Table tennis is a sport of fine movements, delicate control, and lightning-fast reflexes. It takes a long time to get the hang of, and even longer to truly master. To me, the most important part of it is technique. Why? Because table tennis is mechanically sophisticated: velocity, spin, friction, and the Magnus effect all play a huge part in dictating the balls. I realized that techniques developed over decades by experts are not arbitrary, they are the most efficient ways to harness these forces to your advantage. As a result, well-practiced technique becomes the bridge between physics and instinct. For me, table tennis is simply ‘getting the ball to the other side of the table’, but good technique is the most effective way to do that. That’s the philosophy I always try to instill in my teaching.

I started when my mother decided ‘You have to play some sports for your health’. So she took me to a nearby table tennis club. I had lots of time to get familiar with the sport, and I catched on quite well. Practicing more from a young age and getting the hang of the sport early gave me an edge compared to friends at my age. I won a first prize in the provincial league for elementary and made it to the national league.

Secondary school is when I improve and prosper the most in table tennis. I joined a table tennis club called Hoa Chau, and also played for Nghe An provincial team for 1,5 years. At these places, I learned and improved my playing a lot from coaches and fellow players, especially from my teammates at the provincial team. I also played in some local tournaments, which helped me considerably in enriching my ‘battle’ experience. I won a second prize at the provincial league (sadly couldn’t make it to the national this time). I also had a chance to help in the Hoa Chau club, mostly in club events and in organizing tournaments. This shifted me from seeing table tennis as just a sport to play, to a place where people have fun and socialize.

In high-school, I spent less time with serious table tennis as I focused more on academics. However, I started to think more ‘abstractly’ of it, and I gradually understand it deeply. After so many years of worrying about movements, techniques, rackets,… I realized it was just a game of returning the ball to the other side of the table. So simple. It’s a funny enlightenment for me. During this time, I opened a table tennis club. At first, I just wanted it to be a place for me to teach and have fun with a few close friends. But then I saw that it can be much more, it can expand to the whole school. It can help others at having fun, socializing, and actually getting better at table tennis, just like how Hoa Chau club helped me. So I expanded it. Leading this club also gave me valuable experiences, enabled me to think unconventionally, and be more responsible.