From a very young age, I was captivated by the art of swordplay. It almost feels inevitable in hindsight. I distinctly remember my parents discovering an old fencing foil in their attic, which quickly became my prized possession. I spent countless afternoons in the backyard, imagining myself as a dashing hero.
I also found inspiration in the rich fantasy of Arthurian legends. There was something deeply compelling about the blend of nobility, skill, and the archetypal heroism they portrayed. These early influences instilled in me not just a love for the technical beauty of fencing, but also for the panache and daring that swordplay represents.
What kind of training did you go through to reach the level you are today and what swords are you skilled in?
My journey to mastering swordplay started in an eclectic mix of communities—a group of modern fencers, historical re-enactors, and actors. Together, we combined contemporary training methods with dedicated research into historical manuscripts from the 15th to 17th centuries. It was a blend of modern techniques and old-world wisdom that ignited my passion for historical martial arts.
I began traveling extensively across North America and Europe, studying under scholars and practitioners who were at the forefront of reviving the techniques from historical texts. These texts, many of them Italian, detailed a wide array of martial disciplines, including wrestling, dagger, polearms, longsword, sword and shield, and rapiers.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege to train with world-class instructors and colleagues, compete in various tournaments, and even earn recognition within organizations that evaluate instructor proficiency. I am a charter member and lead advisor for the International Armizare Society (IAS) which is an international body focused on the study of medieval Italian Martial Arts.
For me, tournaments have always been about applying martial arts in a dynamic, "alive" way. They challenge practitioners to use their skills against an unpredictable, resistant opponent, which is an essential part of truly understanding any martial art. That sense of aliveness can be deeply motivating and is a big reason I still practice daily.
That said, tournaments are not the only way to engage with this aliveness, and they aren’t for everyone. At this stage in my career, I’m less interested in competing myself and more focused on helping students prepare for tournaments and explore other ways to express their skills. Many of my students find fulfillment in lower-intensity modes of sparring, partnered practice, and solo forms.
Tournaments, while valuable, can create a bias toward a particular type of application. It’s essential to me to emphasize the broader martial art, seeing tournaments as just one of many expressions. This approach preserves the deeper benefits of martial arts and keeps the practice from becoming purely a sport.
I understand you have also worked on stage and screen as both a stunt person and choreographer. How did that door open? What is it like to work as a stunt person? How do you approach choreographing a scene?
One of my early teachers was the fight master for the Highlander television series and some of the films. He brought me onto a few productions to help out, which opened the door for my work in stage and screen combat. Later, Academie Duello became a hub for productions seeking actors’ training, background performers, or stunt doubles for sword fighting roles.
One of the most memorable projects I worked on was doubling for Lex Luthor on the TV series Smallville. It was a fight scene between Lex and his father that began as a fencing match and escalated into a dramatic fight with real swords. It was exciting to work closely with the actors, the choreography, and the set—and to imagine what it would be like to shave my head, as I had long hair at the time!
As a stunt double in sword fighting, I’ve enjoyed having a high-level outlet for my skills that isn’t combative. But my greatest joy lies in training actors and building choreography. Helping to bring stories to life in a way that is both believable and entertaining is immensely rewarding. It’s a chance to honour the martial art while keeping the audience engaged and invested in the action.
What led you to co-found your Academie Duello and how long has it been running? What do you hope to offer those who come for training?
Academie Duello has been operating since 2004—we just celebrated our 20th anniversary! Before founding the school, I spent many years teaching informally through community centers and organizations like the Society for Creative Anachronism. However, I wanted to create something more formal and far-reaching.
My vision was to bring European martial arts back into recognition and esteem in modern culture, standing alongside Eastern martial arts traditions. I wanted to establish a space where people could seriously and formally train in European martial arts—beyond the confines of re-enactment and film work—and reconnect with their rich history.
Ultimately, it’s a fun, engaging way to get moving—combining physicality, mental challenge, and cultural richness in every practice.
What kind of classes do you offer and what is the difference between the different swords? Is there one easiest to start with? If not, how does one choose which sword to train in?
At Academie Duello, we offer three core programs tailored to different interests and goals:
The Mastery Program: This is for those dedicated to learning martial arts in depth. Students progress through levels on their path to mastery. Beginners can start with a free class and choose from disciplines like the rapier (think The Three Musketeers) or the longsword (think Arthurian knights). We also offer a progressive archery program.
The Adventure Program: Perfect for team-building events or group outings, this program provides a fun introduction to swordplay, archery, or axe throwing. These sessions are designed to be engaging, safe, and enjoyable, typically lasting one to two hours.
Mastery Program: In the Mastery Program, the choice of where to start depends on personal interest: Rapier is elegant, intricate, and graceful, this sword emphasizes precision, speed, and balletic postures. Longsword is grounded and flowing, and the techniques convey a sense of power and strength, with more circular, sweeping movements. Archery is a meditative and highly personal practice that hones focus and body control. Beginners start with takedown recurve bows and can progress to using longbows and horse bows.
