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Masaaki Tajima

Masaaki Tajima - U.S. Certified National Coach

Interview With Masaaki Tajima

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

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Question of the Week
Question: "Which blade is best situable for short pimples play in BH? I liked Viscaria in forehand, but it felt so soft in the BH. For the bat I'm not sure either Innerforce T5000, or ZLF or ULC blade, ( I guess I need a stiff blade), maybe a combination..." Read Answer