Our Coaching Team

The coaches at Las Vegas Fencing Academy are unified in terms of their styles of teaching and vision for member advancement. Private lessons can be booked directly with each coach or with front desk. Private lessons are exclusive to LVFA members and incur an additional strip rental fee of $10/ half hour.

Coach Luis Patino

All the way from Cuba, Luis Patino Matamoros is a renowned fencer in sabre in his home country. He was part of the Cuban sabre national team. He is passionate about passing on his tactics and skills to all of his students. He participated in many national and international fencing tournaments and earned his “A” ranking in sabre.

Luis is energetic and enthusiastic and is head coach of the sabre program at LVFA. His international fencing experiences are an asset to his sabre classes.

Favorite Food: Beefsteak

Coach Lester Gonzales

All the way from Cuba, Lester is also a renowned fencer in sabre in his home country. He was recruited by Coach Luis Patino and is an integral part of the sabre team at LVFA. As a national sabre fencer back in Cuba, Lester earned numerous national and international fencing titles.

Lester has an enthusiastic but gentle approach to teaching his students, thus making it super fun and supportive for new fencers to learn the discipline of Olympic sabre..

Favorite Food: Beefsteak

Coach Carlos Ayala

Carlos is a tri-weapon coach with an emphasis in Saber. As a Cadet and Junior, he was a national medalist in Mexico, and qualified for the Pan American games.

Coach Carlos travels internationally to coach and train, ever improving his skills to share with his students. Outside of coaching, Carlos is deeply passionate about promoting the sport of saber fencing and fostering a vibrant and inclusive fencing community. From contributing as a referee at all levels of competition, to competitions to stay current, Carlos is dedicated to sharing his love for the sport and inspiring the next generation of fencers to reach for their dreams. Carlos is available for private lessons.

Favorite Food: Tacos

Coach James Bui

A current tri-weapon coach and DIV 1 Epee fencer, coach James will be your go-to guy for any questions you might have. In the past ten years he’s trained in 6 different countries with all levels of fencers in all age groups. Constantly adapting and staying up to date with the modern sport, he is a dependable resource to supplement your fencing journey. His students hold medals at every level of competition including local, regional, and national.

James's coaching approach is tailored to suit each individual's unique strengths, weaknesses, and learning style. Through personalized drills, tactical exercises, and one-on-one instruction, James works closely with fencers to develop their technique, footwork, timing, and strategy, helping them become formidable opponents on the piste.

His effective communication and innovative approach to training and fencer development has baffled many opponents (and students), and produced remarkable results. Empathy and compassion are the hallmarks of his coaching style, emphasizing the growth of the fencer both on and off the strip. He is the current acting head coach and general manager at LVFA and is available for private lessons.

Favorite Food: Costco $1.50 Hot Dog Combo

Coach Aliya Zaydullina

Coach Aliya has worked as a fencing coach since she finished her competitive career. Aliya is a Master of Sport in Epee, a former member of Uzbekistan’s national epee team, and studied at Olympic Reserve School in Tashkent. She possesses a Master's degree with specialization as a fencing coach from the National University of Uzbekistan. She is a multiple champion and medalist of the National Championships in Uzbekistan, the medalist of Asia Championships, and other international competitions. She works especially well with youth and brings a cheerful and engaging atmosphere to all she mentors. She leads our youth development program and is available for private lessons.

Favorite Food: Everything! Especially Traditional Uzbek Foods

Coach JIMMY DIEDERICHS

Professionally coaching since 2019, Coach Jimmy has been instrumental in the development of some of our most decorated advanced fencers, with his students earning accolades at local, regional, and national levels. His unique perspective as both a coach and competitor allows him to stay at the cutting edge of modern fencing techniques and strategies.

Known for his personalized coaching approach, Jimmy tailors each session to fit the individual needs of his students, focusing on building strong fundamentals, advanced tactics, and mental fortitude. His training style emphasizes adaptability, critical analysis, and disciplined execution, preparing fencers to excel under any circumstances.

Jimmy's enthusiasm and dedication extend beyond the strip, fostering a positive and supportive environment that encourages both personal and athletic growth. Whether you’re looking to refine your technique or prepare for high-stakes competitions, Coach Jimmy is committed to helping you achieve your fencing goals. He currently leads our competitive program and is available for private lessons.

Favorite Food: Anything shared with teammates after a good bout!

Natasha Lee

As a current Division 1 athlete, Natasha is one of our assistant epee coaches who focus on developing skills within intermediate students. She has represented Team USA on the international stage as a result of numerous national medals and results. Natasha is always excited to give back to the fencing community -- whether it’s by refereeing, coaching, or cheering on her teammates.

Abigail Operario

Abigail Operario started fencing at the age of seven, and she has been fencing for a decade. She remains a highly competitive athlete after becoming nationally ranked during her adolescence. Despite competing for many years in the United States, she is also dedicated to training internationally as a means of gaining new experiences to share with her peers and students. Abigail’s favorite aspect about being a coach is assisting and guiding students by giving them opportunities to learn valuable lessons on and off the strip.