If you've ever dreamt of being a knight from the days of yore, this might be the place for you.
Vancouver's 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 ), 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 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 . 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 returns September 18.
