CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
1982: U.S. Juniors Train in China. Coach
Wang Fuzheng to be U.S. National Coach and Tour America.
Sue Butler, through four separate articles, will cover our U.S. Juniors’ two-months visit to China in the spring of 1982. In the first of these articles (TTT, Apr., 1982, cover +), we learn that, with Sue pushing for the trip as its proposed Chaperone, and the liaison help of C.F. Liu, the Chinese had invited to Beijing Sean O’Neill (age 14), Scott (14) and Jim Butler (11), Khoa Nguyen (15), and Brandon Olson (15)—all having between them a myriad number of U.S. Championships.
There was, however, the considerable problem of each boy’s family, singly or together, raising funds for the trip. Sue tried, as did Paul Lee who’d been responsible (“at great expense to his company, Lee Global Enterprises”) for bringing the Chinese World Championship Team to the 1981 U.S. Open and the attendant publicity that followed—for example, in Sports Illustrated. “But in this depressed economy, funds were limited and committed and there was so little time.”
So, says Sue, what were we parents to do? “Do you go for it—invest thousands of dollars on a one-shot experience? Will it benefit the child that much or is it just an ego trip for the parents? Is it worth risking perhaps much financial hardship? How about expenditures on one child while other siblings get far less? Is table tennis going to be as important a part of his life in five years as it is now?” As these and other related thoughts swirl through a parent’s head, one who thinks of taking a chance needs to look at the other side of the coin. “The cultural experience and the travel, plus the immeasurable advantages of such a trip as new avenues of learning and communication are opened up, can never be taken away.”
O.K., finally all the parents agree—we do it. “And then things began to look up. Paul Lee, who deserves the help, support, and appreciation of all who care about the future of table tennis in this country, got a commitment for half the air fares from CAAC, the official airline of the People’s Republic of China. Some funds were provided by the USOC through the Pan American Team Development Fund. And donations were received through an appeal in Topics to USTTA members.” [Still, the final cost to each family was considerable, and especially so to the Butlers—$80 a day Institute charges, and another $2,200 to be split with the others to have the advantages they did, including their own personal, highly experienced Chinese coach].
In Sue’s second article (TTT, May-June, 1982, cover +), the Juniors leave the States and once they arrive in China we begin to follow their adventures. Take-off point; San Francisco (after, Sue said, “We’d spent two delightful days at the home of Son Nguyen”). Then, first, a sequestered stop at the Shanghai airport, followed by the group’s arrival on 11:30 Sunday evening, March 28, at the new, modernized Beijing airport. Welcomed by “the Dean of Student Affairs at the Institute of Physical Culture, a Mr. Wu (pronounced Ooh) and two teachers at the Institute, Mr. Zheng (Chun) and an American, Michael Brzezinski,” they exited the airport, only to discover later that Scott’s suitcase was missing. It contained “all his clothes, table tennis shoes, and, worst of all, our main supply of precious kool-aid, country-time hot chocolate, and other assorted drink mixes. (It would later turn up during the fifth week of our stay.)”
“The Institute, located about 20 miles northwest of Beijing, is China’s best training center”—a combination of “a college for training physical education teachers,” and “ a very Chinese version of the U.S. Olympic Training Camp in Colorado Springs.” On arriving, “we were ushered into the dining room where we had cookies and tea and cheesuir, a highly carbonated orange drink (the Chinese soft drink), and then were shown to our rooms on the third floor of a four-story building. We were placed two to a room (the Chinese usually stay five to seven in such a room), and though it was Spartan it was very clean and comfortable. There were two dormitory-style bathrooms on each floor (one for men and one for women).”
“The Institute is a city within itself with its own generating plant, dining facilities, post office, and souvenir/gift shop. It is isolated and 90 minutes from Beijing by bus. Serving at the moment maybe 1500 men and women, the Institute has 15 large buildings, several small ones, and several dormitories and facilities for a number of sports, including, for example, basketball, volleyball, swimming, gymnastics and track and field. We are staying in the most modern unit where all the foreign students and visiting athletes stay. Our building is much nicer than the Chinese dorms and our rooms are cleaned daily and the towels and bedding changed. Our dining room serves only the residents of this building.”
“In the beginning, even our fussy eaters liked the varied Chinese food, although we all found ourselves getting more hungry than usual as there was a decided lack of enough fiber, protein and carbohydrates in our diet. The sensitive Chinese, however, were quick to adjust our meals. We then had cold water on the table at every meal (almost unheard of in China), and our breakfasts were altered to include eggs everyday, bread, and several kinds of meat. We also could have a hot rice cereal that tasted much like cream of wheat. After five days we switched entirely to western-style meals.”
[I, Tim, might mention that during this time the Chinese National Championships were being played in Guangzhou with the following results: Men’s: 1. Wang Huiyuan. 2. Wang Yansheng. 3.-4. Fan Changmao. 3.-4. Wei Qingguang. (World Champion Guo Yuehua and World Runner-up Cai Zhenhua lost in the first round!) Women’s: 1. Cao Yanhua. 2. Geng Lijuan. 3. He Shili. 4. Tong Ling.]
