Past Instructors 

Bryce was a ranked tournament free style martial artist growing up and combined that passion with dramatic art to stimulate a long career in film and theatre. While acquiring a BFA and MFA in musical theatre Bryce found time to attend stage combat workshops and even teach and train in the UK, spending 6 months based out of the Welsh College of Music and Drama. Bryce became a fight director with Fight Directors, Canada in 1998 and has since fought and danced his way around North America and the UK. As an actor he toured with the Broadway National Tour of Cats, has performed in 6 companies of Beauty and the Beast and was part of the original workshop production of Snow White for Disney Entertainment. Bryce also found himself working as a stuntman in several unpronounceable Welsh films and well as working on set as an assistant armourer and assistant pyro-technician.

I am the Founder of the Society of American Fight Directors, the United Stuntmen's Association and the International Stunt School. I now embark on my 37th year in the theatre and film industries. I have been a Fight Master and Fight Master Emeritus for over 35 years. I am a member of the Hollywood Stuntmen's Hall of Fame. I was awarded the Los Angeles Critics Circle Award for distinguished fight choreography. I have been a teacher of the combat arts for 36 years having trained many of those individuals and colleagues who now make their livelihoods as professional teachers and choreographers. I have worked on several feature and television films which include: Blue Velvet, The Hand that Rocks the Cradle, Twin Peaks, Northern Exposure, X-Files, Highlander, Mad Love, Drugstore Cowboy, and the epic slasher film "Lover's Lane"! I have over 400 theatre credits to date which include 53 Romeo & Juliets! I now start my 17th year as administrator and teacher for the International Stunt School.

Kathleen is propietor of the KB Dance Studio and has been a dance teacher for 30 years and a yoga practitioner and instructor for nearly 15 years. She is a former stunt woman as well as former member of the Society of American Fight Directors. She presently works as a dance instructor at the Everett Parks Department and yoga instructor at Gold's Gym in Everett, Washington.

Rebecca Boyd began fencing in 2008 with a club in St. Peters, Missouri. There, she progressed through the classical weapons and began practicing historical weapons. In 2011, she attended the Fechtschule America in Houston, Texas and fell in love with Historical European Martial Arts/Western Martial Arts. Since then she has worked to develop herself as a classical and historical fencer, instructor, and event organizer. She has taught at seminars including Fechtschule America (Houston, TX), PNW (Tacoma, WA), Schwertkampf Mexico (Mexico City), Sentiment du Fer (St. Peters, MO), and Iron Gate Exhibition (Boston, MA). She was the event organizer for the Fencing Extravaganza 2011, and Sentiment du Fer 2012 and 2013. Becca founded Second Intent Fencing (SIF) in 2013, where she now practices and teaches both classical fencing and HEMA. In 2014, she joined the Iron Gate Exhibition event organization team and was a key member of IGX Management for IGX 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. Becca has also competed in HEMA events in the United States, Mexico, and Europe. She has been a member of the Western Martial Arts Coalition (WMAC), the Historical European Martial Arts Alliance (HEMAA), and Esfinges. 

Scott Brown travels to study, train, and teach extensively with the world’s foremost researchers and practitioners in order to bring the highest level of instruction to the U.S. He is a 25 year veteran of the martial arts that has taught and trained in France, Germany, Hungary, the U.K., Japan, Canada and the U.S.A. Scott holds certificates of rank for Japanese, Philippine and Modern martial arts systems. Studying historical martial arts since around the turn of the century, Scott now focuses his efforts to help revive the European traditions through diligent, practical, hands-on study with top historical specialists, researchers, and practitioners. He currently instructs a full curriculum based on the “Priests” system as depicted in the 13th century text known as R.A. MS. I.33., as well as German longsword principles via the Liechtenauer traditions and falchion according to Lecküchner.

Ruth Cooper-Brown is the co-founder of the UK Dramatic Violence company Rc-Annie Limited with Rachel Bown-Williams. Ruth is the current Chair of the British Academy of Dramatic Combat (BADC) having served on the committee since 2007. Her eclectic background of acting, renaissance fighting, illusion, circus, technician and projectionist has informed, and still influences her present work. She teaches in UK drama schools including ALRA and Cygnet and as Fight Director was proud to work on the recently released British crime movie "iLL Manors", and the touring production of "The Snow Queen." Ruth also advises companies on UK Theatrical Handgun law and usage and has had several articles published both in the UK and the USA.

Payson is a professional actor, stuntman and fight director. He is certified as a fight director and teacher of stage combat through the Society of American Fight Directors.

Lloyd Caldwell is an Actor, Director, Fight Director, and Consultant to the entertainment industry. Through his company, Bladework, he has provided a wide variety of services to clients such as Universal Studios, Kings Productions, the BBC, and RTE’. In a career spanning 30 years he has appeared off-Broadway and regionally, and in feature films and television. His fight choreography credits include the American Place Theatre, The Red Ladder Theatre, The Berlin Opera, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Lloyd is one of the founders of the International Order of the Sword and Pen, and in June 2001 he completed a five year appointment as the Executive Director. He currently sits on the Advisory Board of the IOSP. Lloyd is a member of the Theatre Faculty of Oklahoma State University, and is a Riata Fellow in the Spears School of Business. He teaches a course in Arts Entrepreneurship and courses in the Business of the Arts. In August he completed fight choreography for his ninth production of MACBETH, produced by Shakespeare Dallas!

Born in Brussels, Belgium in 1949, Jacques began fencing at 10 years old (and proved to be a born fighter, in fact!) Jacques has been working in professional theatre for more than 30 years. He has been teaching theatrical combat since 1979 at IAD (Institut des Arts et de la Diffusion) at the University of Louvain La Neuve; since 1993 at INSAS (Institut National Supérieur des Arts du Spectacle), the main dramatic art school in Brussels/Belgium, and since 2002 at the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles. He continues his career principally as a teacher and combat choreographer and as an actor. Jacques met with J.F. Gagnon during a visit to Montréal in 1999. He was invited to teach at the FDC National Workshop in 2001 and lightning struck! This was the beginning of a beautiful, strong and flourishing friendship with the FDC and its members embellished by a wonderful Honorary Fight Master Diploma for which he is extremely proud and very happy. Two years ago he was accorded full fight master with Fight Directors, Canada.

