Meet Our Coaches
Here for you with expertise, encouragement and support.
Rich Taylor
Head Coach
One of the founders of Dominus, Rich’s expertise and qualifications in CrossFit, Olympic Weightlifting and Power Lifting speak for themselves. A keen competitive athlete, he competes in all his qualified disciplines including Strongman international level competitions. Rich is very much the heart of Dominus — an inspirational athlete and a great guy.
Qualifications
BSc Sports Health Exercise and Nutrition
CrossFit - Level 2
CrossFit Kids
CrossFit Strongman
CrossFit Gymnastics
British Weightlifting - Level 2
Cancer Rehabilitation via Exercise - Level 4
Pre and Post-Natal Programming and Instructing - Level 3
Favourite lift
Deadlift (a loaded barbell is lifted off the ground to the level of the hips before being placed back on the ground. It is one of the three powerlifting exercises, along with the squat and bench press).
Gym nemesis
Thrusters (weightlifting exercise that’s a combination of a front squat and an overhead press).
Fun fact
I know all the words to ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’.
Biggest sporting achievement
It was running a marathon (I hate running!) until I won the u90 Englands (Northern Division) strongest man going on to win the u90 2023 British final. Something that had been a dream since 2015.
Available for Personal Training
Yes. Enquire here.
Connor Lord
Assistant Head Coach
Our boy Connor is deeply passionate about CrossFit, with a competitive spirit and a relentless drive to improve and emulate his heroes, like Rich Froning. He enjoys slinging that tin, drinking fancy coffee, and sharing plenty of laughs with his mates. 👌🏻
Qualifications
CrossFit L-1
PFCA Personal Training L-3
Optimum Nutrition for Health & Performance (Certificate in Nutrition)
Favourite lift
Snatch (lifting the barbell from the ground to overhead in one continuous motion).
Gym nemesis
Gassy workouts. 😵💫
Fun fact
I got inspired to start CrossFit after watching a Rich Froning Documentary (sometimes people say I’m his doppelgänger).
Biggest sporting achievement
Clean & Jerking 140kg and Snatching 110kg.
Available for Personal Training
Yes (just hit us up a message on Insta 💪🏻)
John
Coach
John is a CrossFit specialist through and through. He loves CrossFit and brings a lot of fun to his classes. When he's not here, he's out on his motorbike somewhere doing motorbike things, although probably not popping wheelies. John has a CrossFit tattoo on his arm. Did we tell you that John loves CrossFit?
Qualifications
CrossFit - Level 1
CrossFit - Level 2
Favourite lift
Squat Clean (the first part of the clean and jerk movement in Olympic weightlifting, involving lifting the barbell from the floor to the shoulders in a full front squat position)
Gym nemesis
Overhead Squat (starting with the barbell over your head, squatting down while maintaining an upright torso and proper alignment of the barbell with your feet, and finally returning to the starting position)
Fun fact
I have "Crossfit W****r" tattooed on my arm. 😂
Biggest sporting achievement
No comment :)
Available for Personal Training
No.
Katie Smith
Strongwoman Coach
Katie is a full-time strength and conditioning coach, a proud mum of three, and currently holds the title of England’s Strongest Woman. With over a decade of strength training and nearly seven years of competition experience, she brings a wealth of expertise and dedication to her coaching.
Qualifications
Personal Training - Level 3
Sports Massage Therapy - Level 3
Favourite lift
Deadlift Monster Dumbbell. 😮
Biggest sporting achievement
I won my first novice strongwoman competition at Dominus in 2018. England's strongest woman 2024 3rd place European champions 2023 & 2024.
Available for Personal Training
Yes. Enquire here.
What Our Members Say
“The coaches care about you in the class. Josh helped me out with Olympic lifting out of the blue, and his tips stick with me whenever I lift. Rich added about 20kgs to my deadlift just by fixing my head and Frankii taught me how to row, and now I’ll never lose a rowing work out (or at least I’ll try, 😂).”
Emma, Dominus member since 2020
Josh
Coach
An integral member of the coaching team, Josh’s origins, however, are shrouded in mystery. No one knew him before he started coaching at Dominus. He just arrived on horseback one day and started coaching a class. He’s great at what he does and is popular with our members and other coaches so we let him stay. I don’t think we even pay him though.
Qualifications
Personal Training - Level 3
Weightlifting - Level 2
Opex Fitness Coaching Certificate
Strength and Conditioning - Level 4
CrossFit Subterfuge - Level 1
Favourite lift
Cluster (a weightlifting movement that involves performing a set of reps with a barbell where you clean the weight from the floor to the shoulders and then perform multiple thrusters —a combination of a front squat and an overhead press— without putting the barbell down).
Gym nemesis
I think everyone knows that one 🤣
Fun fact
He once would only respond to the name ‘Ian’ for the entire day.