Time now for Sue to talk table tennis. “We met with our coach, Hua Zhengde. He carefully asked about each boy—age, how long he’s been playing, and what international experience he’s had. Then he asked what kind of players they were—attacking or defensive. His very next question was, Did they hold the racket like Eric Boggan? When I said no, he smiled. Three players from Beijing were assigned to us as hitting partners. Later, if Coach Hua feels we’re getting on to them, they’ll change. The best was 21-year-old Wong Gingui (Chinchee) an attacking penholder, about 2450, who proudly wears a shirt given to him by Eric Boggan three years ago. Chao Weigou (Weegwa), an 18-year-old defender/hitter with Friendship and long pips, was about 2400 as a chopper/2350 as a hitter. And Liu Yong (Ung), 16, using Friendship and anti, was about 2350 as a chopper/ 2300 as a hitter.”
“The practice hall is very nice. It is a large room—with high ceilings and a wood floor—that easily holds four tables. The general routine is: 7:00 a.m.: Breakfast; 8:00: Chinese Lesson; 8:30-11:30: Practice; 12:00: Lunch; 1:00 p.m.: Schoolwork, etc.; 2:00-5:00: Practice; 5:30: Run or Physical Training; 6:00: Dinner. The schedule runs six days a week. On Sundays we were to go sightseeing (amongst ourselves we had all Sundays already planned—Great Wall, Forbidden City, Friendship Store, Zoo, Train to Tianjin (Tientsin); Exploration of Beijing….”
“Our coach, Hua Zhengde, 38, had just been appointed a Chinese National Junior Coach. He’s been a national coach for 18 years. He is polite, friendly, and quite serious. [Also, very diplomatic.] The boys are very fond of him, and his English is fast improving as he adapts his personality and coaching methods to the personality and age of each boy. Jimmy, having just turned 11, has ‘games’ invented for him much more often than the others. Coach Hua is a master and it is a pleasure to watch him work. Although he is a penholder, he usually demonstrates shakehands (his level is so high it really doesn’t matter). The one exception is that he uses penhold when he demonstrates short serves. (You should see his four-bounce serve.)”
“A typical practice routine is as follows: ATTACKING AND CHOPPING: 1. Forehand attack cross-court (10 minutes). 2. Loop-block variety of serves (20 minutes). 3. Hitting against chop (20 minutes). 4. Combination—loop drive, blocking and smashing (20 minutes). 5. Serve and attack, then reverse roles (20 minutes). 6. Play games. Then, if still alive, practice serves. All the boys like to play games with their hitting partners. I observed that the Chinese practice at about our level, but when it comes time to play the match they improve about 200 rating points.”
There is one great drill—for footwork—that our boys hadn’t seen before. “Each player has two big buckets to either side of the table—at the beginning one is filled with balls, and one empty. There are the same number of balls in each bucket at each table. Players must move from side to side as rapidly as possible taking one ball from the full bucket and placing it in what in the beginning was the empty bucket. The first player to move all his balls wins.”
Time now for an International Match with the Japanese boys (there are also Japanese girls training here—a total of 53 juniors in all, and they’d been here 12 days so far). Sue had taken it upon herself to partially outfit the U.S. boys, mostly from Iowa’s J.C. Penny regular stock, with an assist from husband Dick and son Scott in the Butler basement sweatshop. Thus, with a combined Butler sewing effort the boys were dressed in red, white, and blue, had appropriate lettering on the backs of their jackets, and an American flag patch and a USTTA patch on their sleeves. Sue was also proud of their “beautiful 3’ by 6’ banner on a wall by the two-table arena (said ‘USA Junior Table Tennis Team Friendship Tour 1982’—both in English and Chinese characters—and it also had a large red USTTA logo on one corner and a large red Chinese symbol meaning ‘Happiness in all the four seasons’ on another. Team draw sheets were made up, souvenirs exchanged, and the Friday night two-table play began—on the one table, Swaythling Cup style, on the other (with Khoa and Jimmy), Corbillon Cup style.”
A large group of Japanese juniors (though no girls) were there rooting for their fellow players, but this was offset to some degree by Chinese students who’d be cheering us on. “They particularly favored Jimmy, the clown, who amused them greatly on or off the table.” In describing, first, the Swaythling-like matches, Sue was helped by Sean, Scott, and Brandon.
“First up: Olson and 14-year-old Tahara, a non-attacking chopper. [How does the Japanese coach not insist that this kid intersperse an attack?] Brandon served the first point into the net and the crowd went wild. But in the end, Olson was 19, 16 victorious.”
“Next up: O’Neill and Ito, another 14-year-old, ranked #8 in the Under 15’s in Japan. In the first game, Sean couldn’t hit in enough winners and Ito’s loop was hot. In the second, Sean was up 15-10, but lost it at 19.” USA 1-Japan 1.
“Japan’s #3-ranked U-15 boy, Sato, a right-handed penholder with pips, launched an all-out attack against Scott. But Scott, playing well, kept the hitter at bay, won the first 21-17. In the second, Sato went for everything and got nothing as Scott soared to a 9-0 lead. This win, in which Scott played better than he has in months, pinning Sato to his weak backhand and winging in balls off the forehand, helped his confidence (rattled lately by close demoralizing losses in U.S. matches).”
