Next Class in Single Sword will begin August 11, 2025 with testing date TBD in late fall, 2025.

Weekly Classes

Ongoing: Monday Nights

  • What: Weekly stage combat classes, with the option for SAFD Certification testing 

  • When:  Monday evenings starting at 7:00, ending between 9:00 - 9:30 pm

  • Where:  Three Stories, third floor rehearsal room
    937 Liberty Avenue
    Pittsburgh, PA 15222

  • Cost:  Class fee $30/session, with discounts for monthly signups and for current university students.  For certification testing, a $60 non-refundable testing fee is required in addition to the class fees. (Testing with the SAFD is optional, and not required for participation in the class).

    About the SAFD/Skills Proficiency Testing: 
    The Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD)  is the largest stage combat training organization in the United States, serving as a network of professionals who collaborate and cross-train to maintain a set of professional standards in the field of stage combat.  Participating in an SAFD Skills Proficiency Test provides an opportunity to have your skills observed and critiqued by a third-party eye with decades of professional experience, and it is a unique opportunity in arts education to have your skills measured against a national industry standard.  A minimum of 30 hours of training with a SAFD Certified Teacher is a prerequisite for a Skills Proficiency Test.

    Topics:   Early classes will start with foundational skills and techniques to establish safety and precision, progressing through more nuanced techniques and details of the style, and culminating in a presentation of choreography within a scene performance and an opportunity to test for certification with the SAFD (for those who desire to pursue that certification and meet the minimum training hours requirement).  

    Equipment: Students are encouraged to bring a pair of full-fingered leather gloves (batting gloves or light gardening gloves will work) and any pads or braces they may wish to work in.   ​Stage combat equipment will be provided, you do not need to bring your own.  However, if you would like to bring your own stage combat gear, it will be inspected to ensure it’s in good working condition and that it will work harmoniously with the class equipment before being allowed in class.  

For more information about in-school workshops:

Click Here!
The original Pittsburgh-area weekend stage combat workshop

The Allegheny Alley Fight

This two-day workshop is your annual opportunity to get a sampling of a wide variety of stage combat topics over the course of a weekend.

The workshop returned in 2024 for the first time since the pandemic, and the most recent workshop was held on June 14-15, 2025 at the University of Pittsburgh. The 2026 workshop dates will be announced by January 2026.

The Allegheny Alley Fight welcomes students aged 18 and up. Classes are offered for all experience levels, from beginner to advanced.  

Click the button below to visit the workshop website for more details!