Steaphen Fick. Photo courtesy of Davenriche European Martial Artes School.
The International Swordfighting and Martial Arts Convention
Biography Page for

Steaphen Fick
Davenriche European Martial Artes School



In 1998 I joined a company of people touring through California performing in fully armoured tournaments. While in armour I have competed in full contact tournaments, as well as demonstrating the use and mobility of the armour. We would average five events per year, six shows per event and three fights per show. I maintained this schedule for approximately 11 years. I also practiced in the training fights as well as the tournament fights. In the 11 years of the training and tournaments, I had over 1900 fights.

After the tournament company disbanded, I began training with the lighter weapons. I trained with the Rapier and Dagger, the Single Rapier and the Spada di Lato. I traveled to the UK to study with Maestro Paul Macdonald in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1999. I have also competed in tournaments at various reenactments around the UK. I began studying the Rapier and Dagger and became a recognized authority on the system of Joseph Swetnam (1617) and have used Swetnam’s system in four international Rapier and Dagger tournaments. I have won the last two tournaments I entered and made it to the finals of a third.

I started Davenriche European Martial Artes School in June of 2000. I teach children as young as 9 and adults the historic use of:
  • the 14th-16th Century Long Sword
  • the 16th -17th Century Rapier – Three Musketeer’s style
  • the 16th Century Side Sword – cut and thrust
  • the 15th Century Dagger – similar to our modern day dagger
  • the 19th Century Sabre – US Civil War style sword

I currently have a school in Santa Clara and Morgan Hill, California.

I began the Renaissance Fencing Camp in 2000 to provide four days of instruction to the enthusiasts of California. This camp is designed to give the novice an in depth introduction to a variety of weapons. In the camp we introduce the students to one weapon per day. For the last two years I have flown other instructors in so I could expand the camp.

I also offer a special class in street safety for women called, “Be S.A.F.E.”(Secure, Aware, Free, and Empowered), in which women are taught how to best avoid potential harm, as well as simple maneuvers to escape from an attacker.

Always one to share my passion, I give demonstrations in schools, participate in international fencing tournaments, and teach at international seminars. Some of the events I have taught at include:
  • Middle Schools
  • Universities
  • Birthdays
  • Weddings
  • Public Libraries
  • Renaissance Faires
  • Seminars around the country

While playing with swords is “fun,” for the children, teens and adults who attend my classes, I am quick to emphasize that the techniques one learns can be used in situations where one needs to defend oneself in everyday life. 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 rolled up newspaper or magazine, a pair of gloves, a purse strap or a closed umbrella. These techniques also work with your bare hands.

In addition, I am a member of the Association of Historical Fencing, and the Dawn Duelists Society of Edinburgh, Scotland.