After O’Neill had won the first game against Tahara, “Coach Hua, as yet still not completely familiar with the boys’ styles, gave Sean some bad advice: ‘slow loop, push.’ This allowed Tahara to gain control and 21-19 draw even in games. Continuing to follow the coach’s advice, Sean pushing more in this one match than he has in a year, found himself down 17-13. But then he returned to playing his own attacking game, and as he went match point 20-19 up, Brandon said, ‘He’ll go for the loop.’ But then, ‘I don’t believe it,’ said Scott. ‘He pushed it.’ Still, Sean eventually won that point and the match.” USA 3-Japan 1.
Sato couldn’t quite cope with Brandon’s backhand-slap strength and went down, 18, 19.
Now the crowd-pleasing match of the evening—Butler vs. Ito. “Ito never saw a forehand the first game. Scott was at his finest, keeping the ball short and hitting into the penholder’s backhand until he was able to smash in a winner. Ito changed sides shaking his head after losing at 11. But now the Japanese boy rallied—led in the second 22-21. Scott thought he’d hit in the tying point, but Ito managed to lob it back. Then, after several smash-lob exchanges, Ito banged in a counter-drive from far behind the table and the ball caught the net and dropped over for the game.”
“Scott, furious over having lost the second game, was like a man possessed. He paced and fumed after every point. His concentration was intense. He was totally wired. Before a crucial point, Scott looked at Coach Hua. ‘Serve, attack’ came the response. Scott served short to the backhand, Ito returned, and Scott smashed down the line. ‘Good,’ said Hua. Scott took this third game at 15. Final score: USA 5-Japan 1.
In the opening Corbillon-style match, “a life and death struggle was going on with Khoa in his first international competition. Kotaka, like Khoa 15, supposedly one of the younger, weaker Japanese, was slamming in point after point off both wings. The attacking penholder, excited by encouragement from the crowd, could do no wrong and won the first with 21-8 ease. But Khoa, turning the match around by lobbing and returning everything that came across the net, prevailed at 18, 19.” USA 1-Japan 0.
Jimmy and Watanabe (13, the youngest player the Japanese could produce) had some great points. Jimmy played the attacking shakehander very well, but the two years difference in age was too much to overcome.
“In the doubles, Japan fielded two 15-year-old players we’d not seen before, choppers who could hit. And, again, helped by the age factor, Japan won 15 and 19.” Japan 2-USA 1.
“In the fourth match, both Khoa and Watanabe were looping and smashing—with points evening up until Khoa finally held a 21-20 advantage—at which point Watanabe served off.” The second game, again at 22-20, went to Khoa.
“Jimmy in the clean-up spot, though he showed a strong backhand, could not begin to handle Kataka. The crowd (especially the Chinese) applauded his spirit, but that wasn’t enough to bring him into the match.” Final score: Japan 3-USA 2.
“After the Swaythling-style play finished, the Japanese coach asked for a rematch, but I said we would like to informally play matches with them but not a formal competition as this had been. And so we did play Sunday morning. Out of 18 matches our top four boys lost only two—chopper-hitter Kenichi Usui (who’d won the tournament the Japanese had played among themselves) took down both Scott and Sean.
“Our first week,” said Sue, “has gone well. Hopefully, it will continue that way. However, if C.F. Liu had not come to China two weeks ago on business and looked into the arrangements that were being made for us, it would have been quite another story. Instead of the very experienced Coach Hua, who’d coached in Sweden, Spain, France, and elsewhere, we would have had phys. ed. instructors and been pretty much on our own.”
Sue said Coach Hua had told her that our “players’ level is very high for their ages. ‘They are super stars,’ he said. When I asked him how they compared to Chinese juniors of the same age, he smiled and said, ‘They must work on better serves, pushes, and loop drives. I will work with Brandon against choppers. Scott surprised me. In practice he looked ordinary, but in a match he is superior. That is the mark of a great player.’ He added that he felt differently about all our players after seeing them in competition and thinks they can develop into great champions. He will alter our training routine to work on specific weaknesses and will add more competition as he sees that is what the boys want.”
Sue ends this first article by saying, “It is a real joy to watch the boys develop and improve. Also, you may be assured that it is a great pleasure to be around these boys. They are cooperative, work hard, are friendly, courteous, and are excellent ambassadors for our country.”
Sue’s next article (TTT, July-Aug., 1982, cover +) picks up the remaining weeks of the Americans’ stay in China and tells us about some of the problems, eventually resolved, they faced. She begins by giving readers some background on China. “The country has changed much in the three years since I was here last. The people appear more prosperous. There is more color everywhere, from clothing to the brightly painted commercial billboards seen everywhere that advertise mostly Japanese products. Wangfujung Street, the main shopping district of Beijing, is packed with Chinese shoppers. The Chinese are not just looking, they are buying—books, radios, silk, better clothing, arts and crafts, and even refrigerators. A refrigerator costs about 900 Yuan ($495.—one year’s salary). In 1980, only 5,000 refrigerators were produced and sold to the Chinese consumer. In 1981, the figure was 50,000. It is even possible to own a car or a house in China—though a small house costs $5,000.”
