May 14th: Four-Hour 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 him! 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 class at the school but lives out of the area or just don't have the time to commit each week to class.
Every month we gather for four hours to study the long sword. The first three hours are spent on the curriculum of the school and the final hour is spent working on a specific technique from Fior dei Battaglia (Flos Duellatorum written in 1409).
DEMAS has loaner equipment for the students that do not have their own swords or helmets, all you need to bring are gloves. If you have your own wasters and helmet, please bring them with you.
We will be working outside with masks and maintaining an appropriate distance to protect ourselves, our friends, and our family.
Dress of the day is sweats, a t-shirt, and comfortable shoes.
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Time: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: 3266 De La Cruz
Santa Clara, CA 95054
Cost: $80 in advance
$90 at the door
May 15th: Be S.A.F.E. Self Defense
We have all heard about the person who has become a statistic. Most of you figure it’s not going to happen to you. You’re right, chances are it won’t. However, we have to hope for the best, and prepare for the worst. We are on the road a lot, traveling, meeting people, and some have kids that are preparing to go off to college or high school.
You can take this class for your own peace of mind or give the gift of safety to someone you care about. 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.
Self-defense does not require a lot of physical strength, if you understand how to use an attacker’s strength against him. You don’t need to be stronger than your attacker, nor do you need to be a black belt to be safe. Learn ways to protect yourself with a 600-year-old Italian Martial Art. Be safe in the future, while drawing from the strengths of the past.
Effective use of your hands and everyday objects around you for your personal protection is easy to learn and practice. Regardless of your age or physical fitness, it is never too late to learn to be safe, NOT be a victim.
The Be S.A.F.E. class is a set of awareness, assertiveness, verbal skills with safety strategies and physical techniques that enable someone to successfully escape, resist and survive violent attacks. The course provides psychological awareness and verbal skills, not just physical training.
Empowerment is the goal of this class. When you feel free and empowered, you are better able to go where you need to and do what you need to do without fear or unease because you have options, techniques and a way of analyzing situations that help you to Be S.A.F.E.
Dress of the day is sweats, a t-shirt and comfortable shoes.
​
Time: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: 3266 De La Cruz
Santa Clara, CA 95054
Cost: $80 in advance
$90 at the door
Davenriche European
Martial Arts School
Look to the Future, while Drawing from the Strengths of the Past
December 13th: 4-Hour Longsword Workshop
Are you looking for a gift for that special someone? This is perfect! Give them the gift of sword fighting. You can send him or her to the class or attend with him! If you know of anyone that you think would enjoy this class, please pass the information on to them or give me a call for more information.
This is a four-hour intensive class for the sword students who would like to attend class at the school but live out of the area or don't have the time to commit each week to class.
Every month we gather for four hours to study the long sword. The first three hours are spent on the curriculum of the school and the final hour is spent working on a specific technique from Fior dei Battaglia (Flos Duellatorum written in 1409).
I have loaner equipment for the students that do not have their own swords or helmets, all you need to bring are gloves. If you have your own wasters and helmet, please bring them with you.
The dress of the day is sweats, a T-shirt, and comfortable shoes.
Time: 12: 00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: 395 E Taylor St
San Jose, CA 95112
Cost: $100.00 in advance
$120.00 at the door
December 14th: 4-Hour Medieval Dagger Workshop
In this class we will be looking at a combination of using the dagger in the forehand grip and the icepick grip. We will be looking at the similarities in different manuscripts such as Fiore dei Liberi, Joachim Meyer and Paulus Hector Mair and the practical changes from one grip to the other.
In this class we will focus on the movements and use of the dagger in the high and low line attacks and shifting between the two grips in the fight.
How is this class different than other dagger/knife classes in other martial arts? In this class we are looking at the knife as a thrusting weapon with cutting ability. The medieval dagger was longer than modern knives and was designed to go through thicker under armour clothing like gambesons and leather. We are looking at the use of the dagger as it was used in the medieval period for more thrusting than cutting attacks.
These techniques would work with modern equivalent tools like screwdrivers, short sticks, broken handles of other tools.
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Dress of the day is sweats, a t-shirt and comfortable shoes.
