Let me preface this tale by saying that badminton is one of the greatest sports in the world. There are few other feelings in the world that compare to being completely engaged in a long epic rally. The athletic spectrum of badminton ranges from explosive power to feather-like precision. It truly is a sport for the athletic elite.
As you might imagine, I am frequently asked about badminton... and all its glory.HA When did I start? Why did I start? Why do I continue to play? Some of these questions have simple answers. The others are more complex...
Like most most Canadians, my childhood athletic career consisted mainly of hockey and baseball. I also competed in the mandatory track and field. (I even ran a relay wearing a cape, ask me!) Not to brag, but I had some decent hops, laterally that is. I definitely shamed it up in the high jump event! During hockey and baseball, I was fortunate enough to be subjected some excellent coaching. I learned the value of practicing properly and intensively. I have many fond memories of the sports and those times. However, as I approached high school, my interest in athletics waned a little bit. I had a rep to maintain! LOL
In some kind of strange experiment (?), I decided to do my grade nine year living my father in Gananoque, Ontario. It was a bold move to leave my friends and family for a year. However, it ended up changing my life more drastically than I expected. You guessed it... That's where I was introduced to badminton. When I picked the racket up I had the much needed coordination to make contact with the shuttle (step 1). Also, due to years of throwing a hardball, I had somewhat of a decent overhead stroke (which was later highly scrutinized and restructured for being too low ;)). My rookie badminton practices consisted of the 'team' getting together once a week and trying our best to keep the bird in the air. Pretty grim to say the least. However, by the end of the year I was hooked! I probably lost first or second round at county tournament (No OFSAA, weak!)
I returned home to Flesherton, Ontario, to complete my high school education. Sadly, I learned that there was no team at my high school. Luckily, in grade 11, I discovered that a new teacher at the school had some badminton experience. We threw a make-shift team together and played twice a week. Again, the practices were only games. My 'coach' could torque a few nice smashes. However, he was inexperience at coaching, and his priorities and agenda seemed to be overly religious. I don't think he showed me a single drill. He also informed me of how the Olympics were beyond my grasp. Not cool! I suppose he didn't know any better, but still. (aside) Before I left Flesherton to move to Toronto, Mr. B informed me that he had a gift for me. Naturally, I was excited (thinking it would surely be some much needed badminton gear). However, to my horror, Mr. B had handed me a bag of religious I-want-to-save-your-soul books! How inappropriate! lol I know he meant well but still.... What an epic fail of a gift! I have nothing against you thumpers out there. Just don't try to thump me! *wink* moving on...
Once I finished high school, I decided to move to Toronto. However, I didn't leave right away. I spent the first semester living at home trying to 'figure it all out'. During this time, I could play badminton on Tuesday nights with the community club at the school. LOL, In retrospect this was some of the most polite, and worst badminton I've ever been a part of. Good times indeed. All you would hear in the gym was: "Uh pardon me, excuse me, pardon me, great shot sir", LOL! I probably went insane there.
Congratulations, if you are still with me here! So, I get to Toronto, and I don't what the hell I'm doing there. All I remember was that my mind was 'in the clouds' and that I wanted to play some badminton! One day, I phoned up Kim Ng at George Brown College. He told me to come out to play... and bring a tube of feather birds. I thought: "What the shit are those?!?" So, I went and, surely, over-payed for a tube of AS40s. I nervously showed up to the club and was greeted by a handful of pretty good players. Naturally, I sucked. However, I didn't care. I just wanted to be better. Kim said I should join the team at the college so I could play for free. I agreed.
The club had a classical coaching vibe to it. Being respectful, and showing lots of discipline were important measures. Although, the club still felt a little 'unplugged' from the national badminton scene. Stephen Wong (a long time mentor of mine) was the stern trainer at the time. He was the first badminton coach to push me to work harder. I had to things like bike for an hour before I stepped out onto court. Then I would jog around the little gym for like twenty minutes. lol BRUTAL! After that, we would drill a bit. The badminton was good, but not great. Periodically, we were privy to some good talents. Some friendly, some not. I finished the season with a bittersweet provincial bronze medal in DOUBLES lol. We missed nats by a game! Whatever, during that season I had met my solid-gold soul mate Lauren King. Overall, it was a great year. I followed my heart to Windsor, Ontario to be with Lauren and for school.