“The official government policy on family-size is one child. Severe penalties are imposed if a couple has more children. Salaries are cut, the living conditions are lowered, and the couple has to pay for medical care and medicine. Even if twins are born, the couple is penalized as if they had two single births.”
“It is possible to listen to Radio Peking for four hours every night and hear all English broadcasts and classical music. Also, you can always find an English lesson on some station. But the TV is very restricted. In Beijing there are only three channels and they only broadcast from about 6-10 at night. They are far behind in the quality of presentations and variety of programs offered.”
“Everywhere the effects of Deng Xiaoping’s modernization plan are apparent. China is building and the people are studying and learning. They are trying to catch up with the rest of the world and overcome the nightmare of their burdensome bureaucratic system.”
“We had problems to overcome too. Ron Shirley of Table Tennis America, the Yasaka Distributor, sent playing uniforms to us straight from Japan, but when during the second week of our stay I went to the air freight office to pick them up, a Chinese custom official said I’d have to pay about $350 in duty. I removed only one outfit for each boy and everything else I left there. Fortunately, shortly before it came time to get this big box of clothing that remained out of the country, Coach Li Henan came with me to customs, and I was able to take it back to the Institute without paying any more and could disperse the remaining uniforms to the Team members.”
“Jimmy broke a baby tooth molar and the filling came out. Unknowingly I took him to the Friendship Hospital (which it turned out the Soviets had helped build), instead of to the Capital Hospital (that the Americans had contributed to). When Jimmy saw the old-fashioned equipment and sat in the non-adjustable adult-sized chair with a head rest that forced him to stretch himself as much as possible for his head to reach it, his confidence was at an all-time low. That he was uncomfortable didn’t seem to bother the woman doctor though. She said the tooth was already a little infected and had to be pulled. She asked if he’d be a good patient. And when I said, ‘Do you have an anesthetic?’ she gave me a disgusted look and replied, ‘Of course.’” All went well—and then came the bill. Cost: $1.10.
Sue thought readers would like to hear about what she called the “Chinese Table Tennis Machine.” “The Chinese have 12 top level National Coaches: Li Furong, Head Coach—Men; Zhang Xielin, Head Coach—Women; Xi Enting, Head Coach—Junior Boys; Li Henan (Ai Liguo’s wife), Head Coach—Junior Girls.”
“There are 30 men and 27 women on the National Team. New National Team members are selected almost exclusively on results of national championships. Once on the Team, a player is given one, no more than two years to produce. Women must be 16, men 18 to be on the Team. They practice together all year round. All facilities, housing, travel, whatever, are completely government subsidized. The main practice facility is in Beijing near Ai Liguo’s apartment, but no one is allowed to watch them practice. Players are selected by categories—5 choppers, 5 shakehands attackers, 5 penhold attackers, 5 shakehands loopers, etc. Practice is 3-4 hours a day—not including running and physical training.”
“All of China’s coaches are called National Coaches. They are classified as follows: 1. National Level Coach—highest level. Works with National Team, but can also be a good province team coach or large-city coach. You do not have to be a national level coach to work with the National Team. They also have people who are not players but work on the psychology of the sport and the technology of the equipment.”
2. First Class—also a top coaching level. Hua Zhengde and Wang Fuzheng (who’ll be the U.S. new National Coach) are examples. Also, Li Zhenshi who’s just retired as a player and has started coaching. Second-Class: most province coaches. Third-Class: spare-time sports school coaches.”
Certainly by the first part of the third week, the U.S. Juniors needed more coaching—or something—on how to make their stay more enjoyable. Things seemed to be going well…and then they weren’t. Sue says, “Here’s why: 1. Our nervous excitement and energy ran out. 2. The differences in the food bothered the boys the most at this time. 3. The monotony of the daily routine, especially during free time, seemed to really depress us. Brandon once said during the early afternoon rest period that he guessed the only excitement of the day was, if he took a nap, he might have a dream. (These ‘down’ experiences are not uncommon when trainees go to a different country—to Japan, for example.)
“4. We played some Beijing juniors, 14 and 15, and our boys, playing badly but thinking they weren’t outmatched, lost 10 matches to 3 and were upset about it. 5. There was a communication problem between Coach Hua and the boys and me. 6. We needed a better interpreter to avoid misunderstandings. 7. The practice sessions were not as productive as I thought they should be. 8. We had little or no sightseeing and no relaxation. Something had to change quickly. I arranged an expensive dinner with high-level people, including Mr. Zhang Weilian of the China Sports Service Co., Mr. Zhung Junhan, Secretary of the China Sports Federation, Coach Hua and his wife, and Coaches Ai Liguo and Li Henan.”