Biggest sporting achievement
Qualifying for an elite CrossFit competition.
Available for Personal Training
Yes. Enquire here.
Leachy
Coach
Leachy is a great all-round coach with a special interest in weightlifting and mindset work. He always brings fun to every class he takes. When not at Dominus he enjoys long walks and running his side-business Gripcure — the excellent callus remover solution he designed. He has a Dominus tattoo, but can you guess where?
Qualifications
CrossFit - Level 1
CrossFit Gymnastics
British Weightlifting - Level 2
Favourite lift
Split Snatch (the lifter quickly lifts the barbell overhead while simultaneously splitting their legs into a lunge-like position).
Gym nemesis
Linking muscle ups (continuous bar pull-ups without coming down from the bar).
Fun fact
When I started at Dominus, I couldn’t do a pull-up!
Biggest sporting achievement
UK’s Strongest Cop
Available for Personal Training
No.
Lou
Yoga Instructor
Lou is here to ensure sure our members and coaches don’t move like robots! She tailors her yoga classes to ensure that it’s functional for CrossFit. When not here, she’s busy juggling being a mum to her little girl and running personal training sessions out of her home studio.
Qualifications
Yoga Instructor - Level 3
Behaviour Change Coaching - Level 3
Myofascial Release - Level 2
Favourite lift
Cleans (lifting a barbell from the ground to the shoulders in one smooth, clean motion)
Gym nemesis
Double unders (jump rope exercise where the rope passes under your feet twice for every single jump). “I just don’t like them, don’t see the point and I don’t like being whipped.”
Fun fact
I love fancy dress.
Biggest sporting achievement
Even though I piss and moan about running, I once won the Viking Gauntlet 8k obstacle course.
Available for Personal Training
Yes. Enquire here.
Gill
Pilates Instructor
Gill discovered Pilates as a solution for her aching back caused by running and cycling. It worked wonders, relieving her pain and leaving her hooked. She firmly believes that Pilates has something to offer everyone and encourages our members to join her regular class when they can. Our weightlifting Olympic medalist Emily Campbell is a big fan of Pilates. 😁
Qualifications
Pilates Mat Level 3
Pilates Mat and Reformer Instructor - Certified by Balanced Body
Trapeze - Certified by Balanced Body
Barre - Certified by Balanced Body
Favourite lift
I like Deadlifts - stronger legs for cycling. 😁
Gym nemesis
Wall Balls, it’s such a long way to that target when you’re five foot tall. (Wall Balls are a full-body exercise where you squat deeply, then explosively throw a weighted medicine ball up at a target on the wall, catching it as it rebounds).
Fun fact
I am quite happy to sleep in a bus shelter!
Biggest sporting achievement
I completed the Transalba a 1000 mile cycle round Scotland climbing 70,000 feet and catching 4 ferries in under 6 days and was the first female finisher.
Available for Personal Training
No.
What Our Members Say
“When I said I wanted to go down the Strongman route and compete, Josh pointed me to Rich, and he still stands in my corner cheering me on. John at every Sunday EMOM class pushes me to keep up with my engine work, See-ka has helped me deadlift and bench; giving me advice and pointers when he can see I’m frustrated. Frankii always knows just what to say and has been one of my biggest cheerleaders and gets me to believe I can do it!”
Hannah, Dominus member since 2022
Newbs
Coach/Physiotherapist
Newbs’ (AKA Chris) specialisms are Olympic Weightlifting, CrossFit and Physiotherapy. He keeps our members moving after injuries and illnesses and ensures they achieve their goals during rehabilitation.
Qualifications
Bsc (Hons) Physiotherapy
CrossFit - Level 1
British Weightlifting - Level 2
Favourite lift
Squat Clean (lifting a barbell from the floor to the shoulders in one fluid motion, and then performing a deep squat to catch the barbell before standing up).
Gym nemesis
My wife.
Fun fact
I’ve played Rugby at Twickenham and my wife can beat me in a wrestling match.
Biggest sporting achievement
Getting my first Ring Muscle Ups in the last CrossFit Open.
Available for Personal Training
No.
See-ka
Weightlifting Coach
See-ka is our powerlifting specialist. Known to be a very technical coach, he has an eye for detail and will make sure your lifts are spot on. When he's not here, he's usually doing something adventurous like motorbiking, downhill biking or wild swimming.
Qualifications
Personal Training - Level 3
British Weightlifting - Level 2
Favourite lift
Back Squat (weightlifting exercise where the lifter places a barbell on their upper back as opposed to in front of them).
Gym nemesis
Rich Taylor
Fun fact
Roses are red, I am a poet, facts are fun, do a burpee.
Biggest sporting achievement
Hitting a 200kg squat and coming second to Rich Taylor. World Record Holder for ABPU Power Lifting, Total World Record Holder as well as World Champ 2024.
