Q: Occupation?
A: Full time coach, part time consultant in the
Hospitality Industry.
Q: Who
are some of your past and present students and their greatest
accomplishment?
A:
- Mark Liu; 1990 National Junior High School
Champion, got accepted to Resident Training Program in Colorado
Springs. Achieved over 2300 level
- Lynn Truong; 1989 national High School
Champion, got accepted to Resident Training Program in Colorado
Springs
- Patricia Hocke; 1991 National U-14 Champion
- Jackie Lee; Many time National and Junior
Olympic Champion
- Peter Zajac: achieved over 2400
- Misha Kazantsev; 2002 U.S. Open under
14 Champion
- Kevin Phung; 2003 U.S. Cadet Team
Q: How often do you coach
?
A: 5-6 days per week
Q:
What area of coaching would you consider to be a strength ?
A: Technical development, mental strength, ability
to read players and formulate strategy.
Q: If
your students could only remember one thing, what would you
want it to be ?
A: Show that they can make changes and attitudes
never thought possible.
Q: As
a coach, what has been your proudest moment thus far ?
A: When I know they realized self awareness and
have attained confidence independent of me.
Q: What are your feelings
on the 40mm ball?
A: My approach is to be adaptable and flexible.
I adapted.
Q: How has this affected
your approach to coaching?
A: It has not affected my approach to coaching
but more emphasis has been placed on close to the table looping
than when the ball was 38mm.
Q: What are your feelings on
the 11-point game?
A: The matches are more intense.
Q: How has this affected
your approach to coaching?
A: Ability to focus become ever more important
as there are no more the beginning, middle and end to a game.
Q: What are your feelings
on the hidden service rule?
A: No feeling, just change.
Q: How
has this affected your approach to coaching ?
A: There is a loss of deception so receiving of
serves is made easier. The rallies are longer thus being more
consistent and court coverage is important.
Q: If you could change one
thing about table tennis it would be ?
A: Image.
Q: How did you get started
playing table tennis and how old were you?
A: I was 21 and in college just ping ponging in a dorm.
Q: What hobbies do you have?
A: Music and Fine Art
Q: What is your favorite
movie?
A: Humphry Bogard’ s Casablanca.
Q: What is your favorite
TV show?
A: Food Network.
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Too many to mention.
Q: What is your favorite
sport outside of table tennis?
A: None.
Q: ·What is your
favorite type of music?
A: Anything except country and rap |
Masaaki
Tajima - U.S. Certified National Coach