“In a separate meeting, with Ai Liguo serving as Interpreter, misunderstandings were repaired. Coach Hua had thought erroneously that the boys weren’t taking the competition with the Beijing juniors seriously, weren’t trying their best, and so came on strong to them, bringing tears to Scott’s eyes. Coach Hua also didn’t like it when the boys occasionally laughed at something they thought funny during practice. Chinese boys, he said, never show any kind of humor in practice and everything is always super serious.”
“I explained that, though the boys liked Coach Hua, a lack of communication was a big problem and that we needed someone like Ai Liguo who understood both cultures to be our interpreter. Another big problem was that our juniors felt so frustrated because the Chinese boys their age had the advantage of such good serves. I asked that we have more drills on serves and serve returns. It can’t be assumed our boys can read the spin well, I said.”
“I was very pleased with the action these high-level Sports officials took—Ai Liguo would join us every Saturday for discussion and coaching, and Lin Henan would come one or two days a week to help us at no additional charge. That next Sunday we all went shopping, had a buffet lunch at the Beijing Hotel, and even went to a park for a Chinese flea market. There we purchased drawings and paintings from Chinese artists at unbelievably low prices.”
“There followed on Monday and Tuesday absolutely remarkable coaching sessions. I was so excited I couldn’t sit. Brandon was looping hard in multi-ball drills with ‘Gergely’ (we have nicknames for the Chinese hitting partners which we use instead of the difficult Chinese names, and they respond to these names). Zheng Weitian is the tall shakehands looper Khoa was practicing looping and serve-attack with. Zhao Weigo is ‘Smiley,’ a chopper hitter. Wang Jinqi (‘Butch’), a penholder attacker, was placing chop serves wide to the forehand, then backhand and Sean had to run back and forth repeatedly to loop drive. The drill didn’t stop until the bucket of balls was gone and I looked over to see an empty bucket and Sean lying on the floor completely exhausted. He was playing great and his good work was often rewarded by words of praise from the coaches.”
“On the table next to Sean, Coach Hua was blocking and serving while Scott was to attack as soon as possible and open with a strong shot. Li Henan stood near Scott and the play would stop at once if Scott’s opening loop was too weak or he was merely placing the ball and sparring instead of attacking. If Scott missed a kill, play was stopped, spin was discussed, and proper procedure outlined. When execution was good, instant praise was given. This went on for almost two hours.”
“Li Henan would work with Jimmy for about 10-15 minutes. When she saw that his concentration was going and his shots were becoming weaker she would stop, tell him to rest, and she would work with another boy. In 10 or 15 minutes, she would return to Jim. With him she mixes games in with drills. Jimmy, working hard, plays her even, and it’s anyone’s game.”
“The Chinese have learned the handicap system from us and Coach Hua now equalizes Jimmy with the Chinese hitting partners by giving him12-15 points a game. Coach Hua first challenged Jim that afternoon and gave him a choice: penhold and 13 points or shakehands and 0-0. Jimmy took shakehands. Jimmy won the first at 19, lost the second at 19, and won the third 22-20 when Coach Hua served into the net and went crazy.”
“Every question we asked of the Chinese coaches was always discussed and answered. Strategy? Very simple: serve and attack. There are three parts to training according to the Chinese: technique; strategy; and footwork. The Chinese players are very patient and give blind obedience to their coaches. If they don’t work hard, they are sent home.”
Everyone in China worked hard for us. Even the male head cook of our dining room went out of his way to please us. Li Henan told him we loved cake and gooey desserts and he responded by a constant array of cakes, puddings, and even a chocolate soufflé (which he apologized for serving in a bread pan because he didn’t have the proper dish to cook it in). Also, all of his cooking was done on a wood stove!”
After our talk, Coach Hua took over the sightseeing as well as training. He arranged to take the boys to a hockey competition between two Chinese teams, borrowed bikes for all of us for a 25-minute ride to the Summer Palace (where we rented boats and had a wonderful time), took us to an acrobatic show, arranged for a trip to the Ming Tombs, the Great Wall, and several parks. We saw the Forbidden City, went to Tianjin by train, and had many other outings.”
“Can you imagine the boys saying they wished they were staying for six months? After a while Jimmy didn’t think five hours a day was a long time to practice. Sometimes they would go to the hall after hours to practice and to do extra physical conditioning on their own.” The boys became more interested, I think, because Coach Hua came to see that our boys wanted to play matches—against the strongest competition possible—and so arranged it.”
“We got to know and befriend juniors from the Middle East, including the 17-year-old Junior Champion of India, who were here for three months of training. Unlike us they had only an institute coach and no hitting partners. They were very unhappy with their training, but their associations couldn’t bear the extra costs we were sustaining. Of course we got to play two or three times a week with the best teams the Chinese could provide—quite a few different teams in fact—including The People’s Liberation Army Team who had a player about to turn 13. ‘If I lose to that little squirt,’ said Brandon, ‘I’ll kill myself.’ I handed him a knife after the match. We lost all the singles matches the first time we played them and won only the doubles. If these juniors have any weakness it is in their doubles play—they’re so busy running into each other trying to hit the big forehand. The second time, however, we won three matches.”
