Early days

I first came into contact with table-tennis as a 7 year-old, during my second year at primary school, when my teacher organised an after-hours table-tennis club for those who were interested. Both boys and girls played table-tennis together, and in addition to serious training we had a lot of fun.

I very much enjoyed training in this club, and in 2001 I was chosen by my school to take part in the area championships, won first place and thereby earned my ticket to the regional championships, where I came fourth for tactical reasons: the first three were not permitted to take part in the following year, and since I was one of the younger participants I did not want to spoil my chances of qualifying to take part in next year’s state championships.

After achieving this 4th place at the regional championships I continued to train – both in the garage at home with my dad and a few friends, and at Morsbach Sports Club. The primary school teacher who had taught me the first TT movements also took us under his wing at the Club. I began to enjoy TT more and more. The training sessions fitted in well with my WingTsun training times, and my enthusiasm was reflected in my performance.

Competitive spirit

From February 2002 I trained at the TT League club in Bergneustadt under the Chief Instructor Boris Rosenberg (once ranked No. 15 in the world), who also trained with me privately a great deal. Although he was a strict teacher, we had a lot of fun and laughed together a great deal. We were also trained by Vlado Broda and Sandor Jankovic (former world-class players). In 2002 I became the area champion for Oberberg and area champion for Siegerland, then attended the western German state TT championships in Altena.

A victory here would open up the opportunity to take part in the German finals and be one of the 10 best in the country! The impressions and atmosphere I experienced here – not only owing to the nervousness and excitement of the participants, but also during the demonstrations given by former and current world-class players – can hardly be expressed in words. The spectators roared with enthusiasm during every game, and the fans, trainers and team personnel were more nervous than the players themselves. Merely being able to take part in all this was an unforgettable experience for me!

After several very tiring, strength-sapping and stressful group and knock-out matches (there were 100 participants!), I eventually reached the final, which commenced as soon as the semi-finals were over. This involved 3 games, and after level-pegging at 1:1 I lost the decider with a score of 11:8. So I came second at the state championships in Altena and was greatly disappointed as I drove home with my trainer Boris Rosenberg. Perhaps I should have waited and taken my opportunities next year, as I was 1-2 years younger than the other participants, for taking part and gaining 2nd place meant that I was barred from competing in the following year. Later I heard that my opponent in the final came fourth in the German finals in Döbeln.

I continued to train. The western German TT Association approached my parents, as I had been proposed for special support as a young talent.

In August of the same year – 2002 – I took part in the TT Olympiad at Borussia Düsseldorf and came third following a 3-day tournament.

Findings

I gradually became aware that TT is a sport in which the body is subjected to very one-sided loads. The necessary strokes are carried out only by one arm, and there is specific footwork necessary to carry out forehand and backhand strokes correctly, plus individual forms of ball control which the player carries out by movements of the forearm and wrist.

As I was able to make a direct comparison with WING TSUN, I realised how versatile WING TSUN training is:

both sides of the body are stressed and trained equally by balanced execution of the forms on the right and left sides. During seminars Grandmaster Kernspecht always makes sure that students practice and execute the forms equally with both arms to achieve the greatest possible facility on both sides.

During all this time I continued my intensive WT training with my Sihing Axel Lukas and my Sifu Hans-Jürgen Remmel, and attended seminars with Grandmaster Kernspecht. Preparing for my 1st Technician Grade in WING TSUN took a great deal of my time. In September 2002 I was awarded the 1st TG in WING TSUN by GGM Leung Ting and GM Kernspecht.

Meanwhile my TT training was taking up at least three afternoons each week, and began to conflict with my WT training. The training times started to overlap and I had to decide in favour of one or the other – which was hard, as I enjoyed both almost equally... WING TSUN rather more, but I still remained keen on table-tennis as well.

Entering into a talent promoting scheme was out of the question, as it would have taken up all my free time ... and TT was also out of the question for me as a professional future!

The decision

I decided in favour of my long-term goal, namely WingTsun!!!

Nonetheless I continued with my table-tennis:

I returned to the Morsbach Sports Club, as the Schwalbe Bergneustadt club expected a decision whether to embark on a weekly training schedule involving 4 sessions per week. At SV Morsbach I became the under-19 club champion in 2003, and my fellow-students and I regularly play TT during school breaks as well. My high school also took part in the annual MILCH CUP in 2003. The Milch Cup is a sports event organised by the dairy industry of North-Rhine Westfalia and the Ministry of the Environment in Düsseldorf. 2 teams from my class took part; the team of which I was a member reached the final and came second.

In 2004 our goal was to achieve first place in the state championships, and we trained long and hard to this end!

We qualified for selection at school, area and regional level, and finally travelled to Düsseldorf for the state finals at Borussia Düsseldorf. 9500 students took part in this tournament, and many of the greats from the TT scene were also there. And we won!

Once you have acquired the taste

I am unable to tear myself away from TT entirely. Although I only train once a week now, I take part in tournaments and also play for the 1st youth team.

In 2004 I achieved first place in the area ranking, 3rd place in the regional ranking and 14th place in the western German ranking.

While it would have been nice to take part in the German finals, it was also good to know that I would have stood a better chance with more training time (which the other participants had)! But I had decided in favour of a future with WingTsun! I am satisfied and pleased that I decided for WingTsun.

Taking o n e road with wholehearted commitment gives more satisfaction that doing several things only half-heartedly.