After receiving his Bachelor of Science and Education from the University of Arkansas in 1985, Mr. Charron spent twenty years participating in Historical Reenactment of the Medieval era. His personal research and training in education led him to teach classes in topics ranging from Vegetius' De Rei Militari to Government and Law in 12th and 13th century Jerusalem.

Eric and Debbie Chen are the owners of IMPACT Stunts in Los Angeles. Both competed in the World Wushu Championships as both athletes and coaches. Film and television credits include "Pirates of the Caribbean 2&3", "Rush Hour 3", "Legend of Bruce Lee", "The One", " Shanghai Noon", "Beverly Hills Ninja", "Transporter 1-2", and the recent blockbuster "Kung Fu Panda". Wushu, weapons, choreography and wire work as well as high falls, air ram, ratchet and high speed winch systems are IMPACT Stunts repertoire.

Marié-Heleen Coetzee is professor and head of the drama department of the University of Pretoria. She was previously on faculty at the University of Zululand. She lectures in somatics, movement pedagogy and applied drama/theatre. Her research interests include drama/theatre-based methodologies and embodied learning, and cross-cultural theatre and performance praxis. She has presented at papers and workshops at national and international conferences, contributed scholarly publications and directed/choreographed productions on various platforms. She is delighted to be part of the Paddy Crean workshop again and hope to fight with as many people as possible whilst there.

Meghan is a Vancouver based personal trainer and stuntwoman Meghan has considerable experience looking at the form & function of the human body. Her early stage experience was dance and musical theatre but after attending a Paddy Crean event she began her foray into the stunt world. She has since trained with Fight Directors Canada, the United Stuntmen’s Association, and various other instructors. She is a two time recipient of Alberta Foundation for the Arts Grants for continued studies in Stage Combat. She is a certified Personal Trainer. Her formal education includes majoring in musical theatre at Sheridan College of Arts (Canada), drama at the Guildhall School (England), and a B.A. in Sociology and Organizational Studies from the University of Western Ontario (Canada). She has worked for various arts organizations including serving on the Board of Directors for London Musical Theatre and Fight Directors Canada, fund development for the Banff Centre and as the Artistic Assistant for Alberta Ballet.

John Davis has performed more than three thousand live stage combat shows in sixteen countries with his Comedy sword-fighting show Hack and Slash. As Oberlin College professor of Stage Combat and resident fight choreographer, John has choreographed hundreds of productions in the Cleveland, Ohio market and nationally.

Anthony De Longis is an accomplished is an actor, director, fight coordinator, weapons expert, and voice over artist. He is a member of the Black Belt Hall of Fame, USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame, International Knife Throwers Hall Fame, Society of Canadian Fight Directors, honorary Society of American Fight Directors. Anthony’s professional credits span Film, Television, Theatre, Motion Capture, Voice Over and Opera. As an actor, he’s portrayed Shakespeare's immortal villain Iago in OTHELLO, twice, and co-starred in the popular movies FEARLESS, ROAD HOUSE, MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, CIRCLE OF IRON, JAGUAR LIVES, BOOMERANG and THE SWORD AND THE SORCERER. He created the role of Kazon leader Maje Culluh for STAR TREK: VOYAGER, guest starring in five of the series' episodes. Television appearances include ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, REVOLUTION, NCIS LA, GRIMM, MYTH BUSTERS, LEVERAGE, ER, THE OUTER LIMITS, QUEEN OF SWORDS, THE ADVENTURES OF SINBAD, CONAN THE ADVENTURER, BABYLON 5, and HIGHLANDER: THE SERIES, twice. De Longis has directed three award winning short films, BLOOD TRAIL, THE TRAIL HOME and DUKE. As a Fight Director and Choreographer, he's known for his skill and knowledge in a broad range of bladed weapons arts, always building his action from combative truth to tell a more dynamic action story. De Longis introduced the unique style of Spanish rapier fighting to the screen in HIGHLANDER: the SERIES “DUENDE” and created a more efficient, effective and visual style of whip work for Michelle Pfeiffer's "CATWOMAN" and Harrison Ford's "INDIANNA JONES" in CRYSTAL SKULL. He's demonstrated his practical skills with blade, whip, gun, archery and horse on History Channel's MORE EXTREME MARKSMEN, MYTH BUSTERS, LOCK & LOAD, TRIGGERS, 101 WEAPONS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD and DEADLIEST WARRIOR. His Voice Over roles include Sheriff Leigh Marshal in Rock Star Games' RED DEAD REDEMPTION and General Serrano in BULLETSTORM. He's performed, trained and choreographed for some of biggest names in the entertainment industry including Tom Cruise, Brendan Frasier, Harrison Ford, Jet Li, Ron Howard, Yuen Woo Ping, Tim Burton, Michelle Pfeiffer, David Carradine, Patrick Swayze, Angelica Huston, Placido Domingo, Richard Chamberlain and Charlton Heston. De Longis staged action for Los Angeles Opera from 1985-2005 and taught Stage Combat and Character Movement in the UCLA Theatre Arts Department from 1974-1993. Professionals from around the world come to train in a variety of Fight and Weapons Skills at Rancho Indalo, his multi-skills training facility in Los Angeles, California.

