Michael J. Stevens started fencing in the late 1960s. He practiced fencing with foil, sabre, and épée, gained a reputation for adopting a classical style, and assisted with teaching novices. Growing disappointment with the way modern competitive fencing has diverged from its classical origins led to his recent interest in smallsword fencing which is more like dueling and where all the old fencing theories are still relevant. He has also published books on schooling horses, which is another of his major interests.
