Steaphen Fick

Bringing history alive is the passion of Steaphen Fick, founder of the Davenriche European Martial Artes School (DEMAS), located in Santa Clara, Fresno and Morgan Hill, California. Based on an medieval and renaissance European style of self-defence (old English spelling), students from age six to seventy-six learn how to safely swing swords, fight with long sticks, daggers and rapiers, and learn other techniques that were part of the tradition of knights centuries ago. Fascinated by the “days of yore,” Steaphen began sword fighting in full armor for a tournament company in 1989. Initially, he learned how to compete through what might be called the literal school of hard knocks. However, in 1999 he traveled to Europe with his wife where he had the good fortune to spend over six months in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was able to study 11 different weapons, as well as age-old wrestling techniques and styles. Learning from manuscripts written in by the men that lived and died by the sword that have been sequestered away in libraries and museums, Steaphen studied and learned: • the 14th-16th Century Long Sword • the 16th -17th Century Three Musketeer’s style Rapier • the 16th Century Side Sword – cut and thrust • the 15th Century Dagger – similar to our modern day dagger • the 15th Century Billhook – a six foot pole with various blades, hooks • Pugilism – the art of fencing with one’s fists After the tournament company dissolved, Steaphen founded his school, DEMAS, as a way to continue to share his enjoyment of the art. The school offers several different classes to people of all levels. The classes offered by DEMAS include; Long sword Rapier and dagger Side sword (cut and thrust sword) Armoured combat in the style of the 16th century tournament. In addition to these classes, Steaphen teaches sesminars in all these weapons and specialized weapons and techniques. Steaphen also offers a special class in street safety for women called, “Be S.A.F.E.,”(Secure, Aware, and Free Everywhere) in which women are taught how to best avoid potential harm, as well as simple maneuvers to escape from an attacker. Women who take Steaphen’s classes consistently report feeling more confident in their ability to protect themselves. Teens who take Steaphen’s classes also gain confidence, as well as experience a sense of fluidity, balance, awareness, and control over their bodies that other teens don’t possess. Parents note that Steaphen’s classes not only increase younger children’s confidence, but help them also gain greater awareness of their bodies, their surroundings, problem solving skills and where other people are in relation to themselves. While playing with swords is “fun,” for the children, teens and adults who attend his classes, Steaphen is quick to emphasize that the techniques one learns can be used in situations where one needs to defend oneself. For example sword techniques can easily be applied to a cane, a pool cue, or a heavy cardboard tube. In the same way, the technique one learns with a dagger can be applied to a folded up newspaper or magazine, a pair of gloves, a purse strap or a closed umbrella. These techniques also work with your bear hands. Always one to share his passion, Steaphen gives demonstrations in schools, participates in international fencing tournaments, and teaches at international seminars, including the Western Martial Arts Workshops (WMAW) and ISMAC (International Swordfighting Martial Arts Convention). For the past seven years, he has also hosted and organized the Renaissance Fencing Camp in Santa Clara. He does birthday parties for kids, teaches at libraries and middle schools and has lectured at Stanford University and for the University of California history department. He is also the founder of IMTA, the International Medieval Tournament Association which hosts Rapier and Dagger tournaments as well as armoured tournaments with weight classes depending on the level of armour worn by the combatant.