Jeff Kallio

Coach and Business Manager
jeff@midsouthfencersclub.org
919-800-7886

Jeff Kallio

How long have you been fencing? Since 1997.

How long have you been coaching? Full time, professionally, since 2005.

Greatest Results?
Personal result would be finishing 3rd in Div II Summer Nationals 2009.  Coaching result would be strip coaching a former student (who was collegiate athlete at the time) to the gold medal in Division III Women’s saber at Summer National in Miami.

Greatest Coaching Moment?
My greatest coaching moments have occurred when I have had the insight into the fencer that allowed me to integrate my skills in a way that the fencer could use to be successful.  An example would be, realizing the mental limitations holding back the athlete and helping them to realize how to move past those limitations in order to win.

What locations have you coached at?
I began coaching as a volunteer for the UNC Charlotte Fencing Club while I was in college, but my journey into the realm of professional coaching was with former UNC-Charlotte teammate Brian Toomey, shortly after he began the Charlotte Fencing Academy.  Charlotte Fencing Academy started my professional career the in the years 2003-2009.  I taught as several public and private schools around the great Charlotte metro area.   While at Mid-South I have also taught locally at Durham Academy, Cary Academy, Voyager Academy.

What is your approach to coaching and how has it evolved over time?
My approach to coaching is constantly evolving.  In the beginning, I had an extremely limited view of fencing and the actions involved. Through coaching and competing at national tournaments, as well as absorbing knowledge from any source possible, I was able to form a solid analytical foundation to the sport.  Expanding my coaching understanding was a driving force getting me into the door here at MSFC.  Since I’ve been at Mid-South my confidence and understand of the sport that multiplied four times over.  With each evolving student, my coaching understanding keeps expanding.

I believe strongly in the merits of hard work through training, setting positive leadership examples, and enabling students to be self reliant.  Fencing is the sport of ultimate self-reliance.  Fencing offers the opportunity for individuals to effect positive change within their lives and the lessons learned on the piste definitely carry into the “real world.”

What type of group instructor are you?  What would your students say about your as an instructor?
I like to engage in high energy group exercises!  When I am running a group class the expectation is that we are going to work hard, we are going to sweat, but we are also going to have a good time!   I also try and foster student leadership and discussion to help athletes feel more confident in leadership and critical thinking group situations.

What is your focus in an individual lesson?
The individual lesson in fencing is really the cornerstone of competitive and developmental training.  The relationship between coach and student is one built on great trust.  My focus is shifting as my knowledge and abilities are expanding in this area, but right now I focus on engaging with the athlete and train specific motor control patterns.  I am immersed pretty heavily in creating a strong technical base for my students.

You love fencing because?
I love fencing because of the fusion of physical, mental, and emotional elements that come together on the fencing strip.  It leads to great personal joy, tremendous personal growth, and lots of personal frustration.  Being able to work through the frustration and perform a well executed fencing action feels amazing!

You love coaching because?
I love coaching primarily because of the positive role that I have in the lives of young people.  We live in a very difficult time in which young people face some extremely tough challenges.  Fencing offers the chance for these individuals to work hard, succeed and fail, and learn from the process.  I have personally seen over 1,000 (at least!) of individuals positively impacted by this sport. There is also a great deal of personal satisfaction from the teaching process, to see young fencers progress, fight, and learn to find their own place on the piste is pretty awesome.