Steaphen Fick is a pioneering instructor in Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA), an internationally recognized swordsman, author, and fight choreographer with more than three decades of experience in historical combat. Since beginning his martial arts journey in 1989, he has dedicated his career to preserving and teaching the martial traditions of medieval and Renaissance Europe through practical application, historical research, and modern instruction.

Fick began his career competing in full-contact armored tournaments as part of a touring historical combat company throughout California. During more than a decade of demonstrations and competition, he participated in over 1,900 armored bouts, gaining extensive experience in the use of medieval weapons and armor under realistic fighting conditions.

In 1999, he traveled to the United Kingdom to study historical fencing under Maestro Paul MacDonald in Edinburgh, Scotland. There he expanded his expertise in rapier, dagger, and the spada di filo (cut-and-thrust sword), while competing internationally. Through his research and competitive success, he became widely recognized for his interpretation and instruction of Joseph Swetnam's 1617 rapier and dagger system, winning multiple international tournaments.

In 2000, Fick founded the Davenriche European Martial Artes School (DEMAS) in California. Under his leadership, the school has grown into one of the largest dedicated HEMA academies in the United States, offering comprehensive instruction in longsword, rapier, dagger, sabre, polearms, grappling, armored combat, and practical self-defense for students of all ages. He has taught seminars and workshops throughout North America and internationally, helping shape the growth of the modern HEMA community.

Beyond the training hall, Steaphen is a respected fight choreographer and historical combat consultant for stage and screen. His expertise has been featured on Modern Marvels on The History Channel and CNN's Somebody's Gotta Do It with Mike Rowe, and he has worked with film and television productions to bring historically authentic combat to audiences.

An accomplished author, Fick has written The Beginner's Guide to the Long Sword: European Martial Arts Weaponry Techniques, along with The Secret Language of Conflict, a book on conflict management and practical self-defense, and The Writer's Guide to Swords and Armour. His teaching philosophy combines historical accuracy, technical excellence, and a welcoming environment that encourages students to develop confidence, discipline, and respect while studying the martial traditions of Europe's past.

Today, Steaphen Fick continues to teach, lecture, write, and mentor students around the world, earning a reputation as one of the leading educators in Historical European Martial Arts and a passionate advocate for preserving the martial heritage of the medieval and Renaissance eras.