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My Life of Table Tennis
Jie Chang- State Level Coach
Every time going back to China, no matter how many things were on my to-do list, table tennis has been the one which never changed. I could cancel visiting break taking mountains, mouth watering banquette, etc, but I had to visiting the nation’s best table tennis academies, such as Shichahai sports school in Beijing, Zhengding national table tennis training center in Hebei province, and ooh my god, the holy place of China National Training Center for Table Tennis and Badminton in Beijing. The list can goes on and on.
As I remember, I was indulged into ping pong right away after my dad bought me a “Mengya” (it literally means bud, implicitly means HOPE) pip out paddle in 1969 when I was seven years old. Surprisingly I fund it at relative’s house this summer while visiting Shanghai. With that paddle I came through a long way from a beginner to an advanced player during my elementary school years, eventually became a prestigious member of table tennis team at Jinan Municipal Children’s Palace.
I played ping pong with my bodies, soldiers, army officer many times a week. I knew where all tables were either wood or concrete, good players at which army unit. By playing the sport, I was from a loser to winner, from underdog at elementary school, and our air force base where my parents stationed to a top player; I upset almost all the best adult ping pong players at our NO. 13 Aviation Academy of Chinese Air Force except one player, I called him “uncle” Zhou.
In order to practice with better players, I could walk 5 miles at age of 10 to meet other players, or stayed at friend’s house for a week to practice footwork in the early morning or watched adults playing at late nights. Hard work and hundreds of hour’s practices paid dividends, I won the 3rd place of elementary schools at Licheng County, and 3rd place of middle school in Jinan city, Shangdong province.
After the end of culture revolution, I stopped playing my beloved sport for a few years until my college years. I formed a team competing with companies, factories and other institutions. During 80’s and 90’s, I was the best player as a student, and then as a professor.
Seven years ago, my table tennis life turned to coaching table tennis, I started giving lessons to kids at Atlanta Table Tennis Club voluntarily. About four years ago, with supports from national coach Xing Peng, three of top Atlanta local players, Gong shanxia, Zhang yi and I established the Tiger Table Tennis Academy, we trained hundreds of players young and old, Chinese and Laowai. We have been so passionate on spreading table tennis skills to our students, and have cultivated their interest in table tennis. We are respectful, patient, and knowledgeable, we develop trust with students, parents. Our students love the sport, and enjoy taking lessons from us. Most of top GA junior players started table tennis with us.
I have been so blessed for getting supports from parents, students and ACCA over years. Last year, I created a table tennis club program at ACCA with wholly hearted support from Mr. Liu Zhiqiang, and ACCA. Our club will resume training as the school starts in August.
I love work with beginners, and good at teaching them how to grasp the skills fast and in a fun way. Interest drives them play more, desire to win and parent supports motivate them play harder. I never take any student if his or her parent(s) force him or her to play table tennis.
I conduct mobile training at students’ houses to save trip time for our busy students and parents at very at affordable rates for individuals or small group; you or your kids are very welcome to my world class facilities in Snellville if you are close to my place. |
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