Yesterday was the first day of the Wednesday night badminton session that JP and I registered for at a local community centre. I haven't played at that particular place for a long time and it's the first time I registered for a session there. Anyways, the courts at the community centre are pretty decent, with a lot of space between the back lines and the walls. Of course the courts aren't as good as those in a badminton centre, but they are not too bad for a community centre gym.

Playing in the session is pretty straight forward. JP and I just wrote our names on the sheet and then wait for our turn. They played 15 point rule instead of the 21 point rule I've been playing recently, so the game dynamics are a bit different. Our first game was against a mixed doubles pair with who are JP's acquaintances. We dominated the game and won 15-4. After the win I was feeling pretty good about myself, but this soon changes at the second game. Our second game was against two guys. We sprung out to a 5-1 lead, and then disaster struck. For some reason, I just keep missing the bird or hitting it into the net no matter what I tried. My sudden down turn cost us the game and we lost 8-15. I had a little stomache problem earlier in the day so that may have been the cause, but I'm not going to blame my poor showing on that. After the game, JP told me to calm down and try to hit some clears instead of trying to attack constantly. I tried to take his advice to heart and we marched off to our third game. This time our opponents were another mixed pair. They were pretty skilled and stronger than our first opponents. In the first half of the game I was still performing poorly and we fell behind 6-11. At that point of time I knew I needed to turn things around, so I just told myself to stop trying to smash every high shot and hit some clears. Lo and behold that actually started working, and we manage to even the game at 11 a piece. Most of the point we lost were due to my mistakes, but it's a lot harder to make mistakes when hitting clears. Of course, my performance was still inconsistent at the point and the opponents gained a two point lead 11-13. Once we got the service back though I decided that I was going to go for the win right there. What followed was probably my best performance of the night and we scored four straight points to win the game 15-13. I was making all the shots during this time span, which included a laser-like drive that just blew past our opponents before they realized what happened. That was my shot of the night I think.

After the big comeback win JP and I played two more games, but we won both of them pretty easily since the opponents were weaker and I got my stroke back. Overall last night was a pretty good session and I got some much needed exercise. It's nice to finally play with another group people since for two months straight I was playing with the same group of people. This badminton session goes until the end of August, so during this time I will play two times per week, which I think is probably as much as I can take haha.

It's finally summer in Vancouver and the weather has gotten pretty warm. As usual, I played badminton with JP and his friends this sunday afternoon, although I didn't play last week because I was sick. JP also brought along a student he's coaching and she played a bit as well.  Today's session was a bit tiring, mainly because I played a lot of games and it's a little too warm in the badminton centre. I've also just recovered from my cold so that might have contributed as well, but despite all this I managed to win all but one of my games. The only game I lost was the one where I partnered up with JP. We had too many errors in the game so we ended up on the losing side.

Now that summer is here, I will also start playing badminton on Wednesday nights with JP at a local community centre. I've been playing with the same group of people these past two months so it's good to play with some other people for a change.  

才到温哥华不久的蒋雪莲在昨晚来到了RICHMOND PRO CENTRE，并作了精彩的比赛表演， 让我们大卫羽毛球俱乐部的球友们大开眼界和大饱眼福。
人们说中国羽毛球队的男女运动员都是俊男美女，这话不假。当她来到我们的身边，第一眼就让让我们看到了国际级比赛冠军的风采。她苗条身形，很难想象有巨大的体能和击球力量。 她优美的击球动作， 铿锵有力出球声音，刁钻的回球角度，自如的攻防控球吸引和征服了大家。比赛中其实就是她一人与两人对打。每场都是她的组队胜出。她的打球表演SHOW真让我们佩服得五体投地。感谢了，我们的世界级冠军蒋雪莲。

一个学期将要结束，给孩子们安排一些有兴趣的活动是十分必要。孩子们正在长身体，忙了一个学期，再让孩子参加五花八门的补习班，孩子就得不到喘息和轻松愉快了。运动有助孩子们的身体发育，还能给孩子们带来快乐和喜悦。如果你的孩子活泼和爱运动，可以让孩子来学打羽毛球。这种运动不象篮球和排球那样容易伤手指，以妨碍许多孩子们参加学琴。这项运动不需要身材特别，一般普通的身材都能学好打羽毛球。

