Throughout his life, Desmond had spent a considerable amount of time training in the art of combat, for which; he was versed in a significant variety of weapons.
The sword was the weapon his father was obsessed with, though he never explained his motives. Like any child, Desmond wanted his father to be proud of him, so he trained in swordsmanship, relentlessly seeking praise from his father.
They say that the student is destined sooner or later to surpass the teacher; Desmond's father never thought that his son would reach him in just a couple of years. Although Desmond had stopped using the sword for years, the training and memories he had with his father had not faded.