Tennis and the Martial Arts: “Fear Not the Racket, But the Player Who Wields It.”

“Fear not the racket, but the player who wields it.” -A martial arts weapons philosophy showcased in the movie Ninja Assassin, and modified for the game of tennis

“Most of what I teach comes right out of the martial arts – the physics, the fundamentals, the self-discipline – and your mind is your greatest weapon.” -Coach John Nelson, Univ. of Hawaii Men’s Tennis Program, College Coach 26 years, Master’s Degree in Education, 3rd degree Black Belt in Ju Jitsu

I. Introduction: The Brother Disciplines
Since the Bruce Lee movies of the 1970s, the self-discipline of the Martial Arts has captured the public’s imagination. Watching empty hands and feet used as lethal weapons at lightening speed, powered only by the mind’s will, hypnotized modern fans and observers.

The term “martial arts” actually means the “art of war.” And the term can be traced back to the Roman God of War, Mars. Chinese martial arts date back 4000 years ago to the Xia Dynasty. Martial arts is widely considered however both an art and a science. Many forms of martial arts are linked to religious beliefs such as Confucianism or Daoism or follow a code of honor. The purpose of martial arts is self-defense or defense of others. More broadly however, the goal of martial arts is to offer its students self-knowledge and a better understanding of man and nature.

The forms of the martial arts are varied and far-reaching. They are primarily found in the Far East (Japan, Korea, China). But they also touch the Middle East, South Asia and even the Americas and Europe: Ju Jitsu, Karate, Aikido, Judo, Kung Fu & Tai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, Ninjutsu (Ninja fighting), Jeet Kune Do (hybrid form), Pentjak Silat (Thai martial arts), Kalari (Indian martial arts), Hikuta (Egyptian martial arts), Capoeira (Brazilian martial arts dance), Open-handed wrestling (Native American martial arts), Savate (French Kickboxing), and others.

All the martial arts share some common characteristics, among them: balance, posture, control, flexibility, timing, hand-eye-foot coordination, aggression, grace, power, agility, speed, strategy, tactics, and more. Indeed, many of these elements are shared with many other sports and activities such as soccer, basketball, football, even archery.

This article will focus however on aspects of the martial arts which make it unique, and relate them to the game of tennis. These key elements help remind tennis players of the vital parts of our own developing game. And they show how accomplished martial artists and high-level tennis players are learning and refining their craft on a shared platform with common goals – they are truly “brothers-in-arms.”

II. The “Chi” is Universal and The Core is “King”:
In martial arts, it is believed that there is a universal energy or “chi” in all things. “Chi” is thought to be the source of all power and fluidity in martial arts strikes. In the human anatomy, the universal energy is believed to be centered in the navel. In tennis, the human core or trunk is the ultimate source of power and energy into the ball from strokes.

In tennis, power emanates from the ground up. It is created through well-timed use of the kinetic chain from feet, legs, hips, trunk, arms, hands, racket, all applied into the ball. Many call this “core rotation” in high-performance tennis. Compare this with the roundhouse kick in for example Tae Kwon Do. The roundhouse kick rises from the ground in a springing action, the legs and hips pushing through in an acrobatic move, resulting in a well-timed application of force towards the opponent.

The kinetic chain in tennis and the Chi energy release of martial arts are really two forms of the same process – gathering or coiling energy, and then releasing or uncoiling it, either at the tennis ball or at the martial arts opponent. The human anatomy’s coil-and-uncoil mechanism seems to have three axes points: at the shoulders, the hips and the knees. These same human axes points are used in many martial arts strikes.

To maximize the flow of energy and thus power, the marital arts also emphasizes “punching through the strike”. This means visualizing your arm or leg literally pushing through the opponent. In comparison, tennis emphasizes “hitting into and through the line of the shot”, and extending your stroke follow through or finish towards your target.

III. The Universe is Balanced, Rhythmic and Harmonious
For the martial arts, there is a balance, rhythm and harmony to all things in nature. And nature is a source of inspiration. Indeed, many martial arts strikes are in fact taken from the moves of the animals. Kung Fu for example is divided into animal styles (real and mythic): the snake, panther, tiger, crane, and dragon. Fighting styles in Kung Fu include, among others: the praying mantis and the drunken monkey.

One of the keys to the martial arts is the concept of balance and centering of the human body. The Ninja fighters of the discipline of Ninjitsu for example are legendary for their balance skills. They are known to practice their strikes on a balance beam. Similarly, the art of Aikido focuses on the body’s center, and teaches that all power and control protrudes from that center in a relaxed state.

