If you've ever dreamt of being a knight from the days of yore, this might be the place for you.
Vancouver's Academie Duello is a full-fledged centre for swordplay.
Described as more than just a school, the academy is devoted to teaching people about the traditional martial arts practices of Europe.
Various programs enable students to pursue weapon arts while meeting fitness goals. There's a diverse range of courses for kids and adults including rapier, longsword, mounted combat (held at partner stables in Langley), archery, and wrestling.
Teaching about the history of such combat techniques remains a key aspect of the school's mission.
"People don't think about European martial arts. But of course, Europe was warring with each other for thousands of years and self-defence was a need in that time as well," explains founder Devon Boorman.
One-time adventure programs are also available for those not looking for a long-term commitment.
Academie Duello was created in 2004. The school began with only six people but has since grown into the largest centre for Western martial arts in the world. It has over 1,000 members and welcomes more than 2,000 participants to classes and workshops each year. There's even a small museum plus an arms and armour store open to the public.
"People love it because it's a great way to connect with your body. It's a great way to get a bit of competitive spirit of challenging yourself against somebody else. It's really got all that connection with history but nobody actually gets hurt or dies, so that I think makes it more attractive to a modern audience as well," Boorman adds cheekily.
The centre's ongoing youth program returns September 18.
