SoCal Swordfight 2026
Brian Stokes
Schola San Marco, California, USA
Brian started fencing at the ripe young age of 16. At 21 he began training in iaido, a stylized set of kata for kendo practitioners to train in generalized training with the Japanese katana. In 2002 Brian became a student of the Suio Ryu of Iai Kenpo, a traditional school whose founding dates back to 1612 AD. The Suio Ryu maintains training in hand to sword, sword to sword, jo staff, naginata, sword against spear, and the kusrigama (sickle and chain).
In 2005 Brian was mesmerized by Fiore dei Liberi's Fior di Battaglia at the Getty and has studied this Master's art ever since. He has also sat with the 'Pisani Dossi' version as well as the Morgan. He is currently working with the Getty to bring all four manuscripts together at the museum in 2026.
Brian owns one of the largest private collections of fencing books in the country dating from 1493. One of these works, Gerard Thibault's Academy of the Sword, inspired the founding of a school to pracitice this master's art.
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