How much training and how to train to become a professional?

[Tony's Table Tennis]

If you haven’t started to train to become a professional since you are 6 it’s already over for you

well, not really
if you lucky, maybe 7 or 8

if that helps, haha

 

[piligrim]

I watched video about Yuta Tanaka where he said he started to train seriously only in high school

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

I watched video about Yuta Tanaka where he said he started to train seriously only in high school

well, he probably still had a good enough of hours in elementary school
and is it junior high school maybe? which is 13~15 years old, than oppose to senior high school that is 16~18 years old.

but then again, the new era, Japanese are producing senior players at junior high school age.....

 

[piligrim]

well, he probably still had a good enough of hours in elementary school
and is it junior high school maybe? which is 13~15 years old, than oppose to senior high school that is 16~18 years old.

but then again, the new era, Japanese are producing senior players at junior high school age.....

13-15 its much older then 7-8 you mentioned before

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

13-15 its much older then 7-8 you mentioned before

yep, and I'm not sure how much of training he had from 7~13.
He only made japan wjttc junior team at age 17 (basically U18 team), so that is pretty late compared to other 20 year olds from Japan. But I doubt he had little training prior to 13 years old, and from 13~17, he managed to overtake people. I'm sure he had good hours in elementary school too. Need someone with better Japanese info to comment.

From my side, have been trying to help a USA kid who started 10 or 11 years old to overtake.... with all the resources (very strong coaching/training group/funding), it is extremely difficult. He is the kid that went from 0 to 1700 in 1st year, and 1950 in maybe 18 months to 24 months. Now he is 2100, but his peers that he needs to overtake is 2300.

 

[piligrim]

yep, and I'm not sure how much of training he had from 7~13.
He only made japan wjttc junior team at age 17 (basically U18 team), so that is pretty late compared to other 20 year olds from Japan. But I doubt he had little training prior to 13 years old, and from 13~17, he managed to overtake people. I'm sure he had good hours in elementary school too. Need someone with better Japanese info to comment.

From my side, have been trying to help a USA kid who started 10 or 11 years old to overtake.... with all the resources (very strong coaching/training group/funding), it is extremely difficult. He is the kid that went from 0 to 1700 in 1st year, and 1950 in maybe 18 months to 24 months. Now he is 2100, but his peers that he needs to overtake is 2300.

As far as I remember he was playing different sport in elementary school before he started with table tennis. Can't find that video ...

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

As far as I remember he was playing different sport in elementary school before he started with table tennis. Can't find that video ...

if that is indeed true and with no TT background prior to 13, then it will be an extreme rare case.

 

[Der_Echte]

Tony has no idea what pros do or how to train.

Haha, if you hear this, start throwing whatever available rotten food is on hand center of mass right at who said that.

Tony has been around the block and sees it well.

 

[NextLevel]

Richard Prause I believe started at 12 and still made top 60 in the world.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Richard Prause I believe started at 12 and still made top 60 in the world.

I think at that time (50 years ago), starting at 12 was okay in Europe
Probably 10 was considered early.
Even today, some sports will not take in kids until they are grade 3 or 4

 

[Metaxa]

Having talent at a young age is also not enough. There are so many factors involved in trying to make it as a pro later on.
I was lucky enough to know J-M Saive and got to play against him three times at official tournaments. J-M was a very good youth player, he was coached by his father at the age of nine. But J-M did not have the talent of his younger brother Philippe. J-M always had to work hard to learn and master certain strokes. His brother, however, was a natural, everything seemed to go so easily with him but...he was also a child and game bird.
The result is well known, J-M has been 25 times champion of his country and has reached the highest level internationally by being number 1 in the world. Philippe, however, will always go down in history as the most talented player.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Having talent at a young age is also not enough. There are so many factors involved in trying to make it as a pro later on.
I was lucky enough to know J-M Saive and got to play against him three times at official tournaments. J-M was a very good youth player, he was coached by his father at the age of nine. But J-M did not have the talent of his younger brother Philippe. J-M always had to work hard to learn and master certain strokes. His brother, however, was a natural, everything seemed to go so easily with him but...he was also a child and game bird.
The result is well known, J-M has been 25 times champion of his country and has reached the highest level internationally by being number 1 in the world. Philippe, however, will always go down in history as the most talented player.

i know similar (slightly younger than JM).
they told me, the barrier for success back then wasn't difficult. You work hard and work harder, and you could make it.
the level of knowledge of table tennis wasn't as complicated as today, so back then, you just work on a few basics. there was no other knowledge, but just train your ass off and run 10km every day, and you at the olympics.

the same person who told me that said, kids doing the same today, will just be the same as the thousands other (in Taiwan).