Then, abruptly, with three weeks or so still remaining in our stay, Coach Hua was transferred—took up duties as Mexico’s National Coach. But before he’d leave, Sue, helped by Interpreter Ai Liguo (TTT, Sept., 1982, 16), conducted the following interview with him:
SUE: When were you on the Chinese National Team?
HUA: 1961-1965.
SUE, What is the most important, most exciting thing you achieved as a player?
HUA: In the Chinese National Championships, I finished 3rd in both the Men’s Singles (1964) and Men’s Doubles with Tu Hangang (1963).
SUE: Why do you like table tennis?
HUA: Even when I was a little boy I loved all sports. But in table tennis I improved and had much success. I was a teenager when China had its first world champion in 1959 and I was caught up in the excitement.
SUE: What has table tennis done for you as a person, besides allowing you to earn a living?
HUA: It has given me great pleasure. When I was young I had an ambition to be a doctor or an engineer. But after I got hooked on table tennis I gave up those ideas, and I have never regretted doing so.
SUE: When and why did you start coaching and what positions have you had?
HUA: I began coaching in 1965. In China, if you are a National Team Member and decide to coach, you do not have to work your way up. You start out as a national level coach. I am a newly appointed national junior coach. There are only a very few of these positions. Two or three of us are assistants to Xi Enting, the National Junior Head Coach. This means I work only with the National Team and the very best juniors—hence my assignment with the U.S. boys. I decided to become a coach because as a player I wasn’t by Chinese standards good enough. As a coach I could make a greater contribution. I’ve served in Asia, Africa, South America, and in several European countries.
SUE: Why are the Chinese so far ahead of other players?
HUA: The government pays great attention to table tennis. The sport is very important to the Chinese people. They expect us to win and when we don’t they are most upset. It is our national sport. We have a very powerful association and the foundation is very strong. We have so many people that play and so many good coaches.
SUE: The Chinese were almost all penholders. Now we see most of the juniors playing shakehands. Why?
HUA: Our policy is to produce every style of player. “Let the flowers blossom, weeding through the old to bring forth the new.” The shakehands grip provides more flexibility.
SUE: After almost 20 years of coaching, what keeps you interested?
HUA: I have now coached a world champion (Xie Saike, 1981 Mixed Doubles Champion with Huang Junqun). The feeling is very good. I want to do this again and again—be a very good coach and so provide for my son’s future. I would like to continue to coach the U.S. boys and try to make them world champions.
SUE: What is your coaching philosophy with the boys?
HUA: In training I am very strict, but after practice I want to be a friend and enjoy my students.
SUE: I know that you and our U.S. boys have been getting along nicely and that between you and them there’s mutual respect. How are they the same or different from Chinese boys of the same ages—in intelligence, determination, curiosity, interest, and listening to directions?
HUA: American boys are more active and independent—sometimes this is good, sometimes not so good. But they are all different and respond differently to me. Chinese boys are more obedient, but too dependent. The Chinese are more patient. Sometimes the American boys’ tempers are too hot. They have to learn to steady their spirit. Many matches they could have won, but the fighting spirit, the confidence, was not there. They are too dependent on their emotions. They must learn to use them to their advantage and control them.
SUE: What do you think of Americans? What did you expect?
HUA: I think there are no big differences between us. You and the boys make me very happy and we have become very good friends. The boys often surprise me. For instance, Jimmy is very small but he plays very well. A boy will be out of a match, then settle down, concentrate, and come back to win it. They often play differently in competition than they do in practice. Americans are very frank and open. The boys are so easy to like and you are the same—you are warm and friendly and have worked very hard to improve my English. I appreciate that very much.
SUE: What kind of things must the boys work on when they arrive home?
HUA: 1. Strengthen all aspects of their game. 2. Work on upper body strength. 3. Steady the spirit. 4. Be calm, confident, and think about what they’re doing when they play. 5. Have much competition.
SUE: What do you think of their future in table tennis? Do they have the ability to be great?
HUA: They all have very exceptional ability, and can be great players as men. The next few years are most important. They must have superior coaching, constant training, and a great deal of good competition.
Sue went on in her second article to say that after their disappointment at Hua’s departure, the next day who should walk in but Li Henan. “This was a big surprise because we had already said our goodbyes as she was supposed to be in Hangchou for the National competition. This was yet another example of the Chinese commitment to us. Li Henan was an incredible gift. She is one of China’s most famous women. Wherever we went she was recognized. She is the most energetic, dedicated, humble, unaffected person I have ever known. Li and Ai wrote the book for the Chinese training program, and without them helping us to solve our problems things would have been much different.”
About this time, Sue took advantage of being invited to a luncheon meeting with Mr. Xu Yinsheng, President of the China Table Tennis Association. She asked him to outline the Chinese training philosophy for her, which he did while she took notes. Here are the 12 points he stressed: 1. Competition and training cannot be combined. 2. Training is the most important thing. 3. In basic-skills training always pretend it’s a competition. 4. Chinese never do rote drill without variation. 5. With regard to forehand- counter practice, don’t do 100 forehands without missing; instead do forehands with different spins and speeds. 6. The backhand is as important as the forehand. 7. Practice for three to four hours—that’s enough. Quality is more important than quantity. 8. When training, encourage partner to be always serious and work together. 9. Confidence is so important in games. Know you can win. 10. Lose confidence and you have lost the match. 11. Know your opponent and yourself. 12. If in trouble in a match, be flexible and adjust.”
