Instructor Bio: Brian Stokes
Brian Stokes started his career in fencing long before most of you were born - 1971. He fenced at the collegiate level for five years for California State University, Fullerton, and acted as assistant coach for a year thereafter. In 1979 he began his studies of the Eastern samurai arts in which he is still actively involved, holding license in the Suio Ryu of Iai Kenpo founded in 1612 CE. Brian started training with the rapier in the early 2000's, settling with the art of Fiore de'i Liberi and Gerard Thibault.
Brian owns one of the largest private collections of books in the United States on fencing and fighting, the earliest dating from 1493. And yes, this includes 'The Princess Bride' collection with originals of Capo Ferro, Bonetti, Thibault, and Agrippa.