Martial arts is essentially a rhythmic dance of timed strikes from perfect postures. For example in Karate, the kata is a precise, highly-defined and pre-determined sequence of strikes. In Tai Chi, the student learns a continuous pattern of postures that actually form a dance. Countless repetitions of the martial artist’s moves develops timing, rhythm and cadence. Bruce Lee once remarked: “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

Consider that, in tennis, some of the keys to high-level performance are the same: balance in stroke production, consistency in shot-making, and the rhythm that is offered by for example learning the Wardlaw directionals. Other concepts such as precise timing and good posture in stroke technique, and the value of sound repetitions of strokes, can be taken directly from the martial arts. And if martial arts exercises collectively teach a cadence or dance, then tennis teaches the cadence of the split-step in moving to the ball, which is essentially the “dance of tennis.”

For martial arts, the world is full of harmonious cycles – the changing of the seasons, the cycles of the sun and stars, and the release of human energy and exercise followed by rest and recovery. Both martial arts and tennis instruct students not only about stroke power and energy, but also about the importance of body recovery and healing. Rest, rejuvenation, ice, heat, nutrition, hydration, stretching, and massage are critical to consistent top performance in both disciplines.

IV. The Ready Position
The “get-ready-to-fight” position in martial arts and the “ready” position in tennis are amazingly the same. The feet are spread comfortably shoulder-width apart. The knees are bent. The body’s weight is on the balls of the feet. The arms and elbows are also bent and relaxed. The hands are loosely out in front. Waist, back, neck and head are straight. The student is comfortable, relaxed and ready to move.

V. Watch, Listen and Breathe
In martial arts combat, the student must utilize every form of sensory perception – sight, sound, touch. He must observe, listen and breathe. He must gauge his opponent, anticipating his next move. He must exercise self-control. He focuses on his breathing to help still his mind’s thoughts. He keeps his back straight, his body balanced, and his head stabilized. He moves like the panther and strikes like the cobra.

Compare this with the high-level tennis player in a contested match. He must continuously track the ball, keeping the head stabilized. He must continuously split-step just before the opponent’s racket contacts the ball, so as to move to it with maximum speed and efficiency, appearing to glide on the court. He should seek to hear the sound or “pop” of the ball off of his racket. He may focus on breathing to quiet his anxiety and fears. His body is balanced, back straight and head completely still. His moves are cat-like, and he seeks at first opportunity to go on the offense with his shot.

Both martial arts and tennis encompass the two polar opposite styles of execution or “schools of thought”: in martial arts, the aggressive power style vs. the steady methodical style, and in tennis, the hard court attacking game vs. clay court point construction style. In martial arts, the power style is represented, for example, by aggressive chops of Karate or the flying kicks of Tae Kwon Do. Whereas the steady methodical style is represented, for example, by the graceful flips of Judo or the circular strikes in Aikido. In tennis, professional players divide, among other ways, into groups which excel at the hard court attacking game (Andy Roddick or Taylor Dent) vs. the clay court point construction style (Rafael Nadal or David Ferrer).

VI. The Power of Smooth
The “power of smooth” refers to a relaxed confidence and an unbroken fluidity, resulting in top performance results. It’s about maximum efficiency with minimal effort. It’s about operating with a deliberate unhurried purpose, without appearing pressed or pressured by time, the opponent or conditions.

In martial arts, one noteworthy example of smooth is the discipline of Aikido – known as the “throwing art”. In Aikido, the student learns a fluid, circular and harmonious defense to an attack. The Aikido student blends in with the attacker’s moves, and returns the attack with relaxed, loose circular throws and flips. Even multiple attackers can be repelled by a confident graceful practitioner who can re-direct one opponent’s attack on a fellow attacker.

In tennis, the top professionals exhibit relaxed, loose, graceful strokes with confident purpose. They never look hurried, pressured or off-balance. Indeed, they “play the ball” and do not allow the ball or the opponent to “play them”. They play with soft hands and loose face muscles, especially at the time of split-step and just when the opponent makes contact with the ball. When faced with attacking power, they return the opponent’s power at him. When faced with opportunity such as a short ball, they are deliberate and decisive. They move forward fluidly and cut off angles gracefully.

VII. You are Always the Student Forever
In martial arts as in tennis, you are always the student forever. Coach John Nelson, 26 years college coaching, Master’s Degree in Education, and martial arts black belt, put it this way: “The more you get into the martial arts or tennis, [the more] you realize that you don’t know it all. Anyone who thinks that they know it all is finished. They’re not going to continue to develop. So you always become a student.”

VIII. Victory is Vital, But in the End, More Vital is Your Growth and Passion
Winning is naturally vital in a martial arts contest or a tennis match. But victory will depend in no small part on winning the psychological test of wills against the opponent -who will impose their will on the other? Bill Tilden, in How to Play Better Tennis, wrote pointedly that in a tennis match: “One player…will ultimately impose his tennis personality on the other.” The very same is true in the martial arts.