Mary De Longis is a woman of many talents: bullwhip artist, horsewoman, knife/tomahawk thrower, stunt performer, wrangler, ranch manager, cowboy action shooter – and is a Ph.D. in Cell Biology & Anatomy and former science professor. Mary was a fight double/ weapons trainer / coordinator’s assistant on QUEEN OF SWORDS, horse wrangler/trainer for 2 seasons of Spike TV’s DEADLIEST WARRIOR, was stunt double for the feature SIX GUN SAVIOR and short film DUKE, Catwoman bullwhip expert for DC Nation, and a hungry, water-logged zombie for AMC’s FEAR THE WALKING DEAD. She regularly does live bullwhip performances with her husband, Anthony De Longis, including the 2014 Del Mar Night Of The Horse celebration. Mary and Anthony live just north of Los Angeles, CA at Rancho Indalo, with 3 horses and 2 dogs. They offer weapons training (bullwhip, swords, knives, guns, archery, knife/tomahawk throwing), extreme trail riding, fine dining and relaxing evenings at the ranch. 

Born in 1969, Stefan Dieke has since the early 1990s been dedicated to the research of fighting styles of the centuries past, with the main focus in German material from the Middle Ages and Renaissance. His focus is on the authenticity of the fighting techniques and their effective realization.

David DoerschDavid “Pops” Doersch is one of the three founding members of the IOSP. He has enjoyed a long and fruitful career as a fight director and teacher. His work has been featured on some of the largest stages in North America, including The Guthrie Theatre, The American Players Theatre, The Dallas Theatre Centre and many others. His screen credits most recently include Steve Spielberg’s Lincoln. As a founding member of the IOSP, Pops has taught workshops and/or performed throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Egypt, South Africa and Japan. This summer found him thoroughly enjoying himself teaching the extremely talented students at the Nordic Stage Fight Society’s Summer Workshop in Linköping, Sweden. He is currently on staff with Feld Enterprises as a Casting Director and works specifically with Marvel Universe Live where, in addition to casting, he also serves as a trainer and coach for the performers.

Michela started training in Historical European Martial Arts six years ago in the UK and, with over 140 fights since then, has established herself as one of the most active competitors on the HEMA tournament scene, having medalled in various international tournaments in the last 5 years. She practices a variety of weapons but focuses on the Medieval longsword according to the teachings of Johannes Liechtenauer. She’s currently based in Italy and trains with Ordine delle Lame Scaligere in Verona and Sala d'Arme dell'Appeso in Asola.

In 1998 I joined a company of people touring through California performing in fully armoured tournaments. While in armour I have competed in full contact tournaments, as well as demonstrating the use and mobility of the armour. We would average five events per year, six shows per event and three fights per show. I maintained this schedule for approximately 11 years. I also practiced in the training fights as well as the tournament fight

Jessica Finley has had a sword in her had for the past twenty years. Her initial interest began in stage combat, but not too long after beginning that pursuit began to ask "... but how did they really fight" and from that question branched out to German Medieval Martial Arts. She is the head instructor at Ritterkunst Fechtschule in Canton, Georgia. She has taught and competed internationally at events like the Western Martial Arts Workshop in Chicago, USA; Swordfish in Gothenburg, Sweden; and Longpoint in Baltimore, USA and has taught intensives at various events and schools, as well as weekend private intensives at her home. She also has a background studying Judo under the tutelage of Arden Cowherd of Topeka Judo Club. She is a published author, having written a book entitled "Medieval Wrestling" on the fifteenth century Master Ott's wrestling treatise of German wrestling techniques, and with a contributing article in In the Service of Mars (Freelance Academy Press). She also researches medieval clothing construction and fabric armor, and has presented her findings at the International Congress on Medieval Studies at Kalamazoo and published an article in Medieval Clothing and Textiles (Boydell and Brewer) on her study of a 15th century quilted armor. Jessica currently lives the Atlanta, Georgia area with her family. In between “kid-wrangling” her pre-teen children, she volunteers for a local horse rescue, writes books and does her assigned physical therapy exercises.  

Rachel Flesher is an Intimacy, Violence, and Movement Designer/Instructor currently residing in Chicago IL. She attended Oklahoma City University where she was first introduced to intimacy direction by Tonia Sina Ellis. She went on to graduate with a BFA in Acting and a minor in Directing and has been traveling the world teaching violence and intimacy for stage and screen for almost a decade. Her goal is to create safe space for actors to perform brave work by teaching the importance of consent culture. Her versatile style ranges from hyper realism to the fantastical, finding the perfect balance between the needs of the character, director vision, and actor comfortability. An Instructor with the Fight Directors Canada, Rachel is also a member of the Society of American Fight Directors, an Instructor with Tactics on Set, and an adjunct faculty member at Columbia College Chicago and DePaul University. She specializes in consent and sensitivity workshops, mental health first aid, consent and anti bullying for youth, Traumaturgy, Droznin Movement, and developing new works. Selected Intimacy direction credits include Steppenwolf Theatre for Young Adults, Theatre Wit, The Gift Theatre, Timeline Theatre, First Folio Theatre, Writers Theatre, and Shakespeare Dallas. Rachel has also had the pleasure speaking at a number of conferences in conjunction with The Stage Managers Association. Change the World!

With over 600 professional credits stretching from Broadway to Stratford to Yellowknife, Simon specializes in all areas: Weaponry, Aerial Flying, Unarmed Combat (Eastern and Western). Fight Master with FDC. Executive Director and Founder of RIOT A.C.T. earning 17 nominations and 8 awards, including Male Action Performer of the Year 2009 AOF Festival – California. www.simonfon.com and www.riotact.ca

Jean-Pierre holds a BFA in Acting and an MFA in Directing from the University of Alberta. He is an Associate Professor of the Performance (Acting) stream with the Theatre Department at Mount Royal University, in Calgary, Alberta. He has taught fencing and stage combat at the University of Alberta Theatre Department since 1974.

Erik has been one of our main sources of inspiration from the beginning at the Nordic Stage Fight Society. Co-founder/Fight Master SAFD, and Head of the Drama Department at Ann Arbor University in Michigan, Erik is the spiritual father of the NSFS. Thanks to Erik, the "Spirit" of Paddy Crean became a natural part of the NSFS. He began his career as an actor and stage combat choreographer at the Guthrie theatre in 1971. He has worked as an actor and choreographer at many American theatres. Fredriksen has choreographed fights for a lot of actors including Christopher Plummer, Morgan Freeman, Holly Hunter, Denzel Washington, John Lithgow, Frank Langella, and Don Cheadle. Erik has been at several NSFS workshops, and he taught at our teachers workshops in 2000 and 2003.