In the course of other business, Sue said she and President Xu “made new arrangements for U.S. National Coach Wang Fuzheng to return to the U.S. with me.” She also invited Xu’s 12-year-old son to come to the Institute and hit some with Jimmy. And, sure enough, a week later Huazhang, as he’d be known in coming to the States several years later, “appeared in his Wrangler jean-jacket with racket in hand.”
During this meeting, President Xu asked Sue if there was anything in Beijing she and her juniors would like to see or do. And, prompted so, Sue replied, “’There is nothing in China that you could show our boys that would mean more than if they could WATCH the National Team practice for even a few minutes.’ Ai Liguo, sitting across from me, slid 12 inches down in his chair. His various facial expressions told me I had just asked the impossible. In America we say, It never hurts to ask. In China, you never ask.”
“It was quiet at the table for a few seconds. Then for several minutes a vigorous exchange in Chinese took place. Soon I was told that the National Team members would be brought to us the next day (Friday) as they had to leave for a very important competition in Hangchou on Saturday. I have been told constantly by the Chinese ever since that meeting what this favor means. It is the ultimate confirmation of the respect the Chinese have for us, and the total commitment of the China Table Tennis Association to a strong bond of friendship and understanding between our two associations and peoples.”
Here, in another article by Sue (TTT, July-Aug., 1982, 4) is what happened when seven Chinese National Team members—Guo Yuehua, Liang Geliang, Lu Yaohua, Chau Chien, Jia Ning, Ying Ching, and Lu Kui—came to accommodate our Juniors that Friday, May 7.
“We had thought we were just to watch the practice, but that is not what the Chinese had in mind. A complete two-hour program was arranged. Each of the boys played each of the five top Chinese players one game. After that there was one game played, first, by Guo Yuehua and Liang Geliang, and then by Lu Yaohua and Lu Kui.” After that, the boys were given serve and attack pointers. “Guo spent almost an hour demonstrating serves and follow-up attacks. He worked with each boy on several of the best serves. Here is a summary of his comments and philosophy on the techniques of serve and serve return”:
“On serves: 1. Chinese penholders prefer high-toss serves for best spin. Contact ball just before it would hit the table. 2. Shakehands players should not toss the ball too high—the grip makes this serve more difficult to achieve maximum results. 3. Guo likes to modify or change his grip during serves to confuse his opponent and then, immediately after serving, change back to his regular grip. 4. The main force in serves comes from the wrist. 5. It’s only a good serve if you can 3rd-ball attack. 6. You can decide placement of the serve when the racket contacts the ball. 7. It’s not fun to practice serves, but it’s very important to do so.”
“On serve returns: 1. ALWAYS prepare to attack. 2. You must be accurate and pay attention to placement. 3. Return short serves with a flick. 4. You must be aggressive but patient. 5. Take your time. Think about what you’re doing, concentrate.”
“Ai Liguo told the Chinese players we wanted them to play hard against us. The men laughed and Guo said, ‘Of course.’ They did play hard most of the time, except with Jimmy. When Jimmy said, ‘Play hard’ to Guo, ‘you’re just fooling around,’ and that was interprted to Guo he cracked up. But after the game, one small boy got a compliment he’ll never forget. Guo beckoned him over and said, ‘You are very promising.’ Brandon, playing Lu Kui, was so excited he called me over in the middle of the game and said, ‘I can’t believe it. I’m ahead 14-7. I’m so hot—I can’t miss.’ ‘Don’t choke,’ I said. And he didn’t—beat Lu Kui at 8.”
“There is so much to say about World Champion Guo. His upper body strength and physical condition is magnificent and he is very quick. His warm friendly manner and spontaneous smile win him instant friendship. He is a gentle, kind man and is a most gracious champion. After I couldn’t resist telling him all this, he thanked me and said he was sorry he wouldn’t be competing with our grown-up juniors in a few years. He’ll retire after the next World’s. I’m also told he’s in love and wants to get married.”
“Guo has at least five practice partners assigned to him. They are there for his use only, and he may work with them on any technique he wishes. All his living expenses are covered and he is paid a handsome salary. He is a national hero, but not because of his Singles title. The Chinese do not put that kind of emphasis on the Singles. It really is the Team event that matters to them. The Chinese are team and people oriented. They say the most important thing for a player is to have a good practice partner. The second most important thing is a good coach.”
“Liang Geliang is really amazing. He has just returned from Germany and was at the practice session in his Joola training suit, using his pretty good English to apologize for being out of practice. He has had to take care of his daughter lately while his wife is busy elsewhere. Tall, well-built Lu Yaohua is so good. He gets to every ball and is very powerful. The other Chinese are quick, powerful and aggressive too. Their backhands are very strong and it is difficult to find a weakness in their play. Their concentration, patience, and confidence are incredible. The Chinese Team is now in serious training for NEXT year’s World Championships. They cannot comprehend that our national teams do not train and practice together.”
