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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 ·