A graduate from the National Theatre School of Canada, Jean-François Gagnon pursues parallel careers as Actor, Fight Director and Director. He is a recognised Fight Master* and member of «Fight Directors Canada». He is presently the VP of training for the organization.

Robert G. Goodwin has over 40 years' martial arts experience, 25 years' experience in European weapons, and has trained or choreographed many of Hollywood's leading actors and actresses including: Ron Perlman, Eric Roberts, Patrick Warburton, Khrystyne Haje, Ashley Jones, Illeana Douglas, Charles S. Dutton, Rocky Carroll, Ving Rhames, Matthias Hues, Jennifer Tilly, Elias Koteas, Jake Busey, Crispin Glover, and The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Most recently he was a stunt performer and co-fight coordinator for the last "Dreger" fight in "Sherlock Holmes," and was the movement consultant for the entire cast of "The Soloist," including Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx.

Jake Guinn is an Atlanta based Action Actor, Fight Director, and Movement Artist. He is, most recently, one of three co-founders and Artistic Directors of Havoc Movement Company where he serves as a Director and Choreographer. Blending martial movement and flow arts, Jake's work focuses on aesthetic and athletic choreography to drive dynamic storytelling. His work has been seen on Marvel Universe Live! Age of Heroes, TruTV’s Fake/Off, the Woodruff Arts Center, Actor's Theatre Lousiville, Florida Repertory Theatre, Unto These Hills Outdoor Drama, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati Playhouse, Folding Chair Theatre, Southern Arkansas University, Louisiana Tech University, and The Seedling Project of Atlanta.

Stephen Hand was born in Hobart, Tasmania in 1964. In 1979 he joined a medieval re-enactment group and soon came to the conclusion that medieval swordsmanship must have been more sophisticated than the fighting re-enactors were doing. For several years he studied modern fencing and kendo before discovering that there were surviving historical fencing manuals. Rapidly coming to the conclusion that there were no worthwhile secondary sources Stephen decided to analyse two of these manuals, George Silver’s Bref Instruction Upon my Paradoxes of Defence and Vincentio Saviolo His Practise line by line. A series of articles by Stephen, analysing the latter manual was published in the magazine Hammerterz Forum between 1997 and 1999. Stephen is the editor of, and a major contributor to, SPADA: An Anthology of Swordsmanship, a journal dedicated to the most current research on western swordsmanship. He has contributed essays to Master of Defence: The Works of George Silver, edited by fellow Stoccata member Paul Wagner and to Teaching and Interpreting Historical Swordsmanship, an upcoming book of essays. Medieval Sword and Shield: The Combat System of Royal Armouries MS I.33 an interpretive book by Paul Wagner and Stephen Hand was published in early 2004 and Stephen has done additional research on the I.33 system in his new paper, Re-interpretation of some aspects of the sword and buckler system of manuscript I.33. Stephen’s new book, English Swordsmanship: The True Fight of George Silver is due to be published in September 2005.

Gregory Hoffman has been teaching and directing in Universities, Dramatic Conservatories, and Theaters in Europe, Asia, and the United States since 1984. After studying Anthropology, Fine Arts and Theatre at Stanford University, with further studies of Movement Arts in New York City, and studies of Classical Theatre in London, Gregory has worked as a Theatrical Producer, Director, Fight Director, Movement Coach, Theatrical Combat Instructor, and now Independent Filmmaker. Gregory has extensive training in Martial Arts and Dance and is also an instructor of T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Laban-Bartenieff Movement Studies.

Jonathan Howell is a professional dancer, actor, choreographer, fight arranger and director - working primarily in British Theatre for nearly forty years. Some of his favourite work includes playing the Tango Dancer in Evit', Nijinsky in Clownmaker, Cyrano, Porthos, the left-hand of Clueless the Donkey in The Muppet's Treasure Island; Fight directing favourites: Romeo & Juliet for Northern Ballet Theatre & both Romeo og Julie & The Nutcracker for the Norwegina National Ballet. He also Freelances as a Teacher of Stage Fighting; America, Canada, Japan, and for the Nordic Stage Fight Society - Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Estonia. At present, he is Full-time at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, responsible for Stage Combat & Fight directing - Historical Dance & Period Movement. He is the author of Stage Fighting, a Practical Guide obtainable from Amazon. He has been teaching at Paddy Crean Workshops since 1993, as a guest of Brad Waller in Washington DC & at the Folger Library; Niagara-on-the-Lake, Edinburgh and Banff. Jonathan was the recipient of the Paddy Crean Award in 2006.

Steve Huff has over 30 years martial arts training in both Eastern and Western martial systems as well modern “real world” self defense and modern combatives systems. He has been teaching various types of martial arts internationally for the past 15 years during which time he also owned and operated the Universal Martial Study Center – a training facility dedicated to the research, study and practice of both Eastern and Western martial systems.

Spence is one third of the comedy swordfighting duo Hack and Slash and is a certified teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors. He has also been awarded advanced certifications in stage combat from the Society of British Fight Directors and Fight DIrectors Canada. He has provided instruction in safe theatrical combat at George Mason University, Catholic University, The American University Summer Repertory Theatre, Washington and Lee University, The National Academy of Dramatic Arts, Western Maryland College, McDaniels College, The University of Maryland, St. Mary's College, The Shakespeare Theatre Professional Training Program and Canada's National Banff Centre for the Performing Arts.