Both martial arts and tennis are asking the student to test their own outer limits and fulfill their own highest standards. What are the limits of the student’s fatigue, fitness, endurance, flexibility, and strength? What are the student’s highest expectations of his play, his shots, his execution, his strategy, his self-discipline, and his confidence and relaxation?

The final goal, of course, is advancing to a higher level in skill and ability in either the martial arts or tennis. On that score, your worthy opponent makes you better and stronger, as does each of your valuable matches and practice sessions. And your growth and passion for the discipline of the martial arts or tennis is all that can ultimately drive you to a higher level.

IX. The Mental Contest
Andre Agassi, in his autobiography Open, wrote poignantly about the mental battle of tennis. And amazingly the very same applies to the martial arts: “Tennis is the loneliest of sports…In tennis, you’re on an island, with no clock. You can’t sit on a lead. You have to win the last point to win the match. You’re out there, you can’t talk to anybody, you can’t pass the ball, there are no time-outs. There’s no coaching, you don’t have to be good, you have to better than one person and that person is on the other side of the net.”

X. Conclusion
Martial arts and tennis share the loneliness of battle, the fight to the finish, and the solitude of victory or defeat.

Both disciplines are about hard work, self-discipline, and problem-solving.

And both are ultimately about self-knowledge, and your own highest standards for yourself.

…and they are about the lessons of life and the nature of man.

Timeless Tennis: A Blog
www.timelesstennis.net

Sources:
1. Tennis Kung Fu, by Master Bruce Wang, Ph.D. (Lulu.com, 2008)
2. The Complete Martial Arts, by Paul Crompton (McGraw-Hill, 1989)
3. Coach John Nelson, Univ. of Hawaii Men’s Tennis Program, College Coach 26 years, Master’s Degree in Education, and 3rd degree Black Belt in Ju Jitsu
4. Ron Miller, GottaPlayTennis.net, Tennis Instructor 20+ years, and former Martial Arts student of Goju Karate & Aikido

A Short Early History of the French Open (now Roland Garros)

Photo: The legendary Suzanne Lenglen

The first French Open Championship took place in 1891. It was officially called in French Les Internationaux de France de Roland Garros or Tournoi de Roland-Garros.

At that time, it was a one-day national championship and limited to French citizens and residents only. Oddly, the first men’s singles winner was a British player named H. Briggs, living in France.

After the First World War, French tennis began to surge in popularity, and propelled the French Open into an international event. Today, it enjoys status as one of the four “Grand Slams” of professional tennis, and a major sporting event in France and around the world…

Suzanne Lenglen, the wildly popular and incomparable French player, won six championships from 1920 to 1926, and dominated the decade of the Roaring 20s. At that time, she was to women’s tennis in France what Big Bill Tilden was to American tennis in the USA – the first great tennis superstar and international celebrity. Lenglen was famous for her graceful strokes and ballet-like footwork.

But even more, she was a trendsetting and flamboyant athlete who was dubbed by the French press, “La Divine” (the Divine One). Lenglen’s tennis fashion — which included plunging necklines and dress hems that extended just below the knee – was considered risque for her time. Yet her style arguably blazed the trail for today’s tennis fashion for women.

France produced a team of four of the greatest players in the 20th century known as the “Four Musketeers”: Rene Lacoste, named the “Crocodile”, the self-made star who built his game on hard work and grit; Jean Borotra, known as “Bounding Basque” for his speed and acrobatic volleys, and who always wore a signature blue beret; Henri Cochet, “the Ball Boy from Lyon”, recognized as one of the most gifted players of his era; and Jacques “Toto” Brugnon, known for his unique style of shot variety and touch.

Borotra was like the Boris Becker of his era, and Brugnon was like a player of John McEnroe’s style. Lacoste is, of course, best known today for his tennis fashion and trademark “Crocodile” logo, and development of the ball machine and metal rackets. The “Four Musketeers” won the Davis Cup in 1927 defeating the U.S. and the great Bill Tilden and teammates in Tilden’s hometown Philadelphia.

That win precipitated France’s need to build a new tennis stadium at Porte D’Auteuil. That new stadium was named Roland Garros, and can accommodate up to 30,000 fans, and has officially hosted the championships since 1928, except for an interruption during World World II.

Center Court can hold more than 15,000 spectators, and is named Court Philippe Chatrier after a past president of the French Tennis Federation. Other courts are named after Lenglen and the “Four Musketeers”: Court Suzanne Lenglen and Place des Mousquétaires.

Roland Garros (French Open) draws almost 500,000 visitors each year, and includes a tennis museum, theatre and library. The world-famous “red clay”, called terre battue, usually encourages extended tennis rallies and exciting well-constructed points. And the dazzling competition and atmosphere of Paris centers the tennis world’s attention on France for two weeks every May!

Who will win the Roland Garros Championships in 2010? Can a native French player, such as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Marion Bartoli, take the men’s or women’s singles championship? Or will Rafael Nadal win again, or will Roger Federer repeat? Stay tuned for one of professional tennis’s big shows. And good luck to all the players!

