Join thousands of swordplay practitioners from around the world and build your skills from beginner to expert in the arts of the two-handed sword, duelling rapier, sword and shield, polearms, wrestling, and more.
Practice with an instructor with our live online courses, on your own with on demand videos, or start your own study group guided by our training plans. Progress through our ranks, grow your knowledge, develop finesse and power, and gain sparring and teaching skills.
Become a member for FREE now! You’ll receive:
- Quick Start courses for the Longsword and Rapier
- Daily At-Home Practice Drills
- Expert Training Advice Emails
- Exclusive Bonus Lessons
- Exclusive Offers
Train Live and Online!
Combine the best live sword instruction with on-demand access so you don’t miss a thing! Perfect your foundational skills and advanced strategies with live feedback and corrections, and learn something new with different class topics announced every month!
Personalized instruction
Meet live with your class and instructor, receive specific feedback to weekly homework assignments, and join study groups for an entire community of support.
Unique courses
Go beyond the basics with unique classes debuting every month like:
- Lunging, Leg & Back Strength with Rapier
- Moving Like the Masters with Sidesword
- Inviting Your Opponent to Dance with Longsword
- Deceptive Rapier & Dagger
Online Swordplay Courses
Take online swordplay courses that feature video lessons, quizzes, and practice notes. Pick up where you left off anytime and use the courses from any device. Go to the Courses page.
Visit each course’s main page to watch a sample topic.
Course Progression from Fundamentals to Master
Our mastery program builds a foundation of knowledge and proficiency that moves you forward step-by-step, one level progressing to the next. You’ll be lead through a methodical and structured learning experience that will give you a complete understanding of the art of arms.
- Longsword Level 1
- Forms and Guards
- Approaching Gioco Stretto
- Receiving Gioco Stretto
- Longsword Grappling I
- Receiving Gioco Largo
- Approaching Gioco Largo
- Unarmed Level 1
- Grappling Foundation
- Longsword Level 2
- Scholars Assault
- Precision & Intention
- Tempo & Provocation
- Collection
- Counter Cutting
- Posta Finestra
- Unarmed Level 2
- Intermediate Grappling
- Sidesword Level 1
- Fundamentals I-II-III
- Approaching Gioco Stretto
- Sidesword Grappling
- Receiving Gioco Largo
- Approaching Gioco Largo
- Rapier Level 2
- True Fight Mechanics
- True Fight Strategy
- The Deceptive Fight
- Body Voids
- Refused Posture
- Offhand and Dagger
- Dagger II
- Unarmed Level 2
- Intermediate Grappling
- Sidesword Level 1
- Fundamentals I-II-III
- Approaching Gioco Stretto
- Sidesword Grappling
- Receiving Gioco Largo
- Approaching Gioco Largo
- Longsword Level 3
- Quadrant Defenses vs Fendente
- Quadrant Defenses vs Mezzano, Sottano and Thrust
- Primary Guards
- Secondary Guards
- Gioco Stretto & Grapples
- Rapier Level 3
- Striking Tempos
- Unorthodox Postures
- Buckler and Cloak
- Two Swords and Baton
- Disarms and Dagger Strikes
- Sidesword Level 2
- Assalti
- Provocations
- Low Line Guards, Progression
- High Line Guards
- Polearms Level 1
- Poleaxe Fundamentals
- Quarterstaff Fundamentals
- Unarmed Level 3
- Wrestling in the Grips
- Dagger Level 1
- Dagger Masters 1-3
- Dagger Masters 4-6
- Dagger Masters 7-9
- Martial Prowess Trial
- Historical Research Trial
- Community Contribution Trial
For the Beginner
We offer progressive, structured, step-by-step instruction in the graceful rapier, powerful longsword, knife, grappling, poleweapons, and more.
Becoming an Expert
We'll help you become a practitioner who can put theory into practice and practice into theory.
From Beginner to Master
Wherever you are in your journey, we'll help you develop an enviable level of expertise and ability through rigorous programs that help you develop your proficiency while giving you a rich and explicit understanding of the art.Our Focus is Martial Art
Combative dominance comes through complete martial understanding. We'll teach you how to move and fight effectively, create training plans, build physical ability, and tactically counter-strategize any opponent.Who We Are
Devon Boorman
Devon is a world renowned international instructor and competitor of Historical European Martial Arts. He has been practicing and teaching martial arts for more than 30 years. He is the author of one book and two DVDs on Italian Rapier and Longsword; and he is the Co-founder, Director and Master Instructor of Academie Duello Centre for Swordplay in Vancouver, BC, Canada.Greg Reimer
Greg Reimer has been studying Italian martial arts since 2006, and has taught over 5,500 hours of unarmed, dagger, rapier (and secondaries), sidesword & buckler, longsword, pole weapons and mounted combat. As Director of Swordfight Canada he has travelled across Western Canada and into Washington State to meet, teach and enjoy sparring with others.Our Values
Love is the action of putting others ahead of oneself. As an individual, one seeks to better the people around them in every way. As a community, we constantly lift each other up to higher levels of humanity and the potential we possess to be our collective best.
Honesty is the search for truth and all things essential. It is the acceptance of facts. It is the awareness and avoidance of self-deception. As an individual one searches out the core elements of existance. As a community, we speak and act in ways that mirror our desire for humility and goodness to rule.
Learn more as Maestro Devon Boorman talks about Duello’s vision for the art, the values, and the journey of martial arts mastery.
Testimonials
Devon Boorman is a highly experienced and very sound martial artist. His intelligence coupled with an uncommon open mindedness allows for intellectually honest and very practical discussions of martial concepts as well as their teaching.
Under the enthusiastic stewardship of Devon Boorman, Duello has managed to set the standard–worldwide–for how a historical martial arts school should be run. It has managed to make historical martial arts accessible today without a shred of compromise in their devotion to the words of the ancient masters.
Swordplay Masterclass has given me a new level of understanding of not only swordsmanship but the skills needed to enhance any type of training I undertake.
Swordplay Masterclass is a success on many levels for those struggling to get taught at a professional level. I truly feel that I have received full valve and then some for my investment. The Swordplay Masterclass was taught with holistic approach to help students improve their training and training environment. The course doesn’t just provide instruction in sword techniques, but guidance in ways that support learning and staying motivated.
I highly recommend this Instructor Intensive to anyone who wishes to gain a deeper understanding of the technical side of our art, and to anyone who wishes to learn how to learn (or how to teach) martial arts more effectively. It is a lot of good information and practice delivered in a welcoming environment full of integrity and martial authenticity. “Intensive” is an apt word in the course’s title.
Academie Duello
Academie Duello Centre for Swordplay has served thousands of students in Vancouver, BC, Canada since 2004.
Academie Duello has one of the most complete and expertly constructed swordplay curriculums in the world providing a proven program that takes students from beginners to masters. Since 2004 more than 10,000 students have taken courses at Academie Duello, and many of those students have gone on to form satellite schools and study groups in cities all over the world. Visit Academie Duello.