share in those feelings as I am a direct part of each student’s journey.
Devon Boorman ·
This is not an article about not giving help, it’s simply about being effective and constructive with the help you offer. If you truly want to help those around you grow, which I’m sure you do, find ways to do it that genuinely create the outcome you want. Here are a few strategies.
Devon Boorman ·
The act of sharing something with others increases retention, understanding, and personal fulfillment. The most important thing is to realize being a teacher does not require hierarchy or dominance. Be honest about your abilities and teach from a place of transparency without pretense.
Devon Boorman ·
Those to whom we offer respect and friendship become a type of leader in our lives, and we look to leaders to share with us their ideas on how to live. This is especially true when we are entering a new community. These role models tell us how to behave in that community. We learn from them what is acceptable and what is not.
Devon Boorman ·
From early experience I learned that a simple partnership can be a powerful and productive force in one’s life. A little bit of social pressure and mutual accountability can go a long way to helping one get going and stay going. Fast forward 20 years and now I use that buddy system in nearly every part of my life.
Devon Boorman ·
If you can kick butt, does that make you a martial artist? Not necessarily. If you seek to be an artist, you must first develop the palette. That means you can’t focus only on the immediate results of one tool; you need to think longer term.
Devon Boorman ·
I have found that people these days seem to be notoriously hard on themselves and are terrible at accurately assessing their own progress—I certainly have seen this in myself. Yet it is not an unfair thing to assess one’s progress as it can give a view into the effectiveness of your training. To do so fairly requires that you first have a few things in place.
Devon Boorman ·
Unless you plan to die ten years from now, there’s still plenty of time to gain a notable level of proficiency. Now is your only starting point. As scarce as it can sometimes seem, time is the one resource we can truly count on.
Devon Boorman ·
Any plan based on willpower for success is doomed. Success in anything is largely based on rhythm. The ability to take gradual and reliable steps toward your goal. Crunching away on the 10,000 hours of mastery is not going to come from a few good bursts of training, it’s going to come from a regular methodical practice over weeks and years.
Devon Boorman ·
Training is at least 50% mental and 50% physical. If you’re truly down-and-out sick, then just let yourself be sick. No sense resisting the sleep you need and prolonging the pain. But if you’re just out with the sniffles, or you have an injury that prevents you from physically training, then here are some things you can do to keep your rhythm going and train the mental side.
Devon Boorman ·
I want to get as close to the original martial art as possible without actually putting myself, my training partners, or my students in mortal danger. Yet that is a difficult thing. Without life and death it is difficult to not introduce excessive amounts of fallaciousness into your practice.
Devon Boorman ·
There is certainly something ingrained in our culture to get bored easily in repetition (I see this in myself and students). Our minds are hungry for variation, new challenge, and distraction. Activating the willpower to keep on task is often a losing battle, there is only so much will in the will-bank to activate in a given period of time.
Devon Boorman ·
Swinging a steel sword at someone, even a blunted one, seems risky. That's because it is. How can we keep practicing it—often rigorously—for a long time?
Devon Boorman ·
A study group is a group of peers devoted to helping each other get better in a particular martial practice. If you don’t have an experienced and savvy instructor in your area, or you want to pursue learning something that is not offered by your group or school, or you simply want to get in more training time than is being offered, a study group is a great way to go.
Devon Boorman ·
In its simplest form, practice is about identifying challenges, understanding them, solving them, and training through them. Then repeat. If you’re not failing, do it again. This time: up the challenge, up the personal risk, up the vulnerability of doing it wrong. Then repeat.
Devon Boorman ·
For many years I have kept a training journal. This is a log book of personal practice goals, training plans, progress toward those goals, and a ticker tape of general thoughts, comments, struggles, and successes. At its simplest the journal is a way of keeping my training front-of-mind and it helps me keep continuity from session to session.
Devon Boorman ·
There are many moments in our lives where we reveal that we care, whether that is through our interest or our frustration. When a peer or mentor sees this moment and instead of turning away, turns in, it can meaningfully move us toward learning, resiliency, and a sense of truly belonging.
Devon Boorman ·
Practicing does not always mean "working on". It’s important to give yourself time with passions and skills in your life to just simply indulge in the activity. It's vital to give yourself time simply to feed your enjoyment. This helps you remember why you do this thing in the first place, and can give you energy for further training later—if that's your desire.
Devon Boorman ·
Even if you’re part of a vibrant school or club and have lots of training partners to practice with, keeping a daily rhythm is an essential part of the path of mastery. That means you’re going to have a lot of solo training occasions to fill. Most partner drills don’t effectively translate into a solitary analog, so here’s some guidance to help you make the most of your alone time.
