Chris Hobbs
Photo Credit: Damon Perrott
Head Instructor / Owner
Chris has a lifelong love of swords. In 2010, he began learning the Italian Longsword of Fiore de’i Liberi with Schola Saint George in Charleston, South Carolina.
In 2014 he started training German Longsword with Eric Wiggins and helped build the HEMA subgroup within Ordo Procinctus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Since 2016 he has lived in Pittsburgh, PA, and in June 2017 he started Steel City Historical Fencing with his wife Ashleigh Hobbs and a friend.
Chris has a natural love of teaching, and emphasizes the importance of reading the source material. He encourages students to explore and figure out what works for them. Most importantly, he is always willing to work with students one on one, whether they need a concept broken down or want to go more in-depth into the material.
HEMA Tournament Awards
2022 As You Wish - Top 8 Open Rapier & Dagger
2022 Crossroads - 2nd Place Open Steel Longsword
2022 Crossroads - Top 8 Open Steel Sabre
2021 Crossroads: Longsword - 2nd Place Open Steel Longsword
2020 Arnold Fencing Classic - 1st Place Open Steel Longsword
2019 Blue Box Open - 1st Place Open Steel Longsword
2019 Clash of Claymores - 3rd Place Open Steel Longsword
2018 Blue Box Open - 1st Place Open Steel Longsword
2018 Longpoint HFL - 4th Place Open Steel Longsword
2018 HarvestFecht - 1st Place & Inducted to the Holy Order of the Broken Blade
2018 Steel City Open - 4th Place Open Steel Saber
2018 Clash of Claymores - 1st Place Open Steel Longsword
2018 Ram Point - 2nd Place Open Steel Longsword
2018 Arnold Fencing Classic - 1st Place Open Steel Longsword
2018 Queen’s Gambit - 4th Place Open Steel Longsword
2017 Piedmont HFL - 2nd Place Open Steel Longsword
2017 S.E.R.F.O. - 4th Place Sword & Buckler
2017 Longpoint South - 4th Place Open Steel Longsword
2017 Longpoint - Top 24 Tier A Longsword
2017 Longpoint HFL - 2nd Place Open Steel Longsword
2017 Fechtschule New York - 1st Place Open Steel Longsword
2017 Brokenpoint - 4th Place Open Steel Longsword
2017 Study in Steel - 3rd Place Sword & Buckler
2017 Study in Steel - 2nd Place Open Steel Longsword
2017 Flowerpoint - 2nd Place Open Steel Longsword
2017 DC HEMA Open - Top 8 Open Steel Longsword
2016 S.E.R.F.O. - 3rd Place Invitational Steel Longsword
2016 Geselle Fechten - 1st Place Open Steel Longsword
2016 Study in Steel - 2nd Place Open Steel Longsword
2016 Purpleheart Armoury Open - 2nd Place Open Steel Longsword
2015 Purpleheart Armoury Open - 2nd Place Synthetic Longsword