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Time: 12: 00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: 395 E Taylor St
San Jose, CA 95112
Cost: $100.00 in advance
$120.00 at the door
We Will Be Closed December 23, 2025 - January 5, 2026
For Christmas Break
January 10th: 4-Hour Longsword Workshop
Are you looking for a gift for that special someone? This is perfect! Give them the gift of sword fighting. You can send him or her to the class or attend with him! If you know of anyone that you think would enjoy this class, please pass the information on to them or give me a call for more information.
This is a four-hour intensive class for the sword students who would like to attend class at the school but live out of the area or don't have the time to commit each week to class.
Every month we gather for four hours to study the long sword. The first three hours are spent on the curriculum of the school and the final hour is spent working on a specific technique from Fior dei Battaglia (Flos Duellatorum written in 1409).
I have loaner equipment for the students that do not have their own swords or helmets, all you need to bring are gloves. If you have your own wasters and helmet, please bring them with you.
The dress of the day is sweats, a T-shirt, and comfortable shoes.
Time: 12: 00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: 395 E Taylor St
San Jose, CA 95112
Cost: $100.00 in advance
$120.00 at the door
January 11th: 4-Hour Tomahawk and Knife Workshop
Arr!!! 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 the spars and lines as well as in the lower decks.
In this class we will learn the cuts and defensive and offensive actions with the tomahawk/Boarding Axe by itself and paired with the a knife by in the other hand. We will also use the tomahawk as a wrestling tool.
This is not a theatrical fighting class but is a look at the martial use of the cutlass as it would have been to protect the ship or to take another ship as a prize.
Bring your own tomahawk to the class and knife (all training weapons must be rebated and checked before the class for safety). Metal or wooden weapons are acceptable for the class.
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Time: 12: 00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: 395 E Taylor St
San Jose, CA 95112
Cost: $100.00 in advance
$120.00 at the door
February 7th & 8th: DEMAS Tournaments
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February 14th: 4-Hour Longsword Workshop
Are you looking for a gift for that special someone? This is perfect! Give them the gift of sword fighting. You can send him or her to the class or attend with him! If you know of anyone that you think would enjoy this class, please pass the information on to them or give me a call for more information.
This is a four-hour intensive class for the sword students who would like to attend class at the school but live out of the area or don't have the time to commit each week to class.
Every month we gather for four hours to study the long sword. The first three hours are spent on the curriculum of the school and the final hour is spent working on a specific technique from Fior dei Battaglia (Flos Duellatorum written in 1409).
I have loaner equipment for the students that do not have their own swords or helmets, all you need to bring are gloves. If you have your own wasters and helmet, please bring them with you.
The dress of the day is sweats, a T-shirt, and comfortable shoes.
Time: 12: 00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: 395 E Taylor St
San Jose, CA 95112
Cost: $100.00 in advance
$120.00 at the door
February 15th: 4-Hour Tomahawk and Knife Workshop
Arr!!! 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 the spars and lines as well as in the lower decks.
In this class we will learn the cuts and defensive and offensive actions with the tomahawk/Boarding Axe by itself and paired with the a knife by in the other hand. We will also use the tomahawk as a wrestling tool.
This is not a theatrical fighting class but is a look at the martial use of the cutlass as it would have been to protect the ship or to take another ship as a prize.
Bring your own tomahawk to the class and knife (all training weapons must be rebated and checked before the class for safety). Metal or wooden weapons are acceptable for the class.
​
Time: 12: 00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: 395 E Taylor St
San Jose, CA 95112
Cost: $100.00 in advance
$120.00 at the door
March 7th: Big Gay Sword Day
Join us for an inclusive and community celebration where we open up the swordfighting school to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and it's allies. This is an all day event where there will be lessons for the guests and we will also have vendors showing off their wares and offering their products to the guests of the BGSD.
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To find out more about this event, please visit HERE
Time: 12: 00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: 395 E Taylor St
San Jose, CA 95112
Cost: FREE
March 8th: Indian Club Use and Practice Workshop
This class will examine how Indian clubs can mimic the movements of swordplay and prepare the body for sword-based martial arts, and how the movements found in Chinese swordsmanship can benefit from this practice.