Available for Personal Training
Yes. Enquire here.
Rachael Blueman
Olympic Lifting Coach/Gym Welfare Officer
Rachael was one of the trailblazers of women’s Olympic lifting during the late ’90s and early 2000s. She has a real passion for helping our members recognise their progress and improve their skills. Outside the gym, she shares her life with a lively ‘herd’ of Jack Russell Terriers. Since joining Dominus, she says she’s found “a new world”. She thrives on being the loud, spirited presence at competitions—a true “gob on a stick” (her words, not ours)!
Qualifications
British Weightlifting Coach
1990s Army Style Personal Training
Favourite lift
Hang Snatch (lifting the bar from a chosen hang position above the floor, explosively extending the body to accelerate the bar overhead, and catching it in a stable, overhead squat before standing).
Gym nemesis
Box jumps (jumping from the floor onto a box or other elevated surface). Leaving the ground.
Fun fact
I won BBC York Good Neighbours Award.
Biggest sporting achievement
Ranked 14th in the world and 2nd in the Commonwealth in 1996. The first woman to compete in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games (2002).
Available for Personal Training
No.
What Our Members Say
“The coaches at Dominus are extremely supportive and knowledgeable which has been a huge part in helping me achieve my fitness goals. Sometimes it’s a simple cue that can change your perspective with something you’ve been struggling with and suddenly it clicks and you realise that you are capable! This has been the case with skills, more recently handstand push-ups that I honestly thought I could never do — a simple cue from Josh changed how I approached them!”
Deb, Dominus member since 2016
Tom
Coach
Often compared to the Duracell bunny, Tom is our endurance specialist and will help you to increase your body's cardiovascular and muscular staying power. He’ll encourage you to go on when you feel like you just want to quit.
Qualifications
Personal Training - Level 3
Favourite lift
Bench Press (pushing a weight upwards while lying on a weight training bench)
Gym nemesis
Tops
Fun fact
Got paid to move a dead body during a driving lesson. It’s a long story. 😲
Biggest sporting achievement
Finishing top 12 in the UK for Ultimate Frisbee.
Available for Personal Training
Not currently, but watch this space!
Viv
Coach
Viv is a Pre, Peri and Post Menopause coach. She’s been personal training, teaching and coaching for over 13 years and has a wealth of knowledge across many different disciplines.
She focusses her work on those wishing to become stronger either for the health benefits, for the coolness benefits, those with fat loss goals and anyone wanting to train for a first competition or race.
Viv one of our freelance personal trainers but can often be found covering our classes as well as teaching our Thursday night Strong(wo)man class. Viv is super friendly and knows how to get even the quietest out of their shell!
Qualifications
Fitness Instructor - Level 2
Personal Trainer - Level 3
Studio Cycling
Kettlebells
TRX
British Weightlifting Weightlifting Instructor - Level 2
Optimum Nutrition: Nutrition for Health and Performance
Circuits
Favourite lift
Deadlifts (a loaded barbell or bar is lifted off the ground to the level of the hips, torso perpendicular to the floor, before being placed back on the ground. It is one of the three powerlifting exercises.) and Hip Thrusts (placing a loaded barbell in the crease of your hips while seated against a bench, stabilising your upper back on the bench, and then driving through your heels to lift your hips).
Gym nemesis
Running... ‘coz; just no… what are you all running from anyway…
Fun fact
Viv is our resident whistler and can belt out some absolutely banging Metallica guitar solos. 🤘
Biggest sporting achievement
World’s 3rd Strongest Natty Master 2024.
Available for Personal Training
Yes. Available during the day, Monday to Saturday. Enquire here.
James 'Greeny' Green
Part-time Crossfit and Indoor Rowing Coach
Greeny’s a good lad who’s here to help support and motivate our members to achieve their goals. We like Greeny, and we’re sure you will too.
Qualifications
CrossFit - Level 1
Favourite lift
Deadlift (see above) and Power Clean (lifting a barbell from the ground to shoulders (front rack position) in one explosive motion).
Gym nemesis
Burpees
Fun fact
I don't do things by halves; I ran a marathon, having not run a half, and I went to World Champs before competing at Brits.
Biggest sporting achievement
Competing at the World Indoor Rowing Championships in Prague.
Available for Personal Training
I don't offer personal training, but if there's something I can help you with, come have a chat!
What Our Members Say
“I wanted a gym that had a community and inclusive feeling — nowhere beats Dominus for that. Being a part of the Dominus community has positively impacted my motivation and commitment to fitness — I want to go to the gym rather than having to. I also took up a completely new sport (strongman)! The coaching staff are the most supportive and knowledgeable I have met. They accompanied me to a competition that I ended up placing in!”
Joshua, Dominus member since 2022