Training overseas / away from home: Has anyone done or thought about it?

[Der_Echte]

Korea sounds like fun! So what do you think this? Say a few amateur standard players, maybe they are quite good or maybe they are just casual players wanted to play in Korea for a week or so, maybe do some some seeing or maybe just table tennis the whole time. Do you think that might be possible in Korea that you know of?

I get a lot of FB messages from casual amature TT players who aare passing through Korea and looking for a little TT action. Our KFTTC has become a site to hookup these kind of players with other foreign amature players already living in Seoul area.

It is entirely possible to visit Korea for a month or two or three, rent a Koshitel room on the cheap for $200 or less, get club membership for $150 including 3 lessons a week and unlimited club play, do a few tourneys for $10 - $20 a tourney and go to resturants or whatever sightseeing you want. A 40 km subway ride costs under $2 and possibilities are unlimited.

What kinda stops (or at least gives second thoughts) players from coming to Korea for more than a few days is not knowing anyone there and not knowing how to go about getting such a cheap Koshitel, and even then, it takes some bravery to live somewhere a month or two where there is no way you will learn enough language to function.

Some of these players get a lot more serious and try to hookup with junior training programs at some hidden training center or at a high school that hire an ex-pro to crap the whip on the kids. Even middle school and high school TT training can get brutal, it is a lot of repetitive fundamentals with a ton of demanding explosive footwork drills.

 

[Sa1ko]

Their names are Garth Kinlock and Christoph Zickert, they both play here in Bristol.

That sounds pretty awesome, makes me want to practice there. Do they run sessions there that you can join in on all the time or was this like a special camp?

Yeah when I was there I lost to a 13 year old boy. They work you so hard, my body was aching all over the whole time and I would drink about 4 litres of water each session. The coach was so good that he would give you a correction on technique or footwork or whatever after every single ball you hit even if he was doing the exercise with you. It was like he didn't have to think about playing, it was so natural that he could focus totally on you. Any ideas where in China you would want to go?

haha, yes i found them, they are well above my level they play for the same club Dan played for a few years back, TTC Sokah Hoboken. they play in third league here.

it was more like an organised camp, but if there were places left in another group you could allways ask to join them or train a bit with your friends alone. if you didn't feel like playing table tennis, there was also a pool, jacuzzi, sauna, fully equipped gym, table tennis shop and i was located in a beautiful environment, so you could go for a stroll an forget the world so the speak.

no, i have absolutely no clue where i'lld want to go, i don't really know China. so before i go there i'll have to work a bit on my physique it's not bad, but i lack in power and endurance