Excited about HEMA?
We’ll make you an expert in Historical European Martial Arts. Become masterfully trained in longsword, rapier, sidesword, dagger, polearms, and unarmed combat.
Watch Now: The Pursuit of MasteryOnline Swordplay Courses
Take online swordplay courses that feature video lessons, quizzes, practice notes and discussion. Pick up where you left off anytime and use the courses from any device.
Visit each course’s main page to watch a sample topic.
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 Director and Master Instructor of Academie Duello Centre for Swordplay in Vancouver, BC, the largest centre for the practice of European Martial Arts in the world.
Greg Reimer
Greg Reimer has been studying Italian martial arts since 2006, and has taught over 5,500 hours to students in unarmed, dagger, rapier (and secondaries), sidesword & buckler, longsword, pole weapons and mounted combat. He has travelled across Western Canada and into Washington State to meet, teach and enjoy sparring with other sword fighters.
Academie Duello
Academie Duello Centre for Swordplay is the largest centre for the practice of European Martial Arts in the world.
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. Over the past 15 years 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.
Testimonials
I only have the highest praise for Devon Boorman and his staff, past and present, and cannot truly describe in words what my association with this club has done for me on all planes: physical, mental, emotional and indeed spiritual.
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.
Academie Duello is an extremely welcoming and positive environment… the sense of community is wonderful. The instructors are patient, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic; everyone in the school is friendly and helpful; it’s a great workout… and who doesn’t want to learn how to sword fight?!
I learn and improve not only in swordplay but with some introspection, about myself too – how I respond to certain situations, how I cope, how I interact, improving self-esteem, improving tolerance and patience, respect, discipline and so much more.
For the Beginner
We offer progressive, structured, step-by-step instruction in the graceful rapier, powerful longsword, knife, grappling, poleweapons, and more.
Learn more about the weapons and disciplines of HEMA
Get Started for FREE
We like free. That’s why we’ve put together these lessons from our excellent Fundamentals course series as a quick start to get you up and running.
Simply register for a free account and you’ll be automatically enrolled. Then keep learning with more courses and the access to the training blog by subscribing monthly or purchasing a course pack.
Get startedStart on the path to mastery with our Longsword and Rapier Fundamentals courses. Purchase a monthly Subscription or lifetime-access Course Pack
For the Expert
We'll help you become a practitioner who can put theory into practice and practice into theory.
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 dominance while giving you a rich and explicit understanding of the 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 own your opponents.
You'll learn not just how to master one discipline but how to master a complete martial art that includes two-handed and single handed swords, polearms, grappling, dagger, knife, and armoured combat.
Course Progression from Fundamentals to Master
Our Values
Learn more as Maestro Devon Boorman talks about Duello's vision for the art, the values, and the journey of martial arts mastery.