With 25 years of tournament experience and more than 3,000 fights in armor to his credit, Morgan Hill master swordsman Steaphen Fick has been passing along his vast knowledge of 15th Century dueling to his students for nearly two decades.
Locally at The Grange building in downtown Morgan Hill, as well as a brand new 8,700 square foot facility in Santa Clara, the well-traveled fencer who once spent six months studying swordsmanship in Edinburg, Scotland, fuels the inner gladiator in everyone he engages in combat.
“That was great because I traveled throughout the United Kingdom and Europe,” said Fick of the 1998 overseas excursion. “I competed in tournaments and re-enactments, so I was studying and testing myself at the same time.”
Fick described the re-enactments as battles between 2,000 warriors in a field swinging swords, axes and other medieval hardware with arrows flying above their heads.
“Steaphen is a great teacher. He really knows how to talk to people,” said 16-year-old Gilroyan Josh Lance, who has been taking classes for almost two years now. “I was just thinking about ‘Lord of the Rings’ and how cool it was.”
A senior in the independent study program at Gilroy High School, Lance—a fitting name considering his passion for the 15th Century martial art—has dabbled in sword and shield, modern combat, dagger fighting and guard long sword.
“Just yesterday, I had a duel with a guy in Santa Clara, and it was pretty fun,” said Lance prior to his Jan. 26 class at The Grange.
For 9-year-old Audric Smith, the martial art has interested him ever since he gave it a whirl at the annual Renaissance Faire near Casa de Fruita in Hollister. His mother signed him up for Fick’s classes earlier this month and he’s taking it all in.
“I like the different guards that you can do,” said the San Martin home-schooler.
Fick, who has taught sword fighting all around the world, asks his young pupil if he can recognize the guards—which are different defensive stances in positioning the sword in preparing for battle—such as “Open the Iron Door,” “Middle Iron Door,” “Short Guard,” “Window,” and “Long Guard.”
The instructor bases his classes off the combat manuscript of Italian Master Fior Dei Liberi that he wrote in the year 1409. It covers 15th Century martial arts that include the use of sword, knife, spear, grappling and equestrian to name a few.
“The best part of this is it develops a sense of community,” said Fick, who met Lance while they were both performing in the South Valley Dance Arts’ annual “Nutcracker” production. “That’s great fun.”
Fick, who got involved with the SVDA when he enrolled his daughter, has played the role of the Rat King for the last three years and choreographs the fight scene. Lance cast the part of the Nutcracker. He explained that children play the mouse army and must drag him off stage once he gets killed by Clara.
“It’s quite a sight watching seven to 10 kids trying to drag me off stage,” said Fick, who has been invited to San Jose State’s School of Music and Dance to give demonstrations.
The 46-year-old instructor began his adventures in armor and sword fighting in 1989, traveling around California with an armor company that performed at the Renaissance Faire. He recalled being hooked after his very first fight.
“For three years, I got beat up,” said Fick of his early endeavors. “It was the original school of hard knocks.”
After taking his bumps and bruises on the Renaissance tour and then mastering his sword play in Scotland, Fick found himself in a disappointing predicament when the armor company disbanded.
“I didn’t have my friends to battle with anymore, so in 2000 I started my own school,” said Fick, who did so at the urging of his wife. “I needed to make some new friends to battle with.”
Fick now offers lessons through Davenriche Martial Artes School in Morgan Hill on Tuesday mornings and soon-to-be Wednesday evenings at The Grange (located at 40 East Fourth Street) and five days a week at a brand new 8,700 square foot facility at 3266 De La Cruz Boulevard in Santa Clara. Fick, the founder, is also one of four instructors. Students, ages 6 through 76, can 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. In Santa Clara, they also have indoor archery and air-soft.
To sign-up, call Fick directly at (408) 857-0120 or email him at [email protected].
“It’s a very subtle art that includes geometry, physics and music,” said Fick, who took a group of students in July 2015 to Europe to participate in the 600th anniversary of the “Battle of Agincourt.” It was a major victory in the Hundred Years’ War for England’s Henry V over a French army in 1415.
Fick—who is also trained in 14th-16th Century Long Sword, 16-17th Century Rapier, 16th Century Side Sword, 15th Century Dagger and 19th Century Sabre—will host a charity event from 3 to 7 p.m. Feb. 27 in Santa Clara. At that time, fighters and fencers from around the Bay Area will duel as spectators can place bets with the winning combatant donating the earnings to their preferred charity.
“This is a way we all enjoy what we’re doing and give back to the community,” said Fick, who has become a hot commodity in different sword-loving communities worldwide.
Fick, who has also taught in Mexico, Canada, England and France, will fly out to New Zealand to teach swordfighting and run a tournament for several groups later this year.
What: Davenriche Martial Artes School
Who: Master swordsman Steaphen Fick
Where: The Grange in Morgan Hill (located at 40 East Fourth Street) and new 8,700 square foot facility at 3266 De La Cruz Boulevard in Santa Clara
How: Call (408) 857-0120, email [email protected] or visit swordfightingschool.com