Timeless Tennis: A Blog
www.timelesstennis.net

ROLAND GARROS CHAMPIONS
Winner of the most Men’s single’s titles:
Before 1967 – Henri Cochet – 4
After 1967 – Bjorn Borg – 6

Winner of the most Women’s single’s titles:
Before 1968 – Suzanne Lenglen – 6
After 1968 – Chris Evert – 7

Early History of the French Open:
Classic Video Footage of Rene Lacoste, Jean Borotra and others…

Book Review: “The Education of a Tennis Player”, by Rod Laver with Bud Collins

The Education of a Tennis Player, by Rod Laver with Bud Collins (Simon & Schuster, 1971)(318 Pages, 25 Chapters, with Introduction, Epilogue, 3 Appendices, Index and Black & White Photos), republished in Paperback by New Chapter Press, April 2010, with updates and 4 new chapters (280 Pages).

On the 40th anniversary of his 1969 Calendar-Year Grand Slam victory, Rod Laver’s classic historical memoir The Education of a Tennis Player, was selected last year by New Chapter Press for an updated printing and made available this month, April 2010. And we are indeed fortunate that it’s now out. The original publication was widely-praised after it’s first release, with a review on Amazon.com calling it “probably the greatest tennis book ever to be written.”

Complete with updates and 4 new chapters covering Laver’s near-fatal stroke and recovery in 1998, his helping Australia win the Davis Cup in 1973, and his 1975 exhibition against Jimmy Connors, the reprinted book re-introduces Laver’s famous memoir to old and new readers alike. It’s his electrifying story of the last Calendar-Year Grand Slam in 1969 at age 31, arguably the sports’ single greatest achievement, with reflections on his childhood, youthful playing days and other important players and matches.

Laver himself was quoted: “I am delighted that The Education of a Tennis Player is back in circulation and available for a new generation of tennis fans. Winning the Grand Slam for a second time in 1969 seems just like yesterday and this book brings back a lot of memories of the great matches and exciting times.”

Laver’s career record is widely known, earning him the unofficial name “The Rocket”. Laver’s climb from the farm boy from Queensland whom Coach Harry Hopman called “scrawny and slow” to tennis immortality was powered by a unrelenting all-court game which simply eviscerated opponents. He won 11 major Grand Slam singles titles, behind only Roger Federer, Pete Sampras and Roy Emerson. He is the only player in history to win two Calendar-Year Grand Slams, all four majors of the year, in 1962 and 1969. He won nearly 200 singles titles in all, and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1981.

Laver was assisted with the book by International Tennis Hall of Fame journalist, historian and colorful commentator Bud Collins. Collins was quoted about Laver and the book: “Rod Laver is one of the greatest treasures we have in tennis and The Education of a Tennis Player is one of our sports most important literary works. Rod was always so humble and gracious, but he could play tennis like a hurricane. He was as great a champion as we have ever had in tennis and one of the all-time nicest guys…My champion of champions is Rod Laver.”

The book takes the reader on a tennis journey through Laver’s eyes of perhaps the single greatest season any player has had – 1969. Laver’s descriptions, with Collins’ help, of the matches, conditions, weather, player strengths and weaknesses, and court atmosphere brings them to life. Laver’s first baby was due on the same day as what became his 1969 U.S. Open final win against fellow Australian Tony Roche, adding to the excitement. Meanwhile, Laver’s French Open and Wimbledon final wins that year, also against two fellow Aussies, Ken Rosewall and John Newcombe respectively, are described almost stroke for stroke, thus invoking the reader’s tennis imagination to be on court with them almost literally.

For me, one of the most impressive aspects of the book was the insightful comments about other top players and personalities.

Laver on Arthur Ashe:
“The impact of Arthur Ashe on tennis is incredible. Probably the best thing that happened to the game in 1968 is that I didn’t win the U.S. Open in Forest Hills and he did…He had the right combination to make the world, especially America, notice: he was black, he was an American, he was exciting – a big hitter – he was articulate and he knew his way around. He was new and different, and tennis needed that…Arthur was at once an athletic-political figure, a champion considered a spokesman for blacks…It was, and is, an awesome role. Sometimes, Arthur seems to act as though the world is on his shoulders. But the fact is that pressures on him from all sides must be terrific. I can’t imagine how I would be able to walk in his shoes.”

Laver on Pancho Gonzales:
“It’s always been Pancho grabbing the headlines as long as I’ve been a pro, and I suppose it always will be Pancho. He shows no signs of giving out, even though he periodically “retires”…It absolutely killed him to lose. He fought you for everything, intimidated everybody in the place…Pancho has the air that says he’s champion…If anything, he’s more regal today. When we’re playing each other, the contrast is almost comical. Me with my bowlegs and 49,000 freckles, a little guy chasing about. Him with his dark, forbidding face, crowned by the black hair tinged with gray, tall, graceful, gliding…Gonzales is the master gamesman, a badgerer and moaner.”