在上个星期日的教学训练课上，有从NEW WESTMINSTER来的沈先生带着13岁的男孩来观看我们的羽毛球教学课，并希望孩子放假后就能来参加羽毛球训练班。还有一位住在VANCOUVER的女士也为她孩子了解学球的情况，并希望她孩子在考完期末考试后就参加学球活动。

家住SURRY 的一对父母，早已将小儿子送来学球。现在，又让在UBC读二年级的大孩子来参加学球。这两个孩子的球技都有一定水平了，他们的目标当然是参加羽毛球的公开赛了。

家长们的心愿都希望孩子能有一个愉快的假期，同时，能让孩子们在假期中快高长大和让孩子们学到一些终身受益的东西。那么，在这个假期中就让你们的孩子来接触羽毛球这项运动吧。

最近YONEX在市场上推出全新设计和制造的新款球拍ARC SABRE 10 和ARC SABRE 7。前者在温哥华市面上出售价为250元加币，还没有拉线和没有计税，价格实在不俗。 但买者却其让几个专卖店断市，需要等货才能满足球迷们的心愿，真是火爆。

 碰巧在上周与三位朋友的打球活动中，有一位老板身份的朋友就让我们目睹了他新买到的ARC SABRE 10 拍子。并让RICHMOND PRO BADMINTON CENTRE 的老板RICHARD试拍。在多拍拉高远球和杀球后，RICHARD也大赞该款球拍好使。他也计划进货出售该款球拍。 

既然朋友SHOW了新拍，自己当然也好奇的试用一下，感觉是很顺手。本人一直希望有一支中杆较硬（STIFF ) 的球拍，YONEX 的ARC SABRE 10在技术参数上正好满足自己的所爱。它采用新材料和设计后，拍框更纤细（SLIM），拉线的磅数较以往的YY球拍有提高。特别是它的二次成型的制造方法使得拍框更结实和坚固耐用。以红白色彩为基调，拿在手上就如一把刚劲实足的宝刀，握着它就渴望胜利。

世上有时会有意想不到的巧合。现代的特快专递为人们的工作和生活提供了极大的方便。我在短短的时间内也拥有了一支YY ARC SABRE10型的拍子。拉了27磅后，击球感觉一流。真是属于自己希望得到的DREAM RACQUET。

自从去年的夏天不幸将一支YY NANO8000打断后，就没有买过YY拍子，而是挑选了一支国产的BEITE212来补充自己的兵器库，那也是一款性能和价格比很不错的球拍。如今，能拥有了ARC SABRE10，也满足了自己的心愿。 虽然球拍的价格是贵，但也是一分钱一分货。物有所值就很不错。 期待新球拍能给自己带来更多的打球乐趣。

2008年在印尼首都雅加达举行的汤姆斯杯和尤伯杯的决赛又已曲终人散。中国队再次成为大赢家。男子以3比1战胜韩国队，实现三连冠。女子以3比0战胜东道主印尼女队，实现了六连冠。战绩可喜可贺。

在取胜之后，中国队开始查找自身的不足了。其中谈到男子的双打“风云组合”，有一篇文章写得很到位，就转摘下来。

《转摘》

“风云组合”切勿走入误区 战术僵化阻碍进一步提高

　　 蔡赟/傅海峰这对组合，可以说是中国羽毛球男双项目的支柱，正是由于他们的崛起，中国男队才改变了多年来“瘸腿”的痼疾，但是通过本次汤杯的表现，我们也得清醒的看到，“风云组合”还远没有达到一统江湖的程度。

　　男双现在可以说是羽毛球五个项目中竞争最激烈的，印尼、马来西亚、韩国和中国各有两对排名世界前十，基本每一对都有世界大赛夺冠的能力，蔡赟/傅海峰对上他们，都没有必胜的把握。