Chuck Johnson started his martial arts career at the age of 15 with Olympic Taekwondo training. With a fanatic training schedule, within 2 1/2 years he received his black belt and he became the Junior Olympic Michigan State champion for forms, sparring and board-breaking 6 days later. After spending several years training in Korea, Chuck went on to win two non-Olympic qualifying US national championships, as well as the Intercollegiate Championship of Hong Kong when he had originally only come to the tournament to watch. Since then, he has earned his master rank in Taekwondo (4th Degree Black belt), 2nd degree black belt in Karate, a brown belt in Judo, and certificates of proficiency in Japanese Kubudo weaponry such as Nunchaku, Tonfa, Kama and Staff. Chuck also went on to gain experience in kickboxing, Hapkido, Capoeira, Katana Tate (theatrical Japanese swordplay), Tai Chi, Hanmudo and Krav Maga. 

Perere (Eric Michael Johnson) has something like 17 years practicing kenjutsu and has achieved Okuden graduation in the Toda-ha Buko-ryu: a 400+ years old school of koryu bujutsu (classical Japanese Warrior Combatives). He is also a practitioner of Brazilian Capoeira Angola (and related deviltry) since 1989 and is one of the few North Americans to achieve the level of Contra Mestre - he has been teaching capoeira to adults and kids since 1993. For 8 years he was an instructor at the International Stuntschool, teaching a diverse range of stunt skills, including: highfalls, firestunts, martial arts, stunt tumbling, and trampoline.

Kristoffer Jørgensen (NOR) has put fight scenes together all his working life, covering some 150 stage productions, more than 60 films and TV productions, and top medal positions in 5 international championships in stage fencing. He is head of the Arctic Action Stunt Team, which as offices in Tromsø (Norway) and Reykjavik (Iceland), and divides his time between stunt coordination, fight choreography and teaching. A Nordic Stage Fight Society (NSFS) certified teacher, he is also mentor for NSFS teacher trainees. Has sword, will travel - he has done seminars on stage combat and stunt work throughout Scandinavia, in Finland, Iceland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, France, Germany, Holland, Poland, Belgium, Italy, Canada and Russia. In 1992-93 he lived in Japan, training kendo and aikido intensively; he´s a black belt holder in aikido. From 2002 to 2010 he also worked as a performer in contemporary circus, touring Norway, Estonia, Finland, Russia and Japan. He has a degree in Theatre History from the University of Oslo, specializing in the fight scenes of Shakespeare and medieval popular theatre. Kristoffer also dabbles in directing and producing films; his short film "Brothers in Arms" won both the Best Film and Best Fight awards at the 2014 Combat Con in Las Vegas.

Casey Kaleba is a Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors and a regular at the Paddy Crean Workshop since 1996. A professional fight director and theatre instructor in the Washington DC area. With more than three hundred professional, academic, and community productions his work as a choreographer includes the Folger Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Round House Theatre, Signature, Studio 2ndStage and four seasons with the National Players. He has served as grand guignol advisor and blood effects coordinator for shows with Rude Mechanicals, Doorway Arts Ensemble, dog and pony dc,and Molotov Theatre, as well as Rorschach Theatre where he is a company member. University productions include the University of Maryland at College Park and Baltimore County, American, Catholic, Gallaudet, Howard, and McDaniel College.

Mary Karcz has been lit on fire over 100 times. She has trained with stage combat societies in London, England; Sydney, Australia and across Canada and the United States of America. Mary spent five months of 2007 performing in a live stunt show in Dalian, China. She instructs at the International Stunt School and at the University of Minnesota. Mary has choreographed violence for various theater and independent film companies.

Jared Kirby has been involved in Western Martial Arts and Combat for Stage & Screen for over fifteen years. He has trained across the US and Europe with some of the finest instructors in these Arts.

Tim works internationally as a fight director. He creates fights for theatre, ballet, opera, film, video games and television. His approach is unique, and is best known for his cutting edge approach to acting a fight scene. Credits include Shakespeare’s Globe, Lyric Hammersmith, Royal Festival Hall, Haymraket Theatre Basingstoke, Nashville Ballet, Comedy Theatre London, and The Tobacco Factory Bristol, BBC, Channel 4.

Michelle Ladd has been working as a professional director, choreographer and performer of acting, dance, stunts, and staged combat for over 15 years with a specialty in motion capture. She has worked throughout North America, Britain, Scandinavia, and Asia. Credits include Motion Capture Stunt Coordinator for Thor, Motion Capture Director for Pirates of the Carribean 3, Hereafter, and Mummy 3-Return of the Dragon Emperor; Mocap Director and Producer for Japan’s Biohazard-Degeneration (Resident Evil); Mocap Combat Choreographer for The Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings – Return of the King; performer with Varneville/Carteret Viking Fest – Freiki Klan, Denmark; fight instruction and demonstration for Parnü Vöitlus in Estonia; and featured guest for an article in Korea's Theatre magazine.

Janet Lawson is the first female President of the British Academy of Stage and Screen Combat. Fight arranging work includes: Passing Places - Dundee Rep, How to Act - National Theatre of Scotland, Spring Awakening - Dundee Rep/ Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, The Wonderful World of Dissocia - Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Haevnorhele - short film, Wake Up - music video for Glasgow band 100 Fables, Hamlet - Folksy Theatre, Stain - Tartan Spartan, Jenufa - Scottish Opera and Ipheginie in Tauris - Byre Opera. She is a BASSC Certified Teacher and is the stage combat teacher at Acting Coach Scotland acting studio in Glasgow and through her company, Stage Fight Scotland runs classes and workshops at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and at drama schools, youth and community groups throughout Scotland. She has also taught in China, Tenerife, the USA and Germany. In August 2016, she was on the teaching faculty of the World Stage Combat Conference held in Toronto, Canada and was made an honorary Fight Director with Fight Directors Canada. She was a member of the stunt team for Season 6 of the TV series Vikings and plays Mrs Hinzmann in the Scottish Christmas Zombie Musical Anna and the Apocalypse, due for release in December 2018

John Lennox has trained in various forms of swordplay for over 25 years. Beginning with the katana, he later moved into the western weapon styles. Through his involvement in stage combat for theatre over the past 22 years he began to study a myriad of weapons. He is a Fight Director for Art of Combat, an Honorary Fight Director with the Australian Stage Combat Association, and he has taught stage combat at Indiana University/Purdue- Ft. Wayne, Lansing Community College, Jackson Community College, Centenary College and Wayne State University.