For example, our Duellist Adventure focuses on learning the fundamental movements, postures, attacks, and defenses of the rapier. You then gear up and face off in a fun duel using practice swords. The Knight Adventure explores the basics of dagger, longsword, and poleaxe before staging a knightly battle with your group.
For those wanting a more formal introduction, our beginner programs in the Mastery track are an excellent choice. These programs run for 8 hours, split over 4 or 8 weeks, and offer a deeper dive into traditional martial arts, including postures, movement, attack, defense, and strategy.
We also offer free trial classes for anyone curious about giving swordplay or archery a try. Archery trial classes take place at 6 PM on the second Friday of each month, and swordplay trial classes are at 6 PM on the third Friday. You can sign up for those easily through our website.
For more information on all our programs, you can visit our main website at www.academieduello.com, and for Knight Camp details, head over to www.knightcamp.ca.
And if you’re in the area, I’d also recommend stopping by Cafe Duello, our onsite café at 426 West Hastings Street. We serve delicious pastries, food, smoothies, and hot drinks, and it’s a great place to relax, play some board games, and even catch a glimpse of our classes or archery range in action. The café is open from 11 AM to 8 PM on weekdays and 10 AM to 4 PM on Saturdays.
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What kind of training did you go through to reach the level you are today and what swords are you skilled in?
My journey to mastering swordplay started in an eclectic mix of communities—a group of modern fencers, historical re-enactors, and actors. Together, we combined contemporary training methods with dedicated research into historical manuscripts from the 15th to 17th centuries. It was a blend of modern techniques and old-world wisdom that ignited my passion for historical martial arts.
I began traveling extensively across North America and Europe, studying under scholars and practitioners who were at the forefront of reviving the techniques from historical texts. These texts, many of them Italian, detailed a wide array of martial disciplines, including wrestling, dagger, polearms, longsword, sword and shield, and rapiers.
The tradition I study is known as Armizare with its origins in medieval Italy. It is a system encompassing multiple disciplines including rapier and secondary weapons like dagger and buckler, longsword, sidesword, wrestling, dagger, polearms, and even mounted combat. It’s a diverse and rigorous practice that keeps me constantly learning and growing.
You are not only a teacher, but competitor. Can you talk about some of the tournaments you've been a part of? What does it take to reach that level of skill?
Over the years, I’ve competed in hundreds of tournaments—one year, I was in a tournament almost every weekend, totaling 45 weekends in a single year. In the early days, these competitions were often part of re-enactments or medieval events. Today, the landscape has evolved, with tournaments increasingly hosted by schools and modern martial arts organizations, including my own, Academie Duello.
You are not only a teacher, but competitor. Can you talk about some of the tournaments you've been a part of? What does it take to reach that level of skill?
Over the years, I’ve competed in hundreds of tournaments—one year, I was in a tournament almost every weekend, totaling 45 weekends in a single year. In the early days, these competitions were often part of re-enactments or medieval events. Today, the landscape has evolved, with tournaments increasingly hosted by schools and modern martial arts organizations, including my own, Academie Duello.
For me, tournaments have always been about applying martial arts in a dynamic, "alive" way. They challenge practitioners to use their skills against an unpredictable, resistant opponent, which is an essential part of truly understanding any martial art. That sense of aliveness can be deeply motivating and is a big reason I still practice daily.
Tournaments, while valuable, can create a bias toward a particular type of application. It’s essential to me to emphasize the broader martial art, seeing tournaments as just one of many expressions. This approach preserves the deeper benefits of martial arts and keeps the practice from becoming purely a sport.
I understand you have also worked on stage and screen as both a stunt person and choreographer. How did that door open? What is it like to work as a stunt person? How do you approach choreographing a scene?
One of my early teachers was the fight master for the Highlander television series and some of the films. He brought me onto a few productions to help out, which opened the door for my work in stage and screen combat. Later, Academie Duello became a hub for productions seeking actors’ training, background performers, or stunt doubles for sword fighting roles.
One of the most memorable projects I worked on was doubling for Lex Luthor on the TV series Smallville. It was a fight scene between Lex and his father that began as a fencing match and escalated into a dramatic fight with real swords. It was exciting to work closely with the actors, the choreography, and the set—and to imagine what it would be like to shave my head, as I had long hair at the time!
What led you to co-found your Academie Duello and how long has it been running? What do you hope to offer those who come for training?
Academie Duello has been operating since 2004—we just celebrated our 20th anniversary! Before founding the school, I spent many years teaching informally through community centers and organizations like the Society for Creative Anachronism. However, I wanted to create something more formal and far-reaching.
My vision was to bring European martial arts back into recognition and esteem in modern culture, standing alongside Eastern martial arts traditions. I wanted to establish a space where people could seriously and formally train in European martial arts—beyond the confines of re-enactment and film work—and reconnect with their rich history.
Part of my personal motivation was to deepen my own practice. I wanted to train with others in a serious, comprehensive way, exploring the full breadth of martial traditions rather than focusing narrowly on swordplay as seen in competitions and re-enactments at the time.