　　蔡/傅的特点非常鲜明，那就是蔡赟反应快，网前技术好，在前半场的时候威力巨大；傅海峰则是扣杀力量惊人，人在后半场时就会对对手形成很大的压力。但是优点太突出有时候也未必是好事，过于依赖它们会让对手找到对策，也会让自己的战术僵化，从而走入误区。

　　本次汤杯的决赛就是这样，对手明显对蔡/傅研究得很透彻，基本不给傅海峰后场跳起扣杀的机会，即使出现了这种情况，也尽可能把球回到其无法连续进攻的位置。而在进攻上，则偏重于攻击傅海峰这一点，结果相比蔡赟，傅海峰略显粗糙的技术果然成了对方的突破口，多次回球出界和放网不过。

　　而在网前球的处理上，傅海峰也出现了严重失误，在对放网前球时，总是先把球挑起来。对于这种情况，我们不知道是教练的战术安排，还是蔡/傅对于自己的防守能力过于自信，还是网前球能力不及对手，总之造成的后果就是每次相持都是对方先转入进攻，中国组合随之陷入被动。

　　决赛中蔡/傅在节奏的变化上也出现问题，比赛基本是一个模式：蔡赟给出网前球，傅海峰得到机会一律扣杀，双打比赛中很常见的平抽平打极少见。反观对手，则灵活多变，网前有时候推后场，有时候挑起来，有时候搓个小球；在后场时除了大力扣杀，有时又采取劈吊或者打到后场。

　　傅海峰的扣球时速世界第一，但是力量大并不是万能的，昨天的决赛我们常常看到傅在后场的扣杀并不经常能一击致命，反而是蔡赟的几次扣球更加干脆的得分。“风云组合”在今后的比赛中需要做的是把自己变得更细腻，通过节奏和落点的变化给自己创造好机会，那时候傅海峰的重扣才是一锤定音的利器。

在每一堂教学训练课上，都有新内容需要每位学员能学到和掌握。然而，在一个小时的教学中，每位学员能获得的练习时间并不多。所以，要求学员能在家中利用一些空余时间进行反复的练习。不然，就指望短短时间的训练课，进步和提高的速度就会打折扣。

例如，发正手的高远球，在家中完全可以自我练习。开始最好将羽毛球用一条长细线吊在空中，使羽毛球距离地面三十公分左右。 然后按照发球的准备动作站好，注意人与球的相对位子，再反复的挥拍练习发球。要求每次挥拍都能击中球，并且击球点都在球拍的“甜点”区域内。

待击悬挂的球的动作熟练后，就用左手将悬挂的球持起来（对于右手持拍得学员来说），再练习全套的实战发球动作。试一试将球举到从与肩差不多的高度，然后松开手，让球自由落体垂直向下掉，右手挥拍，在球离地面30公分时击中球。当能稳定地击到球，你再到球场练发球时就能百发百中了。

挥拍击高远球是羽毛球运动中最基础和最需要掌握好的技术。在家中，无球的空拍挥动练习在室外可以做。（在室内受到天花板高度的影响，难以挥拍。除非是住在大HOUSE内，就可以找到地方在室内挥拍练习。) 建议每组挥动20到30次，每次练习完成3 到 5 组。在每组练习完成后，休息片刻，再进行下一组的练习。

在家中还可以将羽毛球用细线悬挂在户外的某处空中，调整球的高度正好是你挥拍击球可达到的最高击球点处，即你的手臂加上球拍向肩部前上方伸直后，使球位于球拍甜点区域的高度。然后，按照侧身、举拍，转体挥拍，击球，收拍的动作要领去进行反复的练习。当你每次挥拍能击中球，并且还能听到清脆的‘啪、 啪’响声，你的拉高远球功底就得到强化了。

为了能提高小手臂和手腕挥动所产生的力量，可以在家中进行扔羽毛球练习。用持球拍的手（大多数人是右手）握住羽毛球的球头部分，按照挥拍击球的全套动作，侧身、举球（如同举拍一样）、转体和挥动手，使劲将羽毛球扔出去。一般刚开始只能将球仍到3米左右。坚持练习就可以扔到4米到5米之外。要知道，羽毛球才不到5克重，想将球仍得远就必须动作正确和会发力。扔球的过程中可以右脚同时向前跨出一步（对右手扔球的人来说）。

