October 7, 2015

U.S. Nationals and Weight Training

I'm trying to make my plans for the upcoming U.S. Nationals, but things are never simple. In recent years it's been simple: I go, I coach, I return. This time, however, I was thinking of playing a bunch of events – hardbat (singles, doubles, over 40), sandpaper, perhaps a senior event or two. But now I have several coaching requests, and so might be busy coaching, which conflicts with my playing – I would likely have matches that conflict with a student's important match. Coaching is my priority, so we'll see how things end up.

But in case I decide to play in the Nationals again, yesterday I began the long put-off weight training I've been postponing for a while. And so after coaching/tutoring from 3:00-7:30PM, I stopped by Planet Fitness for the first time in a year. (Or is it two?) I'm weight training again for three reasons.

First, to get in better shape. When even carrying groceries or my 21-pound playing bag is difficult, I need to weight train.

Second, as I get older (55), I'm slowing down, and so not as effective in private coaching sessions, where I'm hitting with players. Plus, of course, my overall game has declined. Weight training will bring some of it back. Heck, I watch and coach some of our up-and-coming juniors, and realize that I better get in shape or they'll start beating me!!! (Some do…) My tentative plan is to retire from most private coaching in April 2018, which coincides with when I make my last house payment. But I'd continue group sessions and perhaps some private coaching – we'll see. But it gets harder and harder to do private coaching as I get older.

Third, in case I do decide to play in the Nationals. While I primarily coach sponge players and play with sponge normally, I've won a lot of hardbat titles at the Open and Nationals – two national singles championships, 13 open doubles and two over 50 doubles, and four over 40 singles titles at the Nationals. I'm also pretty decent with sandpaper. At last year's Nationals, however, I felt so slow that I said I was retiring from all tournament. But if I get back in shape, maybe I can win another title or ten.

I blogged about weight training for table tennis on January 27, 2012. As I wrote then, in the words of Mr. TT, "I pity the fool who doesn't weight train for table tennis."

Below are the 16 exercises I do, and the weights I'm currently doing. (When I was doing this routine regularly a few years ago, I had increased the weights gradually, but now I'm back at the beginning numbers.) I plan to do them Mon, Wed, and Fri, three sets of ten each. (This week is different I'm doing them on Tue and Thu, since I missed Monday.) The whole routine takes about 25 minutes, and then I do about five minutes of stretching.

  1. Arm Extension (50)
  2. Arm Curl (40)
  3. Chest Press (50)
  4. Pull Down (90)
  5. Row (90)
  6. Overhead Press (40)
  7. Leg Curl (70)
  8. Leg Extensions (60)
  9. Leg Press (140)
  10. Calf Extension (210)
  11. Fly Delts (70)
  12. Rear Delts (50)
  13. Back Extension (170)
  14. Abdominal Machine (90)
  15. Torso Rotation left (60)
  16. Torso Rotation right (60)

USATT Membership Program Update

Here's the letter to the membership from the CEO on the new membership levels and rates. No More Rating Fees!!! I'll likely blog about this and other big changes in USATT later on.

US Olympic Trials

Here's the announcement – they will be held in Greensboro, NC, Feb. 4-7, in the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.

In the Zone: Training Emotional Skill in Table Tennis

Part 5 is new. I previously linked to 1-4.

  • Part 1: Introduction and the Nature of Emotional Skill
  • Part 2: Ten Attributes of Poised Players, What About Us?, and Diagnose
  • Part 3: Intervention and Changing Goals
  • Part 4: The Components
  • Part 5: The Skills

Interview with Richard Prause: "Well prepared"

Here's the interview with the German coach about the European Championships.

Interview with Joo Sae Hyuk: The World's Best Modern Defense

Here's the interview from MH Table Tennis.

Interview with Christian Lillieroos: ITTF Instructor

Here's the interview from Pong Universe. Here's the ITTF article on a Level 2 Coaching Course he recently held in New York.

Interview with Daryl Sterling Jr.: 11 Questions

Here's the USATT interview.

ITTF Pongcast – September 2015

Here's the video (13:15).

The Spectacular Asian Championships

Here's the video highlights recap (2:50).

Benedict Cumberbatch vs. Deng Yaping

Here's the video (2:45) as the great actor Cumberbatch introduces the great champion Deng and then plays her. Watch as she out-rallies him with a wooden spoon!

The Ping-Pong Song

Here's the music video (3:58) from Neven Duzevic from 2011.

Amazing Table Tennis Sponge Cutter

Here's the video (38 sec). I've never seen one of these. I just use scissors.

Jimmy Butler Having Fun with JibJab

Here is what Jimmy does when he has too much free time.

  • USATT Office Staff (1:27) – Gordon Kaye, Sean O'Neill, Tiffany Oldland, Doru Gheorghe, and Richard Finn.
  • Sean O'Neill (1:22) – the 5-time US Champ and 2-time Olympian
  • Tahl Leibovitz (1:29) – Paralympic Champion and Hall of Fame Inductee this December
  • Kenny Owens (1:22) – father of Eric Owens

Forrest Gump Keeping His Eye on the Ball

Here's the meme that explains why he never blinks while playing table tennis. (Here's the non-Facebook version.)

Mystical Ping-Pong Eyes

Here's the picture!

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