Devon Boorman ·
The successful people we see in the world can often seem super-human. They start every day with a run, positive affirmations, a great workout, a fulfilling breakfast with their family (that’s right, this is all before 7:00 am), then sit right down to their projects and kick butt in a super-organized fashion, eat a healthy lunch, pursue three hobbies they love, and finally sleep for only four hours. This is an intimidating image of success to hold ourselves up to. And a completely false one.
Devon Boorman ·
Much of what I have had to learn is how to keep my passion and joy alive (which they both absolutely are!) throughout what has become a lifelong pursuit. This path and all its challenges and rewards has helped me discover a deeper sense of myself, true self-confidence, happiness, and a heartbeat that has gotten me through some of my darkest times.
Devon Boorman ·
There is a way that walking a familiar path can be pleasing—like returning home. There is an internal journey that is always advancing, and following a road you know well on the outside can free up your mind to go further on the inside. When I struggle my way through those first push-ups, or the humbling experience of having my butt handed to me in a fencing match, a part of me says: “Hello, old friend. I’m looking forward to walking this road again.”
Devon Boorman ·
It takes time to build up the confidence, and the skills, to play an active and useful role in shaping your learning environment. Get feedback and help, and experiment. The more you can see yourself as your teacher, instead of offloading the responsibility onto someone else, the deeper and more satisfying your training can be.
Devon Boorman ·
From June 3–5, Academie Duello will be hosting their first Vancouver Martial Challenge. This event is part of an alternative type of event I want to promote within the Historical European Martial Arts community: events that focus on combat within the realm of the martial art rather than the martial sport.
Devon Boorman ·
As Michael Syed cites very thoroughly in his book Bounce, the number of hours you invest is important, but the quality of those hours is what actually matters when it comes to achieving mastery. To effectively push forward, you must spend the bulk of your hours working in the most challenging places, putting yourself into a space where you make mistakes and fail frequently.
Devon Boorman ·
Earlier I challenged people to step onto the path of mastery. I think the idea of a master, as described here, is inspiring. But if your desire is only for what you feel the title might give you, it will be difficult to keep the energy and love of the art alive long enough to realize such a shallow goal.
Devon Boorman ·
The arts that fit under the umbrella of Historical European Martial Arts or Western Martial Arts are still young in their return to the world. It has really only been about 20 years that there has been earnest pursuit, and only in the last decade has there been a serious increase in practitioners. There is a growing energy behind them now.
Devon Boorman ·
Last week I wrote a post about the secrets to looking after you knees and back. The essence of which was "move correctly!" Now to give a bit more guidance in this area I've put together a new video that gives instruction on creating proper alignment. In this video I cover the following: The bracing…
Devon Boorman ·
Whenever I teach dance, or martial arts, body mechanics are a big part of the foundation that I try to build with my students. There are many similarities to the mechanics required in partner dancing to those required in swordplay. When you get into lifting and dipping your partner, the crossover starts to even more…
Devon Boorman ·
Recently a group of Academie Duello members participated in a rapier tournament called Ursulmas, hosted by the SCA in Washington state. The tournament was based around the concept of martial challenges, that the organizer called “labours”. These challenges pitted individuals up against an opponent who outmatched them in some way, whether with a challenging combination…
Devon Boorman ·
A couple weeks ago I wrote a piece called “Three Things You Should be Saying to Your Martial Arts Students” where I encouraged teachers to reinforce for their students that practice matters more than talent. I received a lot of great feedback and got into some great discussions. The piece was even translated into French…
Devon Boorman ·
Over the month of January, myself and Academie Duello hosted a training challenge that set a goal of 30 minutes of swordplay training per day for 30 days. Whether this was over and above your usual training, or simply an extension of it, was up to each participant. Specific additional training goals could also be…
Devon Boorman ·
One thing I enjoy about shooting swordplay videos is that it gives a tangible output to the martial arts work that I do. I enjoy teaching—in fact I love teaching—and I realize the payoff of my work will always be the many excellent practitioners that have come out of the school. However, before publishing, the…
Devon Boorman ·
We're one week into the 30-for-30 swordplay challenge and here are a few things I’ve been reflecting on: The appeal of swordplay is broad. Participants who have been reporting to our group have been from all over the world including Russia, Serbia, Germany, France, Spain, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, N. Ireland, Brazil, and all over…
Devon Boorman ·
Hello everyone! I hope you’re all having a good holiday and looking forward to the new year as much as I am. This year I’m hosting the third annual 30 for 30 Swordplay Challenge and I wanted to invite you to be a part of it. You’ve heard of 30-day yoga challenges. Well, this is much cooler. I’m a big fan of New Year’s Resolutions to help me kickstart my new year with a boost of energy. The challenge: Practice swordplay for 30 minutes per day for 30 days in January from the 2nd to the 31st. This requires no experience and is open to newbies and experts alike!
