We will be closed on Monday 
May 29, 2017 in observance of Memorial Day

Private lessons are available!
Please call (408) 216-9351 for a consultation

Join us for a Knight's Adventure Summer Camp!
June 19-23 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Click Here for more information 

Upcoming Events

June 23-25^th: Fiore Manuscript Workshop with Brian Stokes

Join us for a three-day workshop with Brian Stokes. We will be working from the Fior Battaglia (Flower of Battle) manuscript written in 1409. In this three-day workshop, we will be working on the dagger techniques, single handed sword, and two-handed sword techniques. We will also be
learning how to look at the manuscript and interpret the artwork and symbols in the manuscript so we have a better understanding of what we are seeing in this book and other books like Achille Marozzo (Opera Nova, 1536).

Brian Stokes, born slightly after the death of Fiore dei Liberi, started his practice of the sword in 1972 in the world of collegiate Olympic fencing, earning spots on the West Fencing Conference’s 1st team in both foil and epee and 2nd team in saber. (HEMA?  What the heck is HEMA?) Finding 
that the course of Olympic fencing was changing he started training in the Japanese way of the sword and this year celebrates his 40th year in the Japanese martial arts.

After spending a few years looking through some of the books then accessible for study Brian started his formal training in the western arts in 2002 when he ran across the horrid then available microfiche of the Getty manuscript Fior di Battaglia by the great master Fiore dei Liberi. In 2004 he founded the Schola San Marco whereat Fiore’s art is the sole focus of his efforts.

Brian is also the consummate researcher having had the opportunity to sit with and study a number of the original manuscripts. Additionally, he has built up a moderate library of HEMA books, including original copies of Agrippa, Marozzo, Capo Ferro, Thibault, Gerard, and Angelo amongst others. Studying from some two dozen original printings now fill his free time.

Along with Fior Thibault is also a primary focus of his group’s study. Having access to an original copy of Academie de l’Espée has led to a number of discoveries and deeper understandings of this great master’s methodology and fundamental principle of fencing.

Where: 3266 De La Cruz

              Santa Clara, CA 95054

Cost: $150 before June 15th  or $175 after June 16th

Brian Stokes Workshop

Full Workshop $150.00 USD Friday only $50.00 USD Saturday only $75.00 USD Sunday only $75.00 USD

July 8^th: Longsword Workshop

Looking for a gift for that special someone? This is perfect! Give the gift of sword fighting to them. You can send him or her to the class, or you can attend with them. If you know of anyone that you think would enjoy this class. Please pass the information onto them or give me a call for more information.

This is a four-hour intensive class for the students of the sword that would like to attend classes at the school but live out of the area or just don't have the time to commit each week to class.

Time: 12:00pm – 4:00pm

Where: 3266 De La Cruz
             Santa Clara, CA 95054

Cost: $80 in advance or $90 at the door

July 9^th: Tomahawk and Knife Workshop

Arrr!!! Ahoy me maties! And all that other pirate talk. 

Whether you grew up watching Swashbuckler movies like The Sea Hawk, The Crimson Pirate or Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean, we all associate the pirates with the cutlass. The cutlass was used by the sailors in the 18th century because it allowed the sailors to use the shorter weapon on deck with all of the spars and lines as well as in the lower decks.

In this class, we will learn the cuts and defensive actions with the tomahawk by itself and with the hawk in one hand and a knife in the other hand. This is not a theatrical fighting class but is a look at the martial use of the hawk as it would have been to protect the ship and to take another ship as a prize. 

Where: 3266 De La Cruz
             Santa Clara, CA 95054                                  

Cost: $80 in advance or $90 at the door

July 29^th 2017: DEMAS Open Tournament

Join us on July 29th for a longsword sword tournament. This will be a one-day tournament and we will have two rings available for the combatants.

Rules to be posted HERE

This tournament will allow feders and swords for the competition.More updates will be available as we get closer to the date. The tournament is open to the public for viewing and all are welcome to join us.

Time: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

Where: 3266 De La Cruz
              Santa Clara, CA 95054

Cost: $50 in advance by July 1
         $60 after July 1

Whether it is a zombie apocalypse, a biological epidemic or some other kind of catastrophe when the s**t hits the fan, some people will band together and the best of humanity will come out. This will also cause the worst of humanity to come to the forefront with violence, looting, and chaos.

Wil you be prepared? Join us for this class and prepare for the chaos of the breakdown of civilization. And have a good time learning how to kill the zombies!

We will be using medieval techniques with modern tools. Our best bet during the apocalypse is found weapons. We will be studying techniques with gardening tools: Rakes, shovels, t-handle pitchforks, spades and more. 

Time: 3:00pm – 7:00pm

Where: 3266 De La Cruz

              Santa Clara, CA 95054

Cost: $80 in advance or $90 at the door

Are you looking for a place and a way to develop a training that is more fun than walking on a treadmill watching Oprah? We have a program that might be just what you are looking for! We have The Nerd Trainer at our school and the workout class is called Fighter Fitness. Join us and train with Skye Hilton, the Nerd Trainer, and let us help you meet your fitness goals!

About Us

Are you looking for a well-established school in which to study martial arts in the European tradition? DEMAS has been in business since 2000 in the San Jose / Santa Clara area and has worked with many students over the years. Our school studies and works on the fundamental principles of martial arts in order to be able to understand and use many different styles and weapons.

Davenriche has experience in training and running theatrical fights and is available to assist in those endeavors. People mistakenly associate martial arts exclusively with the Asian Fighting arts. Currently, there is a reemergence in the study of historically accurate Western Martial Arts from medieval and renaissance fighting manuscripts. These manuscripts have revealed a well established, highly sophisticated European fighting system employing swords, rapiers, daggers, shields, pole axes and more.

Unfortunately, theatrical and popular media portrayals have reduced European martial arts to the myth that combatants merely crudely bludgeoned, hacked, and slashed savagely at their opponents. In reality, European martial arts integrate footwork, avoidance, and the ability to use timing and distance to exploit and enhance the sword's inherent cutting and thrusting capabilities. These skills include techniques for grappling, wrestling, kicking, throwing, and disarming of the opponent. European martial arts are distinctly different from modern Olympic fencing and Asian martial arts.

Enthusiasts of modern fencing, historical reenactment and role playing games are now starting to focus on historically accurate methods of medieval and renaissance fighting skills. The differences between the English, Italian and Spanish schools of rapier and swordplay have been studied at length. How to properly wear your weapon, particularly when in a crowd, and knowing when not to use it, are two of the skills a swordsman must have.

It takes years before you can do anything in martial arts: Progress may seem painfully slow at first, but it will come. You should start to develop some skills within the first month, feeling more comfortable and developing a decent understanding of what you will accomplish. You can earn your first rank in three to four months. That said, you can spend your entire life perfecting your forms and training your mind and spirit.

Today in our school, we use wooden swords (called wasters), fencing helmets to protect the head and face, gloves, and padded jackets to protect the hands and arms. Safety is a primary concern, so we work very hard on mixing the medieval and renaissance martial arts with the safety concerns of the 21st century.

When you join our school, you will get to study the European tradition of martial arts while you learn how to use different kinds of swords and daggers. And, in the process, you may pick up some history, physics, and geometry, and have fun while you are learning these skills.