About Us
Academie Duello, based in Vancouver, Canada is a school of Western Martial Arts that specializes primarily in the Italian school of swordplay. Programs span multiple disciplines including use of the rapier, sidesword, longsword, pole arms, wrestling, archery, and mounted combat at the stables in nearby Langley, BC.
Services Provided
Knight Camp, the winner of Georgia Straight's Best Children Camp Award is a five day adventure day-camp for kids 8-14 focused on the skills of knighthood - from the martial arts of the sword and shield, two-handed sword and staff - to the practice of knightly virtues such as courage ...
About Us
Academie Duello, based in Vancouver, Canada is a school of Western Martial Arts that specializes primarily in the Italian school of swordplay. Programs span multiple disciplines including use of the rapier, sidesword, longsword, pole arms, wrestling, archery, and mounted combat at the stables in nearby Langley, BC.
Services Provided
Knight Camp, the winner of Georgia Straight's Best Children Camp Award is a five day adventure day-camp for kids 8-14 focused on the skills of knighthood - from the martial arts of the sword and shield, two-handed sword and staff - to the practice of knightly virtues such as courage and integrity. Students at Knight Camp learn about history, leadership, heraldry, archery, medieval games and much more. It's an experience your kid will always cherish.
Youth Classes involve a mix of academic learning and weapons based training. Classes start with a discussion on the months topic (armour, heraldry, etc.), followed by a fun group warm-up. Students then study unarmed material to encourage good posture, structure, and movement, before concluding the lesson with solo and pairs exercises and games. When head contact is a possibility, we wear protective masks, and when things speed up we swap metal swords for plastic ones.
History
Academie Duello was founded in the summer of 2004 by Devon Boorman and Randy Packer. It’s first location was an outdoor, defunct skating rink. It leaked in the rain, had no heating, was poorly lit but was centrally located. The welcoming nature of the program attracted people from all different backgrounds and a great diversity of ages. The Academie quickly grew, began renting two community centre spaces, and in its second year moved into its first proper facility.
In 2010, Academie Duello relocated to its current home, a 5000 sqft heritage building located in the business centre of downtown Vancouver. The space features a large training floor; a museum of Western Martial Arts featuring swords, armour, and original fight books; a members lounge, and a retail store.
Master Instructor: Devon Boorman
Devon Boorman is the Director and Master Instructor for Academie Duello. He has been studying martial arts nearly his entire life and has been actively studying Western arts for 18 years. His first taste of western swordplay came through involvement with the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) where he achieved the top rank for swordplay with the rapier. From this start he connected with a burgeoning community of swordplay scholars and practitioners that were forming the nucleus of the modern Western Martial Arts revival. He became involved in research and translation projects began travelling, competing, and teaching throughout the world.
Location
Academie Duello is located at 412 West Hastings Street in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Learn more at their website
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