Home

Santa Barbara Soldados

The Santa Barbara Soldados are the local Buhurt Club for Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. We participate in an internationally-competitive sport known as “Buhurt,” (from the Middle French word “Bèhourd,” meaning “wallop”), which is a modernized form of the medieval Foot Combat Tournament. Although visually quite brutal, Buhurt is safer than many modern contact sports, because of the nature of our extensive modern & historical protective equipment.

Founded in 2016 by former Los Angeles Golden Knights Lance Hoffman and Chris Minerd, the Santa Barbara Soldados remained a small chapter with only three fighting members until early 2020, when an influx of new fighters more than doubled the team’s size. Several Soldados have since been awarded gold medals for exceptional performance in both Single Combat and Mass Combat, nationally and internationally.

Meet the Team

Lance Hoffman

One of the venerated founding fathers of Buhurt in the United States, Lance is a veteran of six international championships, as far back as 2013. He has thrice been honored with the IMCF Gold Medal in the 16v16 Category, and twice with the IMCF Silver Medal. After taking the Gold in 16v16 at IMCF 2014, at Belmonte Castle in Spain, Lance composed a medieval-style epic poem called “The Tournament at Belmonte,” published by Battleaxe Books.

Chris Minerd

Chris is a founding member of the Soldados and a three-time veteran of IMCF Team USA. With a background in Kung Fu, Combat Sambo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, he often plays the Center position, where his speed and martial versatility make him exceptionally dangerous. After taking the Silver Medal in 16v16 at IMCF 2015 at Malbork Castle in Poland, Chris proposed in true knightly fashion to his now wife in the Rose Garden of the largest castle in the world.

Mark Sanders

A former semi-pro Combat Sambo fighter and current archeologist and professor, Mark boasts one of the finest armours in American Buhurt, and highly technical swordsmanship, which has won him a handful of medals in the Sword & Buckler category. Although he rarely competes in melee, he takes to the field on occasion with the Condors, where he fights in the right Rail position.

Joseph Brandt

A longtime Muay Thai practitioner and California Condor Biologist, Joseph brings a deadly array of sweeps, kicks and clinch knees to the List. He Captains the Condors, a regional superteam made up of fighters from all around Southern California. A specialist in small team tactics, Joseph also fights with Team Dominus, the 2023 Buhurt League 5v5 World Champions.

Alexander Das

A swordfighter since age 8, Alexander came to Buhurt with few conventional sports or martial arts skills, but now delights in the wrestling and team tactics inherent in Buhurt. He was honoured to be counted among the men of USA 1, who took the Silver Medal in 12v12 at the 2023 Buhurt League World Cup in Libušín, Czechia.

Daniel Thompson

Daniel normally fulfills the role of Center in the melee, where his speed, versatile fighting style and field awareness make him a particularly perilous person to turn one’s back to. In duels, Daniel is a fierce competitor in the Polearm Duel category.

Cousteau Christopher

Fighting since 2017, Cousteau is known for his aggressive brawler style, and devastating shield punches. He plays the Rail position, where often opponents find themselves unable to counter his nearly immovable base and crushing power.

Alexandra Nicklin

The first female Soldado, Alexandra primarily competes in melee with Den Loch, the 2023 National Women’s Melee Silver Medalists, but bears the device of St. Barbara’s Tower when she competes in Women’s Longsword, where she holds a Bronze Medal at the National level.

Matthew De La Rosa

Matt joined the Soldados just in time for the team’s Melee Debut at the first Ventura Melee Megabowl. He found Buhurt following an interest in swordfighting, and has found the sport particularly engaging because of the myriad skills, disciplines and categories contained within. A swift & eager learner, Matt harbours a long-term focus on Polearm Dueling and Profighting.

Kyle Lee

New to the sport, Kyle aims to build upon his experience as a wrestler to become a valuable member of the Soldados. He was drawn to Buhurt from a life-long interest in medieval history and sword fighting in addition to the sport being an opportunity for personal growth and teamwork.