Devon Boorman ·
Phew! It’s done! It was an intense and satisfying experience teaching a full week in Academie Duello’s first formal instructor training intensive. Thirteen aspiring instructors came to Vancouver for a five day, 50-hour intensive to kick off their ongoing instructor training. Attendees came from the local area and across North America with varying levels of…
Devon Boorman ·
Our psychology has a tremendous impact on our performance whether in a competition, or even in practice sparring or drilling. Many people who are perfectly capable performers on one day or in one environment can find themselves falling apart in different circumstances. A large contributor to this is one’s internal dialogue. Mindset can feel chemical…
Devon Boorman ·
This weekend was a momentous event for Academie Duello: our first Silver Cord (aka Provost) examination. A provost is one step below Maestro/Master and it represents an enormous achievement. Provosts are expected to demonstrate a high level of effectiveness within the school’s system, a demonstrable and defensible understanding of the school's pedagogy and theoretical approach,…
Devon Boorman ·
Questions and Secrets: Understanding a Martial Art | No matter how many classes you come to you will never fully discover my art this way. The art is not contained in a syllabus or a curriculum. I’m not saying there isn’t value in classes and teachers – there is tremendous value. Without them there would…
Devon Boorman ·
Consistency is Vital | About 18 years ago I took over running a rapier practice and class for the Society for Creative Anachronism. I was new to being in a leadership role and I sought out the advice of one of the senior members in the area about how to run a successful group. He…
Devon Boorman ·
Exciting news for Academie Duello. We have scheduled our first Silver Cord examination for August 21, 2015. This is excellent news for us as a school and for me as the Master Instructor. The Silver Cord is the fourth rank in our system and is the equivalent of a Provost level in swordplay schools from…
Devon Boorman ·
The Value of a Symmetrical Learning Environment | There are two primary types of martial learning environment you must spend time in over your life of acquiring an art. A symmetrical environment, where your training and sparring partners are doing (or trying to do) the same thing as you. And an asymmetrical environment, where your…
Devon Boorman ·
30-for-30 Challenge | In the summer of 2013 I created a challenge, primarily for myself and a few senior students, to practice 30 minutes of swordplay each day for 30 days. The challenge went from my small initial group of invitees to a group of over 300 participants from all over the world, a good…
Devon Boorman ·
I Think I'm More of a Sitter | Today while teaching a class on falling I had a funny exchange with one of my students; we talked about how much toddlers fall down in the process of learning to walk and be stable. Each time they fall, they get right back up again. Generally there’s…
Devon Boorman ·
A Happy Return from the Dekoven Academy of Arms | I have just returned home from the Dekoven Academy of Arms in Racine, WI where I was teaching classes on Italian Rapier and Bolognese Sidesword with Buckler and Rotella. It was a great event from the perspective of both teacher and student. Greg Mele, Nicole…
Devon Boorman ·
The Audacious Lion: Developing Courage in Combat | “I am the lion: nobody carries a more courageous heart. I offer everyone battle.” Tom Leoni translation - Fior di Battaglia, Getty Museum To stand across from a man with a sharp sword in his hand requires a certain element of courage. Even in our modern practice…
Devon Boorman ·
“I’m the elephant, who carries a castle as freight. I never kneel or lose my stride.” Tom Leoni translation - Fior di Battaglia, Getty Museum To harness the ideals of the elephant in your martial form you must consider: Structural Alignment Placing your body in optimal positions to apply and resist force. Finding the ground…
Devon Boorman ·
Speed is Distance | “I, the tiger, am so quick at running and turning that I can’t even be overtaken by a lightning bolt." Tom Leoni translation - Fior di Battaglia, Getty Museum Though I have said that it is not your top speed that is important but how many speeds you have; being fast…
Devon Boorman ·
Prudence in Combat | "No creature can see better than I, the lynx. And this virtue puts everything in its right place and its measure." Tom Leoni translation - Fior di Battaglia, Getty Museum A technique could be mechanically correct in its execution but if it is not done at the right time or at…
Devon Boorman ·
It's about time I make an official post-VISS post. Truth is it has taken me weeks to recover from what shaped up to be a fantastic event! Thank you to everyone who made it to Vancouver to teach, train, help, and share. This was a tremendous year and I am honoured you all were there…
Devon Boorman ·
This past weekend I taught a 2 day seminar in Chicago on Applied Combatives for the Chicago Swordplay Guild (CSG) at their home Forteza Fitness. I was pleased as always with an excellent group of students with a passion for the art, insightful questions, and a superbly welcoming nature. The seminar was an extended version…