If all this is not enough, Laver and Collins address players at all levels at the end of each Chapter by offering 25 instructional “lessons” on strokes, technique, mental preparation and so on (with photo examples in the original version). Want to learn about the forehand, serve and “crisp volley” from one of the game’s Masters? Or about confidence, handling injuries, the “killer instinct”, or just hitting through the ball? It’s all here, and in simple and focused language.

And throughout the book, Laver’s simple grace and good-nature comes shining through.

In summary, The Education of a Tennis Player is a timeless classic offering powerful insights for a whole new generation of tennis fans and players. It’s a vivid historical look at players, matches and the game in an earlier era. It’s the compelling story of the last epic Calendar-Year Grand Slam. And it even adds lessons about strokes, technique, and the mental game still relevant today- all from one of the game’s greatest players ever. One could not ask for more!

Timeless Tennis: A Blog
www.timelesstennis.net

Arthur Ashe: Citizen of the World

From what we get, we make a living; what we give, however, makes a life. Arthur Ashe

Arthur Ashe: Citizen of the World (HBO Sports DVD, 2005)(7 Chapters, Apx. 60 Minutes). Written by Frank Deford, Narrated by Ossie Davis, Directed by Julie Anderson.

Year 2010 represents the 35th anniversary of Arthur Ashe’s victory in 1975 at the Wimbledon Championship. In a stunning and cerebral victory, Arthur Ashe, age 31, defeated No. 1 ranked Jimmy Connors in an upset at the finals, 6–1, 6–1, 5–7, 6–4. It was the first championship win by an African-American male, and black man of any origin, at tennis’ most prestigious event.

And it provides a timely backdrop to review the 2005 HBO Documentary called “Arthur Ashe: Citizen of the World” – a moving tribute to his life and legacy.

In clips, photos and interviews of friends and admirers including Nelson Mandela and John McEnroe, the Ashe biography is presented as a reminder to us, and as a portrait to young viewers, of a story of accomplishment and inspiration. Ashe comes across as a thoughtful and soft-spoken advocate who always sought to give back for what tennis gave to him. The script is written by top sports writer Frank Deford, narrated by Ossie Davis, and set to haunting music.

Ashe’s tennis accomplishments and victories are legendary and make him one of the top male U.S. players in history – 3 Grand Slam singles titles, first black man to win the U.S. Open and Wimbledon, Number One ranked U.S. Player in 1968, and leader of the U.S. team that won its first Davis Cup in 5 years.

Beyond his status as a tennis champion, Ashe contributed even more – as a noted writer and author, as an ambassador for a sport which was mostly a “whites-and-wealthy” country club game when he started playing, and as an advocate for human rights and social causes at home and around the world.

Today, we take it for granted that people of all backgrounds and races can enjoy equal access to sports at all levels. That was not always the case.

The skinny poor boy from segregated Richmond, Virginia in the 1950s, whose mother died when he was 6 years of age, developed in a largely “whites-and-wealthy” tennis establishment. He was coached by physician Dr. Robert Johnson, and moved on to UCLA college tennis and then the amateur circuit. Through it all, he kept his anger and frustration in check, as he built a world-class game with cool demeanor and good sportsmanship.

Over time, he made a name for himself in the sport, and became a drawing card in tournaments and clubs. And he later moved into the professional ranks, and forged an historic tennis career.

Ashe’s career included that of a tennis teacher and coach, of both kids and top U.S. players on the Davis Cup team. And he became a vocal and proud activist for social causes at home and around the world – the struggle against racism in the U.S. and apartheid in South Africa, the fight for victims of AIDS, and advocacy for youth and kids.

Tragically after heart surgery in 1983 in which he contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion, Ashe died in 1993 at the age of 49.

And what did Arthur Ashe accomplish that affects us today?
In 1973, Ashe traveled to then-apartheid South Africa, where he had been denied a visa in the past, to play at the South African Open. He wanted to bring to light the system’s injustice and offer hope to the country’s blacks. Today, a lasting tribute to Ashe’s efforts might be a top player such as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, an African-Frenchman, who played and won the South African Open last year, without any political rancor and with great fanfare.

And so what is Arthur Ashe’s legacy for us today and future generations?
It’s about breaking barriers and overcoming prejudices. It’s about helping to improve social conditions. And it’s about fulfilling one’s best potential in sports and in life.

Well done Arthur!

