PingSkills(PS): How long will you be in Japan?
Jesse Bricknell (JB): Another 2 weeks. I have already been training in Japan for 3 and a half weeks, with the first week and a half being spent at a coaches house.

PS:Why did you choose Japan as a training venue?
JB: I am doing Japanese for VCE next year, so it will help me to speak the language and still do the training. Also the new National Head Coach of Australia, Marcus, has connections in Japan and offered to help me get into a club and train there.

PS: Where in Japan are you training?
JB: At the National Training Centre in Tokyo which only opened in February 2008.

PS: How did you get a contact for that training venue?
JB: The National Head Coach of Australia: Marcus Gustafson.

PS: What do you think of the level of the Japanese junior players that you have seen?JB: Extremely good. I am currently training with the best 13 year olds in Japan and they are of an extremely high level.

PS: How do they compare with the best juniors in your country?
JB: They are much better than most of the Juniors in Australia, even though they are only 13. I think they would have a good chance of winning the Australian Youth Championships (U 21′s).

PS: How many hours a day are you training?
JB: Around 5 – 6 hrs a day but it varies slightly from day to day. On top of that we are doing a 3 km run in the morning and 15-30 minutes of physical training at the end of each day

PS: What are the differences in training between Australia and Japan?
JB: The biggest difference is the amount of training the Japanese do compared to Australians. Also the intensity in the way Japanese train is much higher than that of Australians.

PS: Are the cultural differences between Australia and Japan significant in the comparative levels of players?
JB: Yes. The Japanese have a very hard working culture and almost every single player trains their hardest. They also have enormous respect for their elders and mentors and listen and do exactly what they are told.

PS: Do you think that you have seen a future World top 10 player while training in Japan?
JB: Yes. A group of the best 12 year olds in Japan came to the National Training Center for several days of training and with the group was an 8 year old who was extremely good. He started playing table tennis at the age of 4 and is said to be the next Jun Mizutani.

PS: Would you recommend the training that you have done to other players?
JB: I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who hasn’t done this type of hard training before. The training in China was hard with 4 to 5 hours per day but this is longer and more intense. If you are not used to this level of training, you will not enjoy the experience.

PS: What are your goals when you get back to Australia?
JB: I would like to have a good performance at the Australian Junior Championships, with my focus being on the singles event.

PS: How do you think you can maintain your level once you get back to Australia?
JB: I think it is almost impossible to maintain the level I play at while overseas, simple because I can’t do the necessary hours required in Australia. I do however try to bring back exercises and knowledge from my trip overseas that will help me improve my table tennis when I get back to Australia.

PS: Is it possible for Australia to reach the level of Japan?
JB: No. Unless you decide to spend most of your life training overseas (like William Henzell has done) and or a Sports School is set up in Australia where players can both train and study. At the moment it is impossible to do the hours required to be a top player while still attending school.

PS: What does Australia need to do to get to Japan’s level?
JB: I think a National Sports School would be required for Australians to reach the level of Japan, even then it would require a lot of hard work and a lot of time before the level of Australia got near that of Japan.

PS: How long will that take?
JB: Impossible to tell. Even if a lot of young players were put through the school, Australia might still not reach the level Japan is at.

PS: What advice do you have for any 12 to 15 year old players about their training?
JB: Try and use the hours that you have for training wisely and efficiently, as you don`t have enough time to muck around when training.

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