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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 ·
