Our Team

Counterfable Academy offers a broad curriculum, and that requires Instructors with deeper skillsets.

Ryan Vann

Ryan Vann’s tenure in the Historical European Martial Arts community spans nearly two decades, commencing in 2009 under the guidance of Maestro Sean Hayes at the Northwest Fencing Academy. Having attained the rank of Free Scholar within the International Armizare Society (IAS), Ryan dedicated himself to full-time instruction in 2017. His pedagogical expertise encompasses the entirety of the Armizare tradition, including grappling, armed combat, and armored tactics. An active tournament competitor and a featured guest instructor at the Western Martial Arts Workshop (WMAW), Ryan now acts as the Owner and Senior Instructor of Counterfable Academy, pioneering the next generation of historically informed fencing.

Owner / Senior Instructor

Sean Hayes

Maestro Sean Hayes is an Internationally renowned Instructor and graduate of the Fencing Masters program from San Jose State University under Maestro William Gaugler. From the 90’s until 2026 Sean owned and operated Northwest Fencing Academy where he refined his research into the Pedagogy of Fiore. He is a noted author and regular collaborator of others works in the Historical side of the HEMA community such as Tom Leoni and Ken Mondschein as well as being a regular instructor at both local and international martial arts conferences. In his tenure he has hosted such peers as Scott Ferral, Guy Windsor, Christian Tobler, Jesse Finley, and many more. 


Head of Pedagogy / Academy Ambassador

Colby Harris began studying Italian dueling sabre in 2015 under Maestro Sean Hayes where his passion for sword fighting began to develop. Combined with his passion for teaching others, he started assisting in Sean’s classes and even leading some of his own. After Northwest Fencing Academy resumed in person classes in 2021, Colby began focusing more thoroughly on Fiore’s manuscript: “Flower of Battle”. Today he holds the IAS rank of Scholar and continues to explore and develop the art of arms as an Armizare Fundamentals Instructor.


Armizare Instructor / Board Member

Colby Harris

Bolognese Instructor

Chris Baumgardt

Chris Baumgardt leads the Academy Bolognese Program teaching Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced students in the wide variety of weapons and techniques given to us by the Renaissance Bolognese Masters in the 1500’s. Combining the instructional techniques of the old masters laid out in their treatises and modern teaching concepts, Chris strives to provide his students with a solid foundation of fencing theory and practice that will serve them well no matter what style of swordplay they pursue. Students are encouraged to question and experiment in a fun and collaborative setting.