Timeless Tennis: A Blog
www.timelesstennis.net

For more on Arthur Ashe and his legacy:
1. Official Website for Arthur Ashe
2. International Tennis Hall of Fame Profile
3. Arthur Ashe Youth & Education Center in Philadelphia

A few honors and awards made to Ashe:
Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1985
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously in 1993
ESPN’s annual Arthur Ashe Courage Award for the person in sports
best showing courage in the face of adversity

A few facilities named after Ashe and working to improve lives in his memory:
The Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open, home of the annual Arthur Ashe Kids Day.
The Arthur Ashe Youth & Education Center in Philadelphia
The Arthur Ashe Athletic Center in Richmond
The Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health

A few books by Arthur Ashe:
Off the Court (1981)(Ashe’s life story, especially outside of tennis, including his struggle against apartheid)
A Hard Road to Glory (1988)(Ashe’s history of the African-American athlete in sports, considered a comprehensive reference book)
Days of Grace: A Memoir (1994)(Ashe’s poignant best-selling autobiography written in the final days of his life, which includes his activist causes for victims of racism, apartheid and AIDS)

A tribute to Arthur Ashe (You Tube, Apx. 10 minutes)

Pancho Gonzalez: Warrior of the Court

Written by Danny Haro.

Sports Illustrated named Pancho Gonzalez one of the top 20 favorite athletes of the 20th Century. SI said of Pancho, “He could have been the Marlon Brando of tennis…” “If earth was on the line in a tennis match, the man you want serving to save humankind would be Ricardo Alonzo Gonzalez.” He was haughty, overbearing and egotistical, but he was also seductive, charming and had the talent to pull it off. What he did not have was the proper surname and bloodlines in a game which till only recently resembled a feudal system.

Ricardo Alonzo Gonzalez was born in south central Los Angeles, the eldest of 7 children. His parents were Mexican immigrants. Right from the start it was obvious that young Richard was athletically gifted so his mother bought him a tennis racket when he was 12. Banging balls against the wall late into the night, Richard took to tennis with abandon. By age 14, with no formal lessons, he had become the Southern California #1 ranked player in the ’15 and under’ boys division, winning 4 of 5 major boys titles. However, in spite of his prodigal talent, a boy from Beverly Hills who Richard had soundly beaten was selected for the national championships. The Southern California Tennis Association purposely barred Pancho from tennis. Disillusioned, he quit playing tennis, took up poker, pool and petty burglary and ended up in the Preston Prison for boys.

What often separates the successful from the unfortunate is that in the swallow of despair, there is the will to beat back the beast. Pancho, as he was now known, found that instinct and with help from some friends, four years later at the age of nineteen returned to tennis. He defeated his old nemesis from Beverly Hills and fiercely descended on the vaunted east coast tennis circuit. Of course, he was chastised as a “zoot-suiter” and a “pachuco” and despite the fact that he defeated many of the top tennis stars of the day; he had to constantly battle for recognition from the tennis establishment.

In 1948 the Mexican government told him, “come play, and represent us and we will set you up for life.” But Pancho was an American, and even if America would not claim him, he would claim it and in that same year he became the U.S. National Lawn Tennis Champion. It wasn’t until he was 27, that the great Bill Tilden could claim that title. Pancho was only 20.

He went on to several great amateur titles, but Bobby Riggs convinced Pancho to turn professional which meant in those days before “open” tennis, he couldn’t play Wimbledon, the French, Australian, or U.S. Championships, but he could make some money. There was a World Championship in Cleveland which Pancho won 8 times. Over a 10-year period of his championship reign, Pancho turned back the challenge of every #1 amateur challenger of the day. That list included such names as, Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Frank Sedgeman, Lew Hoad and Tony Trabert, to name a few.

The great sports writer Dave Anderson has written, “Richard “Pancho” Gonzalez was not only an athlete, he was a showman who thrilled audiences over the years of four decades-the forties, fifties, sixties and into the seventies. With his talent and his emotions, he deserves to be on a pedestal with the most flamboyant sports celebrities-Babe Ruth, Arnold Palmer, Joe Namath, among others. But in his best years as a professional, Gonzalez was prevented from playing in the four major championships: Wimbledon; The U.S. Open; The French Open and The Australian Open. Imagine Joe Namath barred from the Super Bowl, or Babe Ruth from the World Series, or Arnold Palmer from the Masters!” Even tennis legend, Jack Kramer said Pancho could have won as many as 12 Wimbledon championships.

The picture that America saw of this great champion was made-over, sanitized, blonde and blue-eyed. But he was tall, dark, and handsome like an Aztec prince with a Bogart scowl and an eye for trouble. As a grandfather, he was still winning major tennis titles. And even at the age of 42, Pancho was a force to be reckoned with in 5-set matches, defeating the world’s #1 tennis player, and consistently competing and defeating players half his age such as, Arthur Ashe, Stan Smith, John Newcombe, Tony Roach, Jimmy Connors and Bjorn Borg. Pancho Gonzalez holds the record as being the oldest player ever (44 years old) to win an Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) sanctioned tournament. At the age of 47, he finally retired from professional tennis. For over 25 years Gonzalez was consistently ranked as one of the Top 10 players in the world, a record that stands today.

