A warrior apprentice becomes a wizard [s]

[Beaky]

Read in 2006. First of a series. Not a long book. Definitely less than 300pages.

A boy is training to be a warrior, but he's not very good at it. Near the start, his teacher is showing him a sword move. (Fairly notable)He is supposed to swing the sword and step forward in the middle of the swing. His magical ability is recognised and he is sent to a magic school, I think. At this school/town is a High mage/teacher/important person who has become evil and corrupted.
*Spoiler?*




When it seems like the antagonist/evil mage is going to succeed in his plan, it is up to the protagonist to stop him. The protagonist uses the move he was taught at the start of the book. The last thing the antogonist says is SOMETHING like 'I've never seen a wizard/mage do that before...'
Thanks to anyone who tries to help.

[Leela4]

Circle of MagicSchool of Wizardry by Debra Doyle and James D. Macdonald (i.e. "School of Wizardry" in the "Circle of Magic" series)