Daniel Levinson is the current president as well as one of eight certified Fight Masters with Fight Directors Canada, Daniel has been performing, directing and teaching stage combat professionally since 1991. He is the owner of Rapier Wit, Canada’s oldest stage combat school, and a founding member of the Riot A.C.T. stunt team. Daniel has worked with such theatre companies as The Stratford Festival, Mirvish, Canadian Stage, Volcano Theatre, Actors Repertory Company, Second City, A.C.T. Productions, Shakespeare In the Square, Factory Theatre, and Tarragon Theatre. He has taught stage combat at schools and workshops across Canada and internationally, and is the resident stage combat instructor for the Sheridan College Musical Theatre program, UTM’s Theatre and Drama Studies Program, and the University of Waterloo. Workshop highlights include the Fight Directors Canada National Workshops (Banff, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto, Victoria), the International Scuola Brancaleoni Stage Combat Workshop (Italy), the Paddy Crean International Art of the Sword Workshop (Banff), and as a Guest instructor at Brock University, Niagara University, Boston University, and Arcadia University. Daniel is a graduate of York University’s BFA Acting Conservatory Program.

Cecil's formal martial arts training began with his study of Tae Kwon Do from Grand Master Kyu Il Cho in 1983. It was this strict training and formal environment that would inform his judgment to seek out quality instruction in all his future endeavors. In subsequent years, Cecil continued his exploration of Eastern martial arts; however, while living in Germany, he became captivated with the notion of European historical fencing. In 1994, from the University of North Florida, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Drama with a focus on Elizabethan stagecraft. Founder of the Elizabethan reenactment troupe, Blood, Love & Rhetoric, Cecil has spent many years examining various aspects of Elizabethan society and culture: literature, philosophy, dance and fence. He founded the Academia della Spada in 1998 to focus on reconstructing the rapier play of Vincentio Saviolo, a well known Italian fencing master teaching in London at the end of the 16th Century. In 2003 Cecil felt compelled to seriously pursue formal training under Maestro Ramon Martinez and Maestro Jeannette Acosta-Martinez. He is currently a Certified Instructor in French foil and French smallsword with the Martinez Academy of Arms in New York and is also an active board member of the Association for Historical Fencing, an organization dedicated to preserving the arts of classical and historical fencing.

Jeannette Acosta-Martínez is a traditional master of arms, teaching classical and historical fencing. She began her training in 1982 under the tutelage of Maître d’Armes Frederick Rohdes, and after his death in 1984, continued with his protégé Maestro Ramón Martínez. In all, Maestro Acosta-Martínez has spent nearly three decades studying traditional fencing, both classical and historical. In 1995, she became an instructor at the Martínez Academy of Arms, the Academy’s business manager, and the chief assistant at all Maestro Martínez’s demonstrations and seminars.

Ramón Martínez is a traditional master of arms, teaching classical and historical fencing. He studied with the late Maître d’Armes Frederick Rohdes in New York City for ten years. Maître Rohdes was one of the last fencing masters to teach fencing as a martial art. During that time Maestro Martínez became assistant and protégé of Maître Rohdes and was the only one of his pupils permitted to teach with full authorization at the Rohdes Academy. In late 1982, shortly before his death, Maître Rohdes conferred the rank of Fencing Master on Maestro Martínez.

Roberto Martinez-Loyo has studied Western Martial Arts since 2003. As a youngster, he studied Tae Kwon Do for many years, both in Mexico and in Upstate NY, USA. In 2001 he trained as a professional stunt performer with the United Stuntmen’s Association, and has worked professionally since then. He has acquired further training with several other instructors, becoming both a stunt performer and a stunt coordinator. A member of the IOSP (International Order of the Sword and Pen), Art of Combat (Lansing Chapter), Western Martial Arts Coalition, and the HEMA Alliance,he was the co-founder and head instructor of the Brotherhood of Warriors (Hermandad de Guerreros) and is co-founder and one of two head instructors for EFC-Mexico (Elite Fencing Club). He has taught at several workshops and seminars both in Mexico and abroad, such as the National Western Martial Arts Seminar (SAMO) and the Underground Fencing, amongst others, as well as giving private instruction and offering workshops as invited instructor in different events. Internationally, he has been asked to teach at prestigious events such as the Fechtschule America 2012, the COMBATCON, the Sentiment du Fer, the Pacific North West HEMA Alliance Gathering ,the HEFFAC Event 2013, SoCal and Dijon 2014. He has also been asked as invited instructor at AMEK and Arts of Mars.

Mr. McAsh has been a professional actor and fight choreographer since 1976.

Paul Macdonald was born in 1972, and raised in the West Highland village of Glenuig, Moidart, Scotland. He began his study of fencing in the 1992 at Napier University, in Edinburgh, founding and running the University club as President and principal instructor for 2 1/2 years. With an ever-growing interest in historical swordsmanship, he founded the Dawn Duellists Society in 1994, and ran the DDS as President until 2006.

Kevin is an Equity professional Fight Director. He primarily trained as an actor at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama from 1988 – 1991 and was assisting the fight master during that period. After treading the boards in various productions, he gained his Combat Teacher status in 1993 and gained his Professional Fight Directors status in 1996. Kevin has been Royal Welsh Colleges’ resident fight master since 2005 and has worked on a variety of stage, TV and film projects around the UK and abroad. He has been recently working on Miss Saigon for Cameron Mackintosh and also at Shakespeare’s Globe and Royal Shakespeare Company for the year.

