Stephen Koepfer is man of means and action. Since the age of eight Stephen has studied martial arts, earning a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, practicing San Shou in the 1997 United World Championships, as well as training in Kung-Fu and mixed martial arts.

In 1999 Stephen began Sambo training under Sambo Grand Master Alexander Barakov. Together Koepfer and Barakov founded the American Sambo Association where Stephen continues to teach at his club, New York Combat Sambo.

You could call Stephen a therapist, a modern warrior monk. Aside from his martial arts training he also has a Masters in Creative Arts Therapy from Hofstra University.

Koepfer comes to BIFOLD: CNFLCT to discuss how more than being a practice that strengthens the body, SAMBO and martial arts can help people acknowledge and resolve their own internal conflicts that come to light through the meditative act of fighting.

Striking blows, perfecting holds, building muscle strength is only one part of martial arts; some would argue it is the least important part.

Join Stephen Koepfer along with journalist Ryan Duffy and host Anthony Lappe at BIFOLD: CNFLCT on August 28th for a dialogue on how conflict is essential to the development of the artistic narrative as well as an understanding of what it means to be human.