Learning to swing a single Indian club will allow us to transfer that dexterity and mobility to the dao, the single-handed Chinese saber. John will walk you through introductory movements with both the club and the saber and show how the skills learned with one transfer back and forth between tools, allowing you to build skill with both tools.
John will then show how to swing two clubs simultaneously, synchronous and asynchronous, and show how building this skill set can prepare us to use the dao and tengpai (saber and shield) together in combat and even give us some insight into how double weapons can be used.
You won't want to miss this fusion of martial arts and physical culture!
John’s Bio
With an eclectic martial arts career spanning two decades, John Partika's dedication to training has brought him to the doors of many systems, from the empty hand and weapon arts of Southern China to the blade arts of Japan and the Philippines. Currently specializing in Chinese swordsmanship, John is the founder of Iron Ox Physical Culture and head instructor at Great River Taoist Center San Diego, focused on preserving and promoting the practical methods of Chinese fencing and martial arts.
Beyond his experience in swordplay, John is also a certified Indian clubs instructor and steel mace flow coach, using his knowledge of unconventional fitness and physical culture to condition his students to both heal and prevent common training injuries.
Time: 10:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Where: 395 E Taylor St
San Jose, CA 95112
Cost: $130.00 in advance
$150.00 at the door
March 14th: 4-Hour Longsword Workshop
Are you looking for a gift for that special someone? This is perfect! Give them the gift of sword fighting. You can send him or her to the class or attend with him! If you know of anyone that you think would enjoy this class, please pass the information on to them or give me a call for more information.
This is a four-hour intensive class for the sword students who would like to attend class at the school but live out of the area or don't have the time to commit each week to class.
Every month we gather for four hours to study the long sword. The first three hours are spent on the curriculum of the school and the final hour is spent working on a specific technique from Fior dei Battaglia (Flos Duellatorum written in 1409).
I have loaner equipment for the students that do not have their own swords or helmets, all you need to bring are gloves. If you have your own wasters and helmet, please bring them with you.
The dress of the day is sweats, a T-shirt, and comfortable shoes.
Time: 12: 00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: 395 E Taylor St
San Jose, CA 95112
Cost: $100.00 in advance
$120.00 at the door
March 15th: 4-Hour Sword and Shield Workshop
In the sword and shield class we will look at the use of the round and the heater shield along with the single-handed sword. We do have some loaner shields that can be used in the class, but if you have a round or heater shield, I encourage you to bring it.
We will study defensive and offensive use of the shield for fighting, as well as the use of the sword with the shield. There are no known surviving manuscripts detailing the use of the large shield for combat, however there are the Nordic Sagas as well as artwork and architecture reliefs showing the shield as a fighting tool. The earliest manuscript that we know of using a small shield, called a buckler, was written in the 1290s, and it is called the I.33 for its catalog number in the Tower of London library.
The techniques we will be studying in this class were learned from years of practice and study fighting with, and against, the sword and shield. We will look at the types of techniques used by the Viking and Saxon shields fights of the 8th-10th centuries, the battlefield shield techniques of the Knights of the 14th century and the Scottish Highlanders of the 18th century.
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Time: 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Where: 395 E Taylor St
San Jose, CA 95112
Cost: $100.00 in advance
$120.00 at the door
March 20th-22nd: SoCal Swordfight
April 11th: 4-Hour Longsword Workshop
Are you looking for a gift for that special someone? This is perfect! Give them the gift of sword fighting. You can send him or her to the class or attend with him! If you know of anyone that you think would enjoy this class, please pass the information on to them or give me a call for more information.
This is a four-hour intensive class for the sword students who would like to attend class at the school but live out of the area or don't have the time to commit each week to class.
Every month we gather for four hours to study the long sword. The first three hours are spent on the curriculum of the school and the final hour is spent working on a specific technique from Fior dei Battaglia (Flos Duellatorum written in 1409).
I have loaner equipment for the students that do not have their own swords or helmets, all you need to bring are gloves. If you have your own wasters and helmet, please bring them with you.
The dress of the day is sweats, a T-shirt, and comfortable shoes.