“Danny Seemiller told me last year that China was the place to be. He was so right. If you can’t lick ‘em, join ‘em—how perfect it was to be allowed to do just that.”
“This May 7th visit by the National Team was of course the highlight of the China trip for the boys and it was an experience none of us will ever forget. Being able to hit with, observe, and listen to the Chinese stars was a dream come true. They are great champions and it was the highest possible honor for us to be with them.”
Coming back to Sue’s second article, we see that after May 7th “an immediate change was made in our training program. I was told that the supposed innocent game each boy played with Guo was not that at all. Guo, Li Fuzheng, and Li Henan analyzed each of our boys’ play and developed a specialized program for them.”
“Khoa now works on serve returns, backhands, and stroke technique. Brandon and Sean are being developed as forehand and backhand loopers. Scott is categorized as a two-wing close-to-the-table fast attacker using occasional loops followed by immediate smashes. Li Henan said that Jimmy is better than Chinese players his age. They don’t want to categorize his style yet as he is so young, but prefer instead to work mostly on his loop stroke, which is in the beginning stages of development.”
“The Chinese believe strongly that you play in competition as you practice, and now that the boys feel comfortable with the continuity of the total program, they are playing exceptionally well and are making steady improvement. The top Chinese coaches tell me often that they are most impressed with our juniors and would like to continue to work on developing them into world champions. The Chinese coaches are thoroughly delighted when we beat Chinese players. They say competition for them makes them work harder and they love to be challenged.”
Pat O’Neill arrived the last two weeks to return to the U.S. with the boys on May 29th. I returned home with Jimmy and Wang Fuzheng May 15. It is with a great deal of sadness that I left China. But I worked on many exciting ideas with the Chinese. I edited several English-translation articles for China Sports Press and was asked to write an article for the English edition of China Sports.”
Besides my marriage and the births of my five children, China has been the most incredible experience I have ever had. It has had a profound influence on my life. I am overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of the Chinese. Everywhere we went, everyone did everything he or she could to see that we were happy.”
[I want to add that I always find the Butlers’ work ethic—parents and sons—admirable, and that it’s quite poignant to me to see here how hard Sue works, how much success she dreams for her boys, and how much recognition she hopes they’ll receive.]
Chinese Coach Wang Fuzheng to Tour America
USTTA Coaching Chair Larry Thoman (TTT, July-Aug., 1982, 10) tells us that Wang Fuzheng comes from China to serve “as America’s International Traveling Coach through Nov., 1982. Mr. Wang was ranked in the top 10 in Singles and the top 5 in Doubles in China in 1965/66, and began his career as a coach in 1972. Since 1978 he has been a National Junior Team Coach whose primary student has been Cai Zhenhua. In 1980 Mr. Wang became the Vice-Chairman of the Chinese TTA’s Coaching Committee. In 1981 he took his National Junior Team members to the International Junior Championships in Japan. There they won first and second place in the Team’s and first and second place in the Singles.
At present, Mr. Wang’s coaching schedule in the U.S. is as follows: June 7-13, Peoria, IL; June 14-20: Minneapolis; June 30-July 4: U.S. Open, Detroit (July 3: Coaches Clinic); July 5-17: Maryland Training Camp, McDonough; Aug. 10-18: Pan Am Advanced Camp, Colorado Springs; Oct. 7-11: Coaches Clinic, Colorado Springs.
Want Coach Fuzheng to come to your club? Here’s what you have to do: 1. Select a date and put down a $50 deposit. 2. Pay the USTTA a fee of $350 for a three-day clinic, or $550 for a six-day clinic. You must also furnish all transportation costs for the coach to and from your city, and hospitality costs while he’s in your city. This fee, minus the deposit, is to be payable three days before the start of your scheduled clinic. Some monetary assistance may be possible if your club is in need. 3. Your club must have 10-30 players, in or out of town, interested in attending the clinic. One table must be provided for every two players. If there are too many entrants for the clinic, the higher-rated players get priority. At least one gross of balls must be provided. Your club may choose to charge the players a fee for the clinic and keep any monies in excess of the clinic fee.
4. Since Mr. Wang does not speak English, it will be necessary—if need be with my help—to arrange for a local Chinese-English interpreter. 5. The club must furnish “hospitality with dignity” for the coach. This means a nice room and bed and three good (preferably home-cooked) meals a day. Mr. Wang will need local transportation for his visit. It would be much appreciated if your club could provide half a day for the coach to tour your city and see its sights. You might also want to schedule him for TV or newspaper interviews to promote your club and the clinic. 6. Participants should be prepared to do physically demanding exercises and drills demanded of the group, but they will get individual attention as well. 7. I, Larry Thoman, am in charge of Coach Wang’s Tour, so, if you’re interested, please write me at 370 Wallace Rd., Nashville, TN 37211 or call (615) 331-3078, or 292-3303. Since you will have a great impact on Mr. Wang’s impression of the U.S. and its culture, let’s work together to make his stay here a rewarding one both for him and you.”
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