Weapon Leads

Coaches

The vision of the Leon Paul Project centres upon creating an environment that nurtures the highest quality of training, whilst keeping a focus on building tactical systems that can be tailored to each and every fencer.


Working at the heart of the Project are our Coaches and Support Staff. They have a vast combined experience of every aspect of competitive and performance fencing worldwide. They are skilled in responding to each individual athlete, ensuring that they inspire both individual aspirations and group goals, so that fencers can make the most of their technical ability and realise their sporting ambitions.

Project Staff

  • Sonia: Sports Therapist

    Sonia is a qualified Sports Therapist with wide experience in performance enhancement and injury rehabilitation and mobility. Sonia has worked at world level with British Fencing and British Diving, and is a world-class power-lifter, as well as a former national level track and field athlete and 3-time figure roller-skating national champion.

  • Jon Willis: Project Director & Epee Coach

    A two-time World Cup winner and three-time GB Epee Champion, Jon is the Club Director of Salle Paul and the Fencing Centre Manager. Jon supports all the coaches by managing the Leon Paul Project, and in addition provides coaching support to Oana Puiu and works to instill a “killer instinct” in his fencers.

  • Maria Goriup: Physiotherapist

    Maria is physiotherapist working within High Performance Sport and clinical settings. She has worked with British Fencing and Japanese Fencing at Olympic and Paralympic level, and has also supported GB Badminton and New Zealand Netball. Maria has a Masters in physiotherapy and in Sports Rehabilitation.

  • Steve Petrie: S&C Lead

    Steve is a former MMA fighter and rugby player, and has led S&C training for British Fencing’s Athlete Development Programme. Having been immersed in fencing from grassroots to Olympic level, he has deep knowledge of the fencing’s demands. Steve works on science-based programmes that develop complete and resilient athletes.

  • Noah Rogerson: Analyst

    Noah is a former GB Senior International fencer, and a mathematics graduate specialising in data analysis. Noah is developing an innovative analysis system to support athletes in improving their performance, and to identify trends in international fencing, and strengths and weaknesses in competitors.