Jeff ‘Ish’ McKracken is a SAG actor and stuntman for film, television, and recently as the fight arranger for a video game. When he isn’t on fire, falling off buildings, or getting punched he works frequently as a stunt rigger, designing and operating rigs that fly actors and professional sports mascots through the air. He was also an active member of the SAFD for 11 years and since 2002 has worked for David Boushey as the coordinator for the International Stunt School and as one of its principal instructors.

Mr Najarian is very active as a professional actor, fight choreographer and educator in Boston and New England. He has taught Stage Combat and Movement at Boston University, Emerson College, Bowdoin College and the Boston Academy for the Arts.

Founder and past chairman of Nordic Stage Fight Society. Also Artistic Director for International Order of the Sword and Pen (IOSP) since 2001. Swedish born Peppe has worked as a teacher, actor and fight choreographer for theatre, television and film throughout Scandinavia. Started the international workshops in Sweden together with Maria Winton and Liv Wernborg. Beside creating and founding the International Nordic Stage Fight Summer program in 1992, he has taught at a number of stage fight workshops in Estonia, Canada and USA, and was made Honorary Fight Master by Fight Directors Canada in 2001. His credits include choreographing for The National theatre in Norway and Malmöbaletten in Sweden. Peppe was the first chairman of the NSFS (1995-97). In 2003 Peppe was re-elected chairman (Note: Peppe is not the current Chairman of the NSFS). He has coordinated the NSFS teacher certification tests.

Fabio Pires is an actor, model and fight choreographerfor stage, tv and film.

MCpl (retd), PPCLI, 3rd Batt & 2nd Batt., CDN Forces

Nigel is an award winning fight director, weapon and movement specialist and actor. He has particular expertise in edged weapon use, classical, historical and theatrical swordplay, kinesthetic movement processes, and combat systems and has worked internationally over the last eight years. Nigel is a practitioner of Vsevelod Meyerhold’s Theatrical Biomechanics system, having trained intensively with the system’s current custodian. He is a registered Instructor, Fight Director and past President of the Society of Australian Fight Directors Inc. and has been certified with the British Academy of Dramatic Combat and is a Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors. Nigel is also a classically trained fencer under the tutorship of Maestri Ramon and Jeanette Martinez of New York City.

Niki-J is an actor, singer, musician, stage combat instructor and the SAFDi’s (Society of Australian Fight Directors inc.) only female fight director. Other areas include dialect coaching, direction and safety/movement consultation. Performance training includes a 2 year National Diploma in Performing Arts, Wales and a 3 year Diploma in Acting & Musical Theatre at Mountview Theatre School, London. Other specialised training includes singing, piano, voice, stage combat, clowning and dance. As an actor Niki-J has performed in various theatre and TV shows in the UK, Europe and Australia. In Australia Niki-J has performed with Queensland Theatre Company in We Were Dancing, A Christmas Carol, Puss in Boots and play readings, Trocadero’s production of The Duchess of Malfi, 4MBS Classic Players’ A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Prometheus Unbound and Amadeus, The Forwood Movement’s The Laramie Project, Grin & Tonic’s Monkey (2002 & 2006), Jason Klarwein’s adaptation of Kafka’s The Trial, Excerpts, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and readings: Titus Andronicus, Pericles, The Winters Tale and touring school shows throughout 2007 and 2008. Niki-J directed and fight directed Romeo & Juliet for the main house show in 2008 at Roma St. Parklands, school tours and more recently Richard III. October saw N-J as Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing at the Bulimba Shakespeare Festival with 4MBS Classic Players and performing the roles of Macbeth and Desdemona in the Anglican church with Grin & Tonic.

Randy Reade has been a Board member of the IOSP for about ten years and has helped steer it to its current size and importance. Randy is an attorney and businessman, and is open to dialogue on how to make IOSP grow financially and artistically in the coming years. He is the President of Zipzone Ltd, which helps IT companies develop global solutions, and was the Chair of the International Committee for the Northern Virginia Technology Council for three years.

Singer and actress specializing in stage combat. US born Tina introduced Stagecombat to Peppe Östensson, and as a result the workshops in Sweden started. She was co-founder and has been a driving force for NSFS in Denmark for many years. Tina is a teacher in two societies, SAFD and NSFS. She was the chairwoman of NSFS between 2001-2003. Tina is the film safety representative for the Danish Actors Union. She also does some stunt work for film and television, teaches actors, children and handicapped persons and choreographs fights for theatre as well as training knights for live re-enactment shows. She performs fight shows as well as historical weaponry demonstrations for schools, institutions and medieval/viking museum centres. She has worked for the Danish Royal Armoury setting up demonstrations and performing shows in conjunction with special exhibitions. She is researching voice technique for stage fighting and does voiceovers for cartoons and such.

Alicia is a New York based Intimacy Director, Coordinator, and co-founder of Intimacy Directors International. Her experience as an actor, stunt performer, and fight director led her into the direction of romantic, sexual, and highly suggestive scenes. With IDI, she and her colleagues have been working with artists, psychologists, social workers, and other professionals to codify a system of best practices to address scenes of intimacy in a safe and effective manner. Alicia's work in film and television has recently been profiled in Rolling Stone Magazine, The New York Times, and Vanity Fair after intimacy coordinating season two of THE DEUCE and a number of other HBO productions. She now is a full-time consultant with HBO as they are committing to bringing intimacy coordinators to each of their sets moving forward. Additionally, Alicia teaches at and advises many actor training programs such as The Juilliard School, Yale School of Drama, New York University and The Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center, amongst others. She is an adjunct professor at Long Island University, a Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors, and a member of Vixens En Garde, an all-female fight troupe.

Ian has been staging fights in the New York and Philadelphia areas for over twenty-five years. Ian has arranged fights for commercials, for film and on stage. Ian's work has been seen at the Riverside Shakespeare and Interborough Repertory Theatre in New York City, the Bridewell Theatre in London, MTM Studios in Rome and closer to home, Olympia Dukakis' Whole Theatre in New Jersey,The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, The Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival, The Philadelphia Theatre Company and Novel Stages in Pennsylvania. He is a Fight Master with Fight Directors Canada and The Society of American Fight Directors.