 

此届汤姆斯杯的比赛，韩国人机关算尽，谋略超人。在小组赛上，放弃颜面和尊荣，大胆的输球，以小组排名第三出实现争夺汤姆斯杯的目标。随着整个赛事的进程，司马昭之心管用了。终于能灭印尼，拿到与中国队叫板的决赛权。他们的所做所为不得不让人佩服。

韩国队的教练们很会动脑，并能知己知彼。他们会利用和遵守游戏规则，干出其他队想也没想过、或者是其他队想过也不敢干的事情来。真是胸有成竹。能在死亡组求生存，先败后胜，杀出一条血路，直奔决赛，可谓有勇有谋，文武双全的韩国人
。

综观打到目前的比赛，不难发现：韩国人是用头脑和技术在打球。反观我们中国队是用霸气和名气在打球。

转摘

    韩国“绕”进决赛阵中暗藏林丹杀手 中国卫冕路艰辛
　　韩国人以他们最想要的方式，强力挺进汤杯决赛。踏平丹麦队、碾过印尼队，明天，韩国队将与卫冕冠军中国队争夺汤姆斯杯。从现在起，朴成焕、李铉一、孙升模、李龙大/郑在成、李在珍/黄智万，将成为中国队未来两天需要潜心研究、小心应付的对象。

　　这已经不是本届汤杯索尼第一次输球了，他与朴成焕苦斗三局纠缠了68分钟，以1比2失利。然而这次，印尼的第一双打马基斯/亨德拉，也没能挽救队伍的命运，他们同样以1比2不敌韩国的王牌组合李龙大/郑在成。

　　韩国队为了避免半决赛中遭遇中国队，不惜“放水”而招致骂名。而现在，他们的如意算盘终于成功，韩国人如愿以偿地在决赛前避开中国队，把生死对决留到了最后的决赛。

　　中、韩两队最近一次交手，还是多哈亚运会决赛，当时中国队以3比1取胜。两年来，朴成焕曾两次击败林丹，有“林丹杀手”之称；而李龙大/郑在成、李在珍/黄智万则包揽了今年全英男双冠、亚军。中国队的卫冕路充满险阻。

Hi, Penny,

Nice to meet you at our badminton training course on May 11, 2008. It is obviously that you already have some experience of playing badminton. Such as fore-hand high clear, fore-hand high clear service, etc. So, I believe that you will make great progress if you join our badminton training courses and keep practice constantly.

For share my experience of playing badminton, I set up my personal badminton website and badminton blog . If you do mind, please let me introduce them to you. You may be interested in some articles about how to keep the body fit enough for playing badminton and how to practice at home.

 

The addresses are:

http://badminton.tonyjiang.com

http://badmintonblog.tonyjiang.com

Tony is my son. It's him to help me to design this personal badminton website. His own website is:

www.tonyjiang.com.

Welcome to give me some suggestions after you visit my badminton website. Wish to see you at our training course on next Sunday.

It's me again. JP is a bit busy these days, so he hasn't had the time to write up a post. Anyways, now that I'm off school and working, I have a bit more time on my hands so I'm going to start playing regularly again. Today I went with JP to play with some of his badminton buddies like I did for the past couple of Sundays. There were only four of us today because two of the guys who regularly show up had some other commitments. We spent most of our time playing games, but with a little bit of practice in between. We played five complete games in total. I was on the losing end for the first four because JP was on the other team, and the other two guys with us were about equal, so obviously the team that had JP had the advantage. Most of the games were fairly close however, so it wasn't too bad. I won my fifth game because I was teamed with JP. We were in the course of playing a rematch but one of my opponents hurt his back trying to deal with my drop-then-clear combination, so we decided to call it a day. Overall it was a good two hours of exercise again. I think I played alright today, but I still have to work on my skills and more importantly my stamina. I get tired pretty quickly and my shots will start to go south really quickly when I lose my strength.

That's all for this week.