Jennifer Oldham

Coach Jennifer Oldham

Coach Jennifer Oldham

Head Coach and Owner

Jennifer is a native of Southern Pines, North Carolina. Her fencing career began at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a standout fencer for the Women’s Foil Squad. After completing college, Jennifer coached in Charlotte, NC, as a co-coach for the UNC-Charlotte Fencing Club. She became the Assistant Coach at the Oregon Fencing Alliance in 1998 and in 2000 became the assistant coach at the National Olympic Training Center for Women’s Sabre. Several of Jennifer’s past students have gone on to represent the United States on Cadet and Junior World Championship teams.

During Jennifer’s competitive career, she was a perennial finalist in North American Cup events, ranking among the top four women sabre fencers in the US, and representing the United States in several individual and team World Cup events. She was a member of the Division I National Champion Womens’ Sabre team in 2000.

Jennifer holds a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Jennifer is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of North Carolina as well as the Fencing Master at the Mid-South Fencers’ Club. Jennifer is accredited as a Fencing Master by the US Fencing Coaches Association and the Academie D’Armes Internationale.

Awards and Achievements

  • Triangle Mover and Shaker Business Leader Award Winner (2011)
  • Maitre d’Armes – United States Coaching Association, San Francisco (2009)
  • United States Women’s Saber National Team Champion (2000)
  • United States Runner-up National Team Champion (1999)
  • Nationally ranked top eight in Women’s Sabre US point standings (2000-2003)
  • Top 16 and top 32 International World Cups finishes (2000-2002)
  • Third Place United States Women’s Sabre Team World Cup Competition (ITA) 2000
  • Several time Finalist at several Open North American Cup Competitions (2000-2002)
  • Monogram Award Winner University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1994-1996)

Coach Jen at work at 2010 Summer Nationals

Questions & Answers

What year did you start fencing?
I started fencing at UNC-Chapel Hill my Sophomore year in 1993.

What was your greatest fencing result?
Making 16 in an Individual World Cup.  It was in Italy, I believe 1999.  I remember the bout that took me to the 16 well;  I won by alternating with attack in preparation and parry five riposte.  The following year I represented the U.S. in a Team World Cup.  We finished 3rd, but all I remember was being nervous up on stage and trying to figure out with my teammates how to carry the American flag properly.

 

How long have you been coaching?
I started volunteer coaching at UNC-Charlotte in 1997.

Greatest Coaching Moment?
Being able to share with a fencer any moment they’ve worked hard for, where they feel that their work and effort paid off.

What locations have you coached at?

  • UNC-Charlotte (1997–1998)
  • Oregon Fencing Alliance (1998–2003)
  • UNC-Chapel Hill (2006–2007)
  • Mid-South Fencers’ Club (2005–current)

What is your approach to coaching and how has it evolved over time?
My approach is heavily Fencer-Centered as modeled by my mentor Ed Korfanty.  Each fencer has their own strengths.  I find these strengths and build on them while refining, correcting and molding proper technique and building tactical concepts.  When I first started teaching I was heavily focused on technique, and having fun with the sport.  I still like to have fun with my students, however, the more serious my students get, my approach has become more refined, and is very individual.  No two students are alike.  There are categories of likenesses, but each person offers a new coaching challenge.

What type of group instructor are you? What would your students say about you as an instructor?
I think I am a very skilled group instructor.  I would consider this my greatest strength because I have been doing this the longest in my coaching career.  I work well with all ages, teenagers being the most difficult because they can never be satisfied!  I strive to positively reinforce good actions, behaviors and creations.  I realize correction is needed, but I try to encourage the fencers to self correct, think to solve their own problems.  This type of thinking I encourage not only on the strip, but within the club.

What is your focus in an individual lesson?
First to condition correct reflexes by training the body to react to basic ques that would score the fencer touches.  Simultaneously, I must teach body awareness and relaxation.  At some point fencers can “see” at particular decision points and make choices for themselves tactically on the strip.  ”Self-sufficiency” is the ultimate goal for my fencers.

You love fencing because?
It’s an intellectual sport.  There is no perfect body or brain combo that makes the best fencer.  Training, coaching, psychological preparedness…. so many factors influence the outcome of a victory.  It is truly a lifetime process sport.  I love that.

You love coaching because?
I train bodies how to fence, and minds how to make decisions for themselves.  In training, fencing can become a metaphor for how to live.  Fencing can build big confidence and I get to witness so many amazing changes with the growth of each person I get to coach.  If a fencer can do something on the strip, in the club, at a tournament, they can do it anywhere, in any aspect of their lives they so choose. It can be deeply personal and radically life transforming.

Jen's Blog
  • 2011 Mid-South Fencer Year End Review December 31, 2011 The 2011 review is a hard one to write.  I’ve been thinking about it for weeks.  Though so much has been good, we’ve had some pretty big losses this year that have had a ripple effect in our community.  The top ten things that stand out of me this year st...
  • Letter to Ned Light, 1967-2011 December 19, 2011 On Friday evening, December 16th, 2011 Ned, a founding coach of the Mid-South Fencers' Club, died from a short and hard fought battle with cancer.  He leaves behind his wife Anne, his daughter, Erin, his father and two brothers.  Below is the letter writt...
  • USA Cadet Team, Second Place in Hungary! October 5, 2011 A young Mid-South Cadet traveled abroad with her coach to Godollo, Hungary for her first international event in her fencing career and Team USA ended up carrying home a trophy with silver international bling around their necks.   This is a brief introspec...
  • Celebrate our Mid-South Collegiate Fencers June 21, 2011 Mid-South has three more “graduates” this year and for the first time they will be fencing for their respective college teams. Here is what our students have to say as they reflect back on how fencing influenced their collegiate choices. Claire Carson ...
  • Jen's Blog - Super Capes Collide When Son Starts Fencing February 2, 2011 Some days I can’t decide which super cape to put on when I wake up in the morning. Often the capes clash with one another and I trip over the edges while running from one job to the next. I tripped over an edge hard this past weekend, it broke my heart, but only for about three hours.