For those who come to train, we offer an opportunity to connect with history in an authentic and meaningful way. Swordplay is also a fantastic way to connect with your body and personal power. Unlike boxing or wrestling, weapons-based martial arts are great equalizers; regardless of size, gender, or strength, everyone can find ways to apply their unique abilities.
What kind of classes do you offer and what is the difference between the different swords? Is there one easiest to start with? If not, how does one choose which sword to train in?
At Academie Duello, we offer three core programs tailored to different interests and goals:
The Mastery Program: This is for those dedicated to learning martial arts in depth. Students progress through levels on their path to mastery. Beginners can start with a free class and choose from disciplines like the rapier (think The Three Musketeers) or the longsword (think Arthurian knights). We also offer a progressive archery program.
The Adventure Program: Perfect for team-building events or group outings, this program provides a fun introduction to swordplay, archery, or axe throwing. These sessions are designed to be engaging, safe, and enjoyable, typically lasting one to two hours.
Youth Programs: These include our popular Knight Camp summer program and Knight Academie, an ongoing youth program that develops physical skills, teaches knightly virtues, and incorporates activities like history crafts, public speaking, and leadership training.
Each discipline offers something unique, and there’s no wrong choice—whether it’s the intricacy of
rapier, the power of longsword, or the mindfulness of archery, all are excellent starting points.
What is a beginning class like? How good of shape do you have to be in to participate? Is there anything someone interested in trying swordplay should know before signing up? Any limits on who can participate?
For those just looking to try swordplay in a fun, low-pressure environment, we recommend signing up for one of our themed Adventures with friends. These are beginner-friendly experiences where we handle all the details to ensure everyone has an amazing time, regardless of their fitness level.
rapier, the power of longsword, or the mindfulness of archery, all are excellent starting points.
What is a beginning class like? How good of shape do you have to be in to participate? Is there anything someone interested in trying swordplay should know before signing up? Any limits on who can participate?
For those just looking to try swordplay in a fun, low-pressure environment, we recommend signing up for one of our themed Adventures with friends. These are beginner-friendly experiences where we handle all the details to ensure everyone has an amazing time, regardless of their fitness level.
For example, our Duellist Adventure focuses on learning the fundamental movements, postures, attacks, and defenses of the rapier. You then gear up and face off in a fun duel using practice swords. The Knight Adventure explores the basics of dagger, longsword, and poleaxe before staging a knightly battle with your group.
You don’t need to be in great shape to participate—our programs are designed to be accessible and are a fantastic way to get active in a supportive and entertaining environment. Our programs cater to a wide range of ages with our youngest members being 8 and our oldest members in their 80s.
If you’re interested in giving it a try, come prepared to move around. Wear comfortable clothing, bring gloves (like riding or gardening gloves) for extra hand padding, and don’t forget a water bottle. We provide training swords (blunted practice swords) and all the necessary protective equipment. Safety and control are core to our teaching philosophy, so you’ll always be in good hands
If you’re interested in giving it a try, come prepared to move around. Wear comfortable clothing, bring gloves (like riding or gardening gloves) for extra hand padding, and don’t forget a water bottle. We provide training swords (blunted practice swords) and all the necessary protective equipment. Safety and control are core to our teaching philosophy, so you’ll always be in good hands
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
We have plenty of opportunities for people to get started with swordplay and archery. Our beginner programs start each month, with options during the week and on weekends, offering a great way to dive into the martial arts in a structured, supportive environment. For those looking for something more casual or fun, our Adventures can be booked anytime through our website. They’re perfect for group outings or team-building and are designed to give everyone an exciting taste of swordplay, archery, or axe throwing.
We have plenty of opportunities for people to get started with swordplay and archery. Our beginner programs start each month, with options during the week and on weekends, offering a great way to dive into the martial arts in a structured, supportive environment. For those looking for something more casual or fun, our Adventures can be booked anytime through our website. They’re perfect for group outings or team-building and are designed to give everyone an exciting taste of swordplay, archery, or axe throwing.
For younger participants, we’re excited to run our next Knight Camps this March during Spring Break. These camps are a wonderful way for kids to immerse themselves in the knightly arts, learn physical skills, and explore history in a fun, interactive environment.
We also offer free trial classes for anyone curious about giving swordplay or archery a try. Archery trial classes take place at 6 PM on the second Friday of each month, and swordplay trial classes are at 6 PM on the third Friday. You can sign up for those easily through our website.
And if you’re in the area, I’d also recommend stopping by Cafe Duello, our onsite café at 426 West Hastings Street. We serve delicious pastries, food, smoothies, and hot drinks, and it’s a great place to relax, play some board games, and even catch a glimpse of our classes or archery range in action. The café is open from 11 AM to 8 PM on weekdays and 10 AM to 4 PM on Saturdays.
Websites -
- www.academieduello.com
- www.knightcamp.ca
- www.dueladventures.com
- www.pathofthesword.com - personal blog
- www.duello.tv - online swordplay university
- @academieduello (academy)
- @cafeduello (cafe)
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