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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 ·
