Luton Table Tennis Club

🏓 DEVELOPING REYAN’S BACKHAND

Here I am working with young Reyan, developing his backhand and making it sharper, quicker and more consistent.

Here at Luton Table Tennis Club, we have talent in abundance. But one thing about me as a coach is that I see big potential in every player who walks through the door.

I don't look at where a player is today. I look at where that player could be tomorrow with the right coaching, hard work and commitment.

That's something I love about myself as a coach—I always see the potential before the finished product.

And with Reyan, still only six years of age, there's certainly plenty of potential to work with.

Nuff Respect. 🏓👊🏾

🏓 A PRODUCTIVE MINI CAMP

Another productive mini camp with two young sisters from Highfield Table Tennis Club in Wellingborough, training alongside Nayan and Shiv from Luton Table Tennis Club.

It was a very good session, with all four young players working hard, learning together and pushing one another to improve.

This is what these mini camps are all about—bringing good young players together and creating the right environment for continued development.

Well done to all four players.

Nuff Respect. 🏓👊🏾

🏓 STEPPING UP THE DIFFICULTY — BACKHAND, FOREHAND

I've stepped up the level of difficulty on the robot for young Reyan, and he's coping extremely well.

This drill requires him to alternate one backhand, one forehand, meaning he has to move, adjust, play the stroke, recover and prepare for the next ball.

For someone still only six years of age, this is demanding work, but he's handling the challenge remarkably well.

I'm gradually increasing the difficulty because I want him learning to move and play, not simply stand still and hit balls.

The signs are extremely encouraging. I genuinely believe Reyan is going to be something special in table tennis.

Nuff Respect. 🏓👊🏾

🏓 “I JUST WANT TO PRACTICE MY SERVES”

Misha contacted me this morning. He's already completed two double one-to-one sessions with me and has another two booked for next week.

But today he said:

“I want to come down and practice my serves.”

I said, “That's okay.”

Then he said, “I don't want to be coached. I just want to practice my serves.”

I thought — WOW!

It's been yonks since a player contacted me and said all they wanted to do was come down and practice serves on their own.

For me, that's a great mentality.

Serving is one of the four essentials of table tennis, yet it's probably one of the things players practice the least.

Misha is taking responsibility for his own development. Get the balls, get on the table, practice and improve.

COACHING CAN SHOW YOU THE WAY. BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO PUT IN THE WORK YOURSELF.

Nuff Respect. 🏓👊🏾

🏓 SKIPPING IS PHYSICAL — BUT IT IS ALSO MENTAL

I explained to Christopher, Nayan, Shiv and Kush that skipping is not only about the physical side of training.

Yes, it improves your fitness, footwork, coordination, movement, balance and alertness—but it also trains the mind.

I asked them to skip continuously for 15 minutes because that is approximately how long an average table tennis match takes.

During those 15 minutes, they must remain focused, maintain their rhythm, and make as few mistakes as possible.

My theory is simple:

If you can skip for 15 minutes while maintaining your concentration and making very few mistakes, you should be able to remain focused at the table for the same amount of time and make fewer mistakes during a match.

One small lapse in concentration can stop the skipping rope.

One small lapse in concentration can also cost you a point—and sometimes the entire match.

We are not only training the body.

WE ARE TRAINING THE MIND TO STAY FOCUSED UNDER PRESSURE.

Nuff Respect. 🏓👊🏾

🏓🏓🥊 MEDICINE-BALL TRAINING — TECHNIQUE MUST COME FIRST

Here we have Kush and Shiv from Highfield Table Tennis Club, who are now also part of Luton Table Tennis Club, training alongside Christopher and Nayan.

The four youngsters are doing laps around the tables while carrying a heavy medicine ball above their heads. This exercise is designed to develop strength, stability, balance, posture and mental toughness.

However, I noticed that as the medicine balls became too heavy, some of the players started resting them on their heads.

That is not the correct technique.

The medicine ball should be held above the head without resting on it. Once it becomes too heavy and they can no longer maintain the correct position, they should lower it safely and carry it in their arms instead.

Next time, I will make sure this is corrected. Training hard is important, but maintaining the correct technique and keeping the youngsters safe must always come first.

This is all part of bringing my boxing background into their table tennis development.

We train, we observe, we correct, and we improve.

Nuff Respect. 🏓🥊👊🏾