The 'bird' scene in Windsor was dismal compared to that of Toronto's. Other than the college team, there wasn't much badminton being played at the university. Despite this, I continued to train on my own doing things like: footwork, running, and wall hitting. It was rough...lol. Once the club had started in the fall, there were a few decent players I met and befriended. They had some formal 'camp' training, so they had some interesting techniques and attitudes...lol ((Somath and Charlie). To this day, I still haven't seen anyone net kill like Somath Kong! big up!) However, my real growth in Windsor, came from the sparring I did with the Indian sensation Girrish Sankar. A straight up work horse from India. A cricket athlete. A solid dude. He is super kind and well-mannered. We would battle for three hours straight. He had a great natural game (like many of the Indian players I've seen). To top it off, he has one and a half Phd's...lol. What a 'G'. I learned a lot from him...
At the end of my three year stay in Windsor I suffered a pretty nasty injury. LOL, Playing soccer of all things! I accidentally kicked some guy in the hardest part of his shin (on a crossing follow-through). Anyways, I had a big hematoma that practically kept me on the bench for a month. During that summer, a last minute decision brought Lauren and I to Richmond, BC. Another bold move that really worked out nicely.
I knew about all the clubs in BC. I was particularly interested in the VRC, that was open 24 hours a day! (at the time, I imagined myself perhaps needing to play at 2am!LOL) I lasted about six months at VRC before I migrated to Clear One. The general consensus, around Vancouver, was that this was THE club for competitive training. I learned this lesson quickly during my first Super Elite lesson. I'm sure that I went too hard in the 'warm up' and cramped up. lol classic! I loved the intensity of some of the players there. At Clear One, the overall level and expectations were a lot higher than I had been subjected to. I worked hard to fix my bad habits. My schedule became quite demanding. I was working full time at the Liberté yogurt warehouse. I continued to work hard. I did a lot of physical work at the track (sprinting, 5 k's, and some sand work). However, at the end of the day, I was just too tired to properly gauge my progress on the court. At that time, nationally, I wasn't really considered a 'threatening' opponent. Also, I did not have much interest in competing that frequently across the country. I was just enjoying life with Lauren, and the process of mastery!
Leading up to Open nationals, I was asked to train with COBA (Canadian Olympic badminton academy)...for a fee HAH! My brief episode training with COBA was great. Amazing opportunity to train with some wonderful athletes and coaches! I still have much to learn!
More recently, I'm beginning to show a little more maturity in 'my' technique and game play. Also, coaching others has given me the necessary time to reflect upon the essence and the general basics of badminton. I often wonder what proper technique, from the beginning of my career, could have done for me! lol, (I guess I had to make lemonade, ya' know?) Regardless, I'm starting to post some long sought after results. But more importantly, I've continued to grow as an athlete and as a person.
Badminton has given me so much! It's actually remarkable. It is the greatest sport in the world. It is seemingly infinite in its complexity. Yet, appears to be so simple and poised. The best part is that the sport is still in its infancy in North America. As the West becomes more 'Asian', badminton will continue to grow in popularity.
It's really unfortunate that there does not appear to be much cohesion between Canadian badminton organizations. There appears to be issues at all levels within the system. At the moment, many players are discouraged from 'going for glory' from a very young age. Maybe it's for the best? It's a tough call... I've done my best to pursue a balance between badminton school, and maintaining a healthy relationship with Lauren.
I look forward to a day when more Canadians are less myopic athletically. When they dare to take a path of discipline. When they try to be somebody on THE courts.
Wow, that was longer than I expected... Who needs a drink?
Love,
Kaz, Zeus, Zookie, K T Lang, Krenshaw, Torque-a-saus-kas meister,
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