Brian Stokes of the Schola San Marco - http://www.scholasanmarco.org/ hosted me for about 5 hours over the Christmas holiday during which time we worked on some basic concepts in Fiore’s Posta, the first couple of plays in the First Master of Battle in the Zogo Largo (longsword) and the Zogo Stretto (dagger and abrazarre). I learned a heck of a lot due mostly to Brian’s firm understanding of what the master wrote and what he meant. Mr. Stoke’s understanding is based upon and bolstered by his access to some high resolution images of Fiore Battaglia and a good martial foundation. He also took the time to give me some pointers on cutting targets with the longsword.

It was a very positive and stimulating experience, I’ll be sure to visit his Salle again.

Brian is interested in forming a larger study group/Fiore school than he now enjoys so I thought it proper to give him and his Salle an endorsement.

He also is willing to review and criticize videos of your training via email.

It was a pleasure and an honor to meet and train with this classically educated man with years of sword study as well as a foundation in Italian language, Renaissance and Medieval culture and the kind of common sense that keeps things safe in the salle.

Respectfully,

Mike Barna

I have moved this topic to the Off-topic Talk forum.

Please note the description for this forum:

"Discussions of general history and other miscellaneous topics relating to arms and armour that do not specifically fit our other forums"

Thank you.