Pancho Gonzalez passed away at the early age of 67 in 1995 while watching the Wimbledon Championships. In an interview at Wimbledon, Billy Jean King said that Pancho “was the greatest that ever played the game.” Arthur Ashe said he only had one idol in tennis and that was Pancho, because he looked the closest to his color of skin.

As part of our creative team for this first story, we were fortunate to have with us Ralph Gonzalez, who is Pancho’s younger brother. Ralph traveled with Pancho during his illustrious career and chronicled his many successes and failures, both professional and personal. Ralph was the foremost authority on Pancho and created a tremendous archive of films and photographs, which allow us to tell our award-winning documentary on the Life & Times of Pancho Gonzalez.

Documentary Summary: Pancho Gonzalez: The Latino Legend of Tennis tells the compelling story of Richard Alonzo “Pancho” Gonzalez, largely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players in the world. Due to his Mexican background, Gonzalez was not accepted by the elite circles of the tennis establishment, especially in the beginning of his career. Although known throughout the tennis world, Gonzalez played in relative obscurity during his prime since only amateurs were permitted to play in established tournaments until 1968. A year later, and already a grandfather, he played one of Wimbledon’s longest matches against Charlie Pasarell; the match lasted for 112 games, consumed 2 days, and more than 5 hours. Gonzalez was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1968, while still an active player. He never had a formal tennis lesson, yet went on to defeat some of the era’s best players including Jimmy Connors, Rod Laver, and Arthur Ashe. The documentary story is told through his brother Ralph and other talking heads including Robert Redford, Edward James Olmos, Andre Agassi, Venus & Serena Williams, Rod Laver, Jimmy Connors & Bud Collins.

For more info on Pancho please log onto http://highergroundentertainment.net/in-the-works/pancho-gonzalez-documentary.html

To buy the DVD as seen on SPIKE TV and PBS please log onto http://highergroundentertainment.net/store/index.html

Book & CD Review: “The Art of Doubles” and “Top Ten Doubles Questions & Answers”, By Pat Blaskower

The Art of Doubles – Winning Tennis Strategies & Drills (2nd Ed.), By Pat Blaskower (Betterway Books, 2007). 218 Pages, with 14 Chapters, Introduction, Index, Black & White Illustrations & Court Diagrams, with CD Interview, “Top Ten Doubles Questions and Answers”, By Pat Blaskower with Brent Abel (Apx. 1 Hr.)

Pat Blaskower is a former national Number One player in Women’s 35 Doubles, who went on to coach intermediate and advanced players for over 30 years in California and Connecticut. Her league doubles teams consistently reached the Districts, Sectionals and Nationals.

In this book geared primarily for intermediate and advanced players, Blaskower tries to distill 30+ years of coaching and teaching into core concepts and strategies. She explains that, in her experience, all great doubles teams uniformly display certain key elements including: proper court position, intelligent shot selection, superior poaching skills, control of net, mental toughness, and good communication.

The book’s Chapters discuss each of these topics with detail and insight, and many others as well such as: creating a balanced doubles team, flexibility, keys to winning and common reasons teams lose, and a variety of doubles drills to improve court skills. Each Chapter concludes with a brief checklist covering the highlights of the Chapter, which is very helpful.

She makes a point to argue against, according to her, the most common “misconceptions” in doubles play including, among others: The player with the forehand always takes the center ball, the server takes the lob over the partner’s head while this partner crosses over but stays at net, I never poach at net because I will get in the way, I never come to net on second serve, there is no point to serve-and-volley because they will just lob you, and others.

Blaskower is a strong proponent of the 80%-20% rule, namely that a good doubles team can properly position themselves to cover 80% of the court and win the point most all the time. She also argues that teams should take the ball out of the air as often as possible to maintain net position as much as possible.

In her one hour CD Interview with Brent Abel, “Top Ten Doubles Questions and Answers”, Blaskower reviews what she believes are the most commonly asked questions by players at all levels about the doubles game. Her answers are crisp and pointed.

For example, regarding where to serve, Blaskower points out that serving to the opponent’s backhand side is not always appropriate given that the true purpose of the doubles team to set up the net partner for the winning volley. To accomplish this may, for righties on the deuce side, sometimes call for serving wide to the opponent’s forehand side, not backhand.

Similarly, regarding the “transition game” which involves moving forward to net after service or a service return, Blaskower points out that learning to play that “no-man’s land” on the way in is a critical part of controlling the net. She suggests a drill she calls “shadow doubles” to help learn “no-man’s land” skills, which involves doubles partners hitting to each other from each’s “no-man’s land”.

Both the book and CD are packed with numerous insights and concepts informed by Blaskower’s many years of successful coaching. Intermediate and advanced players will certainly find many points instructive and useful as they build and refine their doubles play.