Devon Boorman ·
It's the time of New Year's Resolutions, have you already set yours? Personally I don't set New Year's Resolutions. Not that I don't like the idea of resolving to do something. What I don't like about New Year's Resolutions is that they only come once per year. So many New Year's Resolutions are forgotten or…
Devon Boorman ·
If you pickup this week's Westender Newspaper you'll see a great article by Gen Handley about Academie Duello. Gen checked out a class a few weeks ago and it looks like he had a great time. It's a good article and tells a little about the origins of Duello. You can also check it out…
Devon Boorman ·
VISS 2013 is approaching, and we’re excited to announce a first look at our workshop lineup! We are proud to offer two styles of workshops at VISS. The first style offers a more in-depth look into various topics, with work that will build across three days of classes. Topics for this style of workshop include:…
Devon Boorman ·
Over the past few months I've been travelling to a lot of different places to teach workshops on a great diversity of topics from longsword, to sidesword, rapier, body mechanics, applied combatives, and case. After each workshop I like to pick a few choice videos from our Duello.TV selection and make them available in the…
Devon Boorman ·
So this past weekend I was again teaching in Chicago, the home of my good friends at Forteza Fitness, but this time I was teaching at the Known World Academy of the Rapier or K-WAR. This event is put on by the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) an international historical reenactment society through whom I…
Devon Boorman ·
If you live in Eugene, Oregon or Chicago, Illinois I'll be in your area in the next few weeks teaching workshops on Italian Knife, Longsword, Sidesword, and Rapier. This weekend on Saturday the 27th I'll be visiting Northwest Fencing Academy in Eugene Oregon to teach two workshops, one on Italian Knife and the second on…
Devon Boorman ·
The Chicago Tribune has posted an article about our friends Forteza Fitness that includes some quotes from an interview with me as well as Tony Wolf, and Keith Jennings. Check it out on their website
Devon Boorman ·
I wanted to write today on the interplay of speed between two people drilling together. Occasionally when a pair of students work on a set play at slow speed one of the pair may opt to move quicker than their partner. There are several reasons why this may occur: they're already familiar with the technique…
Devon Boorman ·
It’s spring and a young duellist’s thoughts turn to … Europe! Apparently, they have lots of castle’s there, lots of blades lying around waiting to be discovered and lots of WMA/HEMA-aficionado company to share! I wonder if they have beer in Europe too? Lots of Competition! ОРЕНБУРГСКИЕ НОВОСТИ (Orenberg, Russia) 13 March 12 Из современности…
Devon Boorman ·
The rapier gets a lot of love around Duello being that it's the foundational weapon of our Mastery Program, but those of you who have advanced to the Red Cord or who are part of the Warrior Program or our Longsword Focus program, or are following along at home through our videos, deserve some attention…
Devon Boorman ·
Last week I looked at the benefit of being happy when you're training or as one commenter expressed it: "Always train with a feeling of pleasurable exhilaration." Now lets take a look at a few reasons that get in the way of people enjoying their training: Disconnect from Training or Training Environment I figured I'd…
Devon Boorman ·
Every Thursday I get together with a few of my senior students and we work on drills, sparring exercises, and body mechanics. Generally I have us stick to fairly fundamental exercises. I personally just love working on fundamentals and have found that this is always where the greatest opportunity for improvement lies, no matter how…
Devon Boorman ·
One of the great things about a major convention of top-level specialists such as VISS or WMAW is that ideas and inspiration flow freely. For today's post, I'm starting with a theory about different approaches to historical swordplay that I got from Christian Eckert at WMAW this past September. Christian is a swordsman and mixed…
Devon Boorman ·
Regardless of what kind of combat you're in, you always have two jobs defend yourself position yourself to strike and strike Job 1 is easy. Wild swings can easily knock aside opponent's attacks but they leave you poorly able to deliver a strike of your own (or defend yourself from your opponent's second strike). That…
Devon Boorman ·
On March 1st we will be launching a new Academie Duello website: Duello.TV. This is the evolution of the Academie Duello learning channelon youtube, that we have been experimenting with over the past 6 months. This will be a subscription based online fencing academy that will give users access to a library of organized lessons…
Devon Boorman ·
So yesterday we embarked on the adventure of shooting our first instructional rapier DVD. And I can proudly report that we're at least 60% through principal photography and only about 8 hours behind schedule! :) It was actually a fun and successful day, though as with many things you often find yourself at the end…
Devon Boorman ·