Kyle Rowling is an accomplished professional performer that began his involvement with the entertainment industry over 30 years ago. Kyle studied acting at ‘The Australian Conservatory of Actors and Screen Writers’ as well as ‘The Actors Centre Australia’ and has spent his entire life studying a variety of combat and martial arts. Kyle is an actor, director and Fight Director, the latter being his primary focus for the last 15 yrs, during which time he has taught Stage Combat and physical performance at NIDA, ACA, ACTT, VCA, STS, Screenwise and AFTRS amongst others. He is also one of Australia’s best and most respected Fight Directors, having choreographed almost 200 stage fights in the last 10 years for companies such as The Sydney Theatre Company (STC), Opera Australia, NIDA, Bell Shakespeare, The New Theatre, Griffin, Zenith and Ensemble Theatre, just to name a few.

Andrea Lupo-Sinclair is the founder & technical director of the Federazione Italiana Scherma Antica e Storica (FISAS), the Italian Ancient & Historical Fencing Federation. the first national independent Federation ever created in the world for the study and practice of the Historical and Traditional Fencing and of the Accademia Scherma Tradizionale "Manuela Lecchi".

Rick is the leading stunt coordinator in central Canada. He has been Stunt Coordinating for film and television for over 25 years with over 150 feature film and series credits. His expertise covers a wide range of stunt work, including car stunts, body burns, wire work, high falls, and fight choreography. He also a highly respected stunt driver and works frequently in this capacity designing and executing major chase/crash sequences He often works as second unit director planning the shots and directing the shooting of stunt and fight sequences.

Felicity Steel teaches Ashtanga Yoga. She is also a member of The Society of Australian Fight Directors Inc. (SAFDi) and the International Order of the Sword and Pen and is a qualified stage combat instructor. how to create and perform safe fight illusions for the stage, developing awareness of the body and non-verbal communication skills. Felicity Steel has worked as a fight director for MTC, Australian Opera, Malthouse Theatre, Bell Shakespeare and Australian Shakespeare Company. She is also an actor on stage and television.

Carrie Thiel received her BFA in acting from the University of Alberta in 1997, and shortly thereafter started specializing in staged combat and stunt work. She has trained with Fight Directors Canada, the Society of American Fight Directors, and the United Stuntmen's Association. Carrie has worked as a fight choreographer in Canada, the UK, and New Zealand. She has spent a large portion of her career on film sets as a performance (motion) capture director and producer, as well as a movement consultant for digital animation. Along the way she has had the great fortune of training and working with talented Fight Masters from around the globe, including the late Paddy Crean and the late Bob Anderson.

Stuntman, stage fight performer, actor and choreographer in both film, television, theater, shows and live reenactment. Has coordinated, choreographed and performed in more than 100 productions since 1985. Also teaches actors and children in stunt and stage fight, performs stunt and fight shows as well as historical weaponry demonstrations for schools, institutions and medieval museums in Scandinavia and a on few occasions in U.S.A. Became a certified teacher under NSFS in 2000.

Christina is the Graduate Acting Program Director and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Theatre at Michigan State University, teaching Classical Acting, Movement, and Stage Combat. Prior to relocating back to her home state of Michigan, she was a San Francisco based actor and fight director for twelve years. Professional fight directing and teaching venues include the American Conservatory Theater, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The American Shakespeare Collective (TASC), Shakespeare Santa Cruz, San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Michigan Shakespeare Festival, Purple Rose Theatre Company, Williamston Theatre, BoarsHead Theatre, Stormfield Theatre, North Carolina School of the Arts, University of Michigan, University of San Diego, University of California-Santa Cruz, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Adrian College, and Hillsdale College. She has also taught stage combat classes at numerous workshops both nationally and internationally. Christina holds an MFA in acting from the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and a BFA in acting from the University of Michigan.

Brad has been a teacher and fight director with The Shakespeare Theater (Washington DC). He has produced the International Paddy Crean Workshop with such cultural institutions as: The Shakespeare Theater, The Smithsonian Institution, The Folger Library, The Shaw Festival, The Stratford Festival (Canada), and the Banff Centre for the Arts. Brad is an internationally recognized scholar in 16th Century fighting systems, and was guest curator of the 1995 exhibit The Sword and the Pen at the Folger Shakespeare Library.

Rachel is thrilled to be attending Paddy Crean again this year!

Scott is an award winning arts practitioner who has been working in stage, television and film for thirty years in that time he has been acting, teaching, writing / adapting, fight directing, directing and or clowning on hundreds of shows and a wide variety of acting institutions. He was the President of the Society of Australian Fight Directors Incorporated from 1996 - 2007, is a Honorary Member of the British Academy of Dramatic Combat, Honorary Fight Director of Fight Directors, Canada, Affiliated Member of the Art of Combat and a Honorary Fight Director of the Independent Fight Directors Guild of America and Scott is currently the Artistic Director of the International Order of the Sword and the Pen. Scott has been a member of MEAA (Australia's Equity) since 1988. Performances Scott has directed have played throughout Australia, Malaysia, Europe, Singapore and Hong Kong. During 2002 and 2003 he was the Intern and Associate Director for the Queensland Theatre Company working under Michael Gow’s Artistic Directorship. In 2004 Scott completed a Master in Fine Arts: Drama at Creative Industries, Queensland University of Technology and is the current Associate Lecturer in Movement at National Institute of Dramatic Art; Australia. (full bio - visit Combatcircus).

Tony Wolf has worked as a martial arts instructor, professional wrestler and fight director/stunt co-ordinator. Between 1988 - 1994 he developed his original Wolf System of performance/combat exercises, which has been taught to actors, martial artists, stunt performers and stage combat specialists throughout the world.

Laryssa has worked all over Canada, teaching, directing and performing fights for film, television and theatre. She is the first woman in Canadian Theatre history to win an accredited award for Fight Direction in professional theatre, for her work on Treasure Island at ATP in 2006.