Time: 12: 00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: 395 E Taylor St
San Jose, CA 95112
Cost: $100.00 in advance
$120.00 at the door
April 12th: 4-Hour Be SAFE Self Defense Workshop
We have all heard about the person who has become a statistic. Most of you figure it’s not going to happen to you. You’re right, chances are it won’t. However, we have to hope for the best, and prepare for the worst. We are on the road a lot, traveling, meeting people, and some have kids that are preparing to go off to college or high school.
You can take this class for your own peace of mind or give the gift of safety to someone you care about. 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.
Self-defense does not require a lot of physical strength, if you understand how to use an attacker’s strength against him. You don’t need to be stronger than your attacker, nor do you need to be a black belt to be safe. Learn ways to protect yourself with a 600-year-old Italian Martial Art. Be safe in the future, while drawing from the strengths of the past.
Effective use of your hands and everyday objects around you for your personal protection is easy to learn and practice. Regardless of your age or physical fitness, it is never too late to learn to be safe, NOT be a victim.
The Be S.A.F.E. class is a set of awareness, assertiveness, verbal skills with safety strategies and physical techniques that enable someone to successfully escape, resist and survive violent attacks. The course provides psychological awareness and verbal skills, not just physical training.
Empowerment is the goal of this class. When you feel free and empowered, you are better able to go where you need to and do what you need to do without fear or unease because you have options, techniques and a way of analyzing situations that help you to Be S.A.F.E.
Dress of the day is sweats, a t-shirt and comfortable shoes. .
Time: 12: 00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: 395 E Taylor St
San Jose, CA 95112
Cost: $100.00 in advance
$120.00 at the door
May 9th: 4-Hour Longsword Workshop
Are you looking for a gift for that special someone? This is perfect! Give them the gift of sword fighting. You can send him or her to the class or attend with him! If you know of anyone that you think would enjoy this class, please pass the information on to them or give me a call for more information.
This is a four-hour intensive class for the sword students who would like to attend class at the school but live out of the area or don't have the time to commit each week to class.
Every month we gather for four hours to study the long sword. The first three hours are spent on the curriculum of the school and the final hour is spent working on a specific technique from Fior dei Battaglia (Flos Duellatorum written in 1409).
I have loaner equipment for the students that do not have their own swords or helmets, all you need to bring are gloves. If you have your own wasters and helmet, please bring them with you.
The dress of the day is sweats, a T-shirt, and comfortable shoes.
Time: 12: 00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: 395 E Taylor St
San Jose, CA 95112
Cost: $100.00 in advance
$120.00 at the door
June 13th and 14th: Apache Knife Workshop With Robert Redfeather
You have noticed that everything that an Indian does is in a circle, and that is because the Power of the World always works in circles, and everything tries to be round … The Sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours … Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing and always come back again to where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves.
“All things in the world are (naki-two). In our mind we are two -- good and evil. With our eyes we see two things…things that are fair and things that are ugly…we have the right hand that strikes and makes for evil, and the left hand full of kindness, near the heart. One foot may lead us to an eviel way, the other foot may lead us to a good. So we are all things two, all Naki”
Robert Naki-Besh Redfeather, being (Mashgale Ndee) Mescalero Apache in 1980 sought out his relatives on the Mescalero and other Indian reservations in Southeastern New Mexico and Arizona. Redfeather was trained by his grandfather in survival, and Nagondzoog (old term) means War/Fight/Guerrilla Warfare, Nagonlkaadi means War/Fight/Combat –the unique Apache brand of guerrilla warfare. Both of these were made famous by the Apache realm of powerful War chiefs such as Mangas Coloradas, Cochise, Victorio, and Geronimo, who was a Bedonkohe Apache Leader. In addition to his native culture, Robert Readfeather has been training in the martial arts for 48 years and is an 8th degree Black Belt. He has also been honored and inducted into several Hall of Fames across the country. Now with all of this knowledge and life experiences, Redfeather is honored to pass it on through “Apache Knife Training Courses”.
He is also happy to pass along the history and traditions of his family and heritage and the Apache people. Redfeather, who teaches not from theory but from his life experience, is known for his training of our U.S. Military Troops, Police Officers, Native Americans, and anyone who has a desire to learn.
1 day seminar - $125.00 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
2 day seminar - $250.00 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
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Purchase your ticket for this workshop HERE (will be updated as soon as we get the link)