It’s easy to see the perfect practice as the one where you don’t make any mistakes; To fence with your friends and celebrate a flawless night; To have the teacher pass by without giving any corrections. Yet we must ask what is the purpose of practice if not to make mistakes? If you’re training without error you must not be Read More …
It’s easy in a technical art to develop a mechanic that functions as a solo action but fails when it meets the application environment. Yet attempting to develop a technique in a purely tactical environment can be overwhelming for many who are working to build governance of their body or in the absence of having a perfect practice partner can Read More …
Don’t fall for the seductive allure of early combative success when pursuing this martial art. Everything from guts to a healthy dose of chaos can lead you to success against the mediocre but you have to think long-term. If your goal is to be the most kick-butt sword wielder around you have to set your sights on besting the best, Read More …
If you’re failing in a performance, perform differently, don’t try to perform better. Doing the same thing again and again while expecting different results is the definition of insanity. Don’t allow yourself in a fencing tournament to get caught trying to apply the same strategy over and over again against the same opponent if it’s not working. This may seem Read More …
“So and so never fights; it’s because they suck.” “I totally beat that teacher, he has nothing to offer me.” “I can kick their butt so I think I have as much to offer as they do.” “Don’t listen to them, they’ve never won a tournament.” This is why I won’t fight with you. This is why many instructors and Read More …
I recently engaged in a Facebook discussion regarding Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) specifically about whether training with sharp swords is responsible or not. This has been a discussion born primarily out of the work of Roland Warzecha of a school called Dimicator in Hamburg Germany who has recently incorporated use of sharps into his regular advanced student training exercises. Read More …
A weekend ago I attended the HEMA gathering in Dijon, France. This is one of the oldest events in Europe and has grown from a small gathering of friends to a very large gathering of friends. This was my first time being at the event and it was a pleasure being there as an instructor and participant. The event is Read More …
Greetings everyone, My itinerary for my trip to Europe (and Ottawa) has become a bit more defined in the past couple weeks. I thought I’d share it before departing. If you’re interested to take a swordplay workshop with me or want to meet up (or tell me about excellent swordy or dancy things I should connect with) this will give Read More …
When you’re learning a new technique you need to give yourself the time and space to build a solid mechanical grounding. I recommend a three stage process to building this first level of proficiency: Stage 1. Crispness Break down a complex mechanical motion into component parts and then execute each component as a distinct and crisp action. In swordplay break Read More …
This afternoon we finished up our final day of training for the Duelling Arts Rapier Tournament at the Vancouver Club. This is part tournament and part spectacle; a hand picked roster of 8 senior Duello students will be fencing in a series of matches over the course of an evening of fine dining and cocktails, all with a Victorian flare. In amongst Read More …