Timeless Tennis: A Blog
www.timelesstennis.net

NBA Star Steve Nash & Recreational Tennis

By John Malanga

I recently read an article in Sporting News magazine about All-Star NBA point guard Steve Nash. The article focused on various aspects of Steve’s game that make him a great player and included several quotes from Steve. After reading the article, I realized that many of Steve’s quotes could be useful to those of us who play recreational tennis. In this post I will highlight several of Steve’s quotes from the article and relate them to recreational tennis.

VISION

“(Basketball) is a lot of quick bursts, it’s unpredictable, and it’s multidirectional. (Vision) helps me see how guys move, and helps me as far as anticipating where everyone will be.”

Tennis is also a game that has a lot of quick bursts, unpredictability, and multidirectional action. Having good vision and anticipation are keys to playing winning tennis at any level.

PACING

“(Proper movement means) moving with a purpose, doing everything with a purpose – a basketball-related purpose. To be successful, I have to use change of direction, I have to use my balance, I have to use my coordination, I have to use my own advantages.”

The essence of good tennis footwork is contained in this quote. Good tennis footwork requires the ability to change direction, move with a purpose, while maintaining coordination and balance. As Steve says elsewhere in the article, there is a misconception that athleticism equals explosiveness. It is not necessary to have explosive speed to be a great mover on the tennis court.

ENDURANCE

“I work hard at it. I spend a lot of time getting treatment, having (the training staff) look at how I am moving and giving me corrective exercises to keep me going. When I was younger, it was a little easier – you recovered faster, you put in your off-season work and then sort of go from there. But now, it is a whole-season thing.”

Fitness is vitally important for both tennis and basketball players. Tennis players would do well to emulate Steve’s year-round approach to fitness. Putting in the time and work necessary to maintain and strengthen the body will pay great dividends during a match.

SHOOTING

“How I do it? Years of practice. That’s the short answer. But I don’t necessarily practice my shot (a lot). I did that when I was younger, but nowadays, I try to shoot 15 to 45 minutes four days a week. I know what my shot should feel like. I have taken thousands of shots. If I didn’t know my shot by now, I would be in trouble.”

“For me, it is more physical work, to have the legs and technique and the ability to repeat my motions, the correct motions over and over. Leg strength is something that is so important for shooting because you need to have the same form on your shot no matter what. And rhythm. (Now) when I practice my shot, it’s more just staying sharp just to keep my rhythm.”

You could substitute the word “serve” for “shot” in the preceding quote and it would be excellent advice for all tennis players. Have you ever seen video of Federer practicing his serve? Federer is always relaxed and smooth while he works on maintaining the rhythm that Steve talks about in this quote. Serving with a smooth, consistent, repeatable motion is far more important than speed for recreational tennis players.

PASSING

“Passing is a feel thing. I don’t sit and study films on it. I just have a feeling for a teammate and how he plays and where he likes to receive the ball. It becomes second nature with everyone you play with. (The important thing is) having feel, having your eyes open and your head up and knowing who you’re playing with.”

This idea of keeping your head up, eyes open and being aware of what’s going on at all times is essential to winning a tennis match. During every point it is vital for recreational tennis players to observe the location and activity of the player(s) across the net in order to 1) move properly, 2) anticipate the incoming shot, and 3) decide where to hit the next shot.

Recreational tennis players can learn a lot from an NBA star because concepts such as balance, awareness, anticipation, and feel apply across sports.

Book Excerpts: Arthur Ashe on Tennis

Arthur Ashe on Tennis: Strokes, Strategy, Traditions, Players, Psychology and Wisdom, with Alexander McNab (Knopf, Inc., 1995) (143 Pages, with Foreword, 4 Introductory Articles, 6 Chapters)

“Arthur Ashe motivated. He taught. We listened when he spoke. He used tennis for a greater good. Many players don’t. He made a difference.” The Player, by Billie Jean King.

In this short yet pointed book, sports writer Alexander McNab compiles many articles and thoughts of the great Arthur Ashe. Ashe was the first man of color and African-American to win the U.S. Open and Wimbledon. Ashe was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Clinton in 1993. His insights on the the topics of tennis, strokes, strategy and psychology, and much more, remain relevant today.

One of his insights was about “who” you really “play” in tennis. In a famous quote, Ashe remarked: “You are never really playing an opponent. You are playing yourself, your own highest standards. And when you reach your limits, that is real joy.”

The book is easy-to-read and nicely organized on a wide range of tennis topics, and packed with gems from a gifted and accomplished player. And it is well worth reading in full…

Here are a few brief excerpts…

Five Shots-a-Point Rule
For club players, I have a comfortable rule of thumb. If, on every point you play, you hit the ball in five times, you are not going to lose any matches…steadiness is a habit