Musings for Modern Martial Artistshttps://pathofthesword.comen-cahttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/nanjing-china-a-weekend-of-fencing-museums-and-martial-exchangehttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/nanjing-china-a-weekend-of-fencing-museums-and-martial-exchangeI’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…Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:04:06 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/from-taipei-to-nanchang-milestones-on-the-path-of-masteryhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/from-taipei-to-nanchang-milestones-on-the-path-of-masteryAfter 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…Thu, 20 Nov 2025 14:20:09 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/a-weekend-of-swordplay-and-servicehttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/a-weekend-of-swordplay-and-serviceIt’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.…Thu, 06 Nov 2025 13:37:56 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/building-new-instructors-and-off-to-taiwanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/building-new-instructors-and-off-to-taiwanI’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…Mon, 27 Oct 2025 12:21:26 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/strategy-tactics-and-the-four-pillars-of-fencinghttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/strategy-tactics-and-the-four-pillars-of-fencingStudents 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…Fri, 10 Oct 2025 13:54:32 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/embodying-swordplay-at-queens-bolognese-destreza-fabrishttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/embodying-swordplay-at-queens-bolognese-destreza-fabrisLast 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…Tue, 19 Aug 2025 12:50:43 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/lessons-from-ontario-from-obedience-to-assaulthttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/lessons-from-ontario-from-obedience-to-assaultThis 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…Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:44:57 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/gioco-largo-stretto-the-fencing-concepts-you-need-to-knowhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/gioco-largo-stretto-the-fencing-concepts-you-need-to-knowWhen 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…Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:29:50 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/learn-the-language-of-ancient-fight-bookshttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/learn-the-language-of-ancient-fight-booksOne 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…Wed, 13 Nov 2024 21:58:24 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/two-weapons-avoiding-the-divided-attention-traphttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/two-weapons-avoiding-the-divided-attention-trapWhen 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…Mon, 28 Oct 2024 21:44:05 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/25-years-of-the-western-martial-arts-workshop-wmawhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/25-years-of-the-western-martial-arts-workshop-wmawA 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…Sat, 05 Oct 2024 23:00:49 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/arms-and-armour-of-the-chimei-museumhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/arms-and-armour-of-the-chimei-museumAbout 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.…Thu, 22 Aug 2024 19:31:36 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/exploring-hema-in-china-my-teaching-journey-across-the-middle-kingdomhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/exploring-hema-in-china-my-teaching-journey-across-the-middle-kingdomI’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…Mon, 10 Jun 2024 08:32:10 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/vancouver-international-swordplay-symposium-2024-in-reviewhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/vancouver-international-swordplay-symposium-2024-in-reviewThe 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…Fri, 31 May 2024 17:46:38 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/when-to-go-four-moments-to-strikehttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/when-to-go-four-moments-to-strikeAmong 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…Fri, 19 Apr 2024 06:59:12 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/the-three-vanities-of-deceptionhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/the-three-vanities-of-deceptionDeception 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…Fri, 22 Mar 2024 05:08:32 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/partner-tactics-in-solo-formshttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/partner-tactics-in-solo-formsEach 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.Wed, 28 Feb 2024 19:35:29 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/a-treasure-trove-of-antique-armshttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/a-treasure-trove-of-antique-armsOn 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…Thu, 15 Feb 2024 23:32:41 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/the-intimidating-rondelhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/the-intimidating-rondelThe 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…Fri, 17 Nov 2023 04:13:22 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/training-for-speed-power-efficiency-timinghttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/training-for-speed-power-efficiency-timing“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…Fri, 14 Jul 2023 23:33:43 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/how-to-make-slow-sparring-workhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/how-to-make-slow-sparring-workMaintaining 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…Fri, 07 Jul 2023 17:24:29 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/training-your-brain-to-see-fast-as-slowhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/training-your-brain-to-see-fast-as-slowTime 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,…Fri, 30 Jun 2023 16:54:17 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/musings-on-brutality-in-martial-artshttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/musings-on-brutality-in-martial-artsFor 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.Thu, 25 May 2023 17:00:00 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/taking-the-plunge-a-new-morning-routinehttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/taking-the-plunge-a-new-morning-routineI’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…Fri, 28 Apr 2023 21:02:53 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/a-deep-dive-into-disarmshttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/a-deep-dive-into-disarmsDisarms, 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…Thu, 13 Apr 2023 20:44:46 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/spear-primer-and-need-to-knowhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/spear-primer-and-need-to-knowThe 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…Thu, 30 Mar 2023 18:18:27 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/why-flow-a-guide-to-using-improvised-formshttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/why-flow-a-guide-to-using-improvised-formsA 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…Thu, 16 Mar 2023 00:28:00 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/whats-the-deal-with-bucklershttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/whats-the-deal-with-bucklersWhen 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…Thu, 09 Mar 2023 12:34:58 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/longsword-leverage-dexterity-and-powerhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/longsword-leverage-dexterity-and-powerThe 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…Thu, 02 Mar 2023 21:02:15 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/the-unique-strength-of-the-sword-bucklerhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/the-unique-strength-of-the-sword-bucklerThe 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…Fri, 24 Feb 2023 03:28:43 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/fighting-against-filipino-artshttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/fighting-against-filipino-artsMartial 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…Fri, 10 Feb 2023 23:48:13 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/join-the-30-for-30-swordplay-challengehttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/join-the-30-for-30-swordplay-challengeIt’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…Tue, 27 Dec 2022 20:41:35 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/when-i-met-inigo-montoyahttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/when-i-met-inigo-montoyaI 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…Wed, 21 Dec 2022 02:12:02 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/developing-control-with-minimal-gearhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/developing-control-with-minimal-gearMartial 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…Fri, 18 Nov 2022 20:38:37 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/building-combat-perceptionhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/building-combat-perceptionI 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…Fri, 04 Nov 2022 17:31:16 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/after-the-examhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/after-the-examI 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…Fri, 14 Oct 2022 15:40:48 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/should-two-edges-ever-meethttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/should-two-edges-ever-meetThe 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:…Fri, 07 Oct 2022 15:56:18 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/from-longsword-apprentice-to-free-scholarhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/from-longsword-apprentice-to-free-scholarIt’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…Fri, 30 Sep 2022 17:55:45 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/wmaw-2022-a-shining-light-of-swordfighting-excellencehttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/wmaw-2022-a-shining-light-of-swordfighting-excellenceI’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…Sat, 24 Sep 2022 00:48:54 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/spadone-swinging-big-swordshttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/spadone-swinging-big-swordsGreatswords (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…Fri, 12 Aug 2022 00:02:48 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/rapier-vs-longsword-comparing-and-strategizinghttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/rapier-vs-longsword-comparing-and-strategizingTwice 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…Thu, 28 Jul 2022 23:28:21 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/taking-agency-in-learninghttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/taking-agency-in-learningIn 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…Thu, 14 Jul 2022 19:30:01 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/getting-by-with-minimal-gearhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/getting-by-with-minimal-gearA 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…Thu, 07 Jul 2022 19:25:23 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/viss-2022-three-immersive-days-of-swordplayhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/viss-2022-three-immersive-days-of-swordplayIt’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…Sat, 04 Jun 2022 20:07:42 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/eat-the-book-a-process-for-understanding-historical-sourceshttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/eat-the-book-a-process-for-understanding-historical-sourcesHistorical 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.Fri, 20 May 2022 17:45:15 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/why-is-the-rapier-part-of-our-systemhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/why-is-the-rapier-part-of-our-systemWhen 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.Thu, 12 May 2022 17:09:19 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/argument-training-diverse-weapons-part-1https://pathofthesword.com/blog/argument-training-diverse-weapons-part-1Rapiers 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.Thu, 05 May 2022 22:32:16 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/sparring-as-participationhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/sparring-as-participationThere 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…Thu, 21 Apr 2022 19:58:45 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/getting-out-of-your-headhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/getting-out-of-your-headWhen 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.Thu, 07 Apr 2022 05:09:46 GMTDevon Boormanhttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/when-you-practice-the-hardest-thinghttps://pathofthesword.com/blog/when-you-practice-the-hardest-thingEverything 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…Thu, 31 Mar 2022 18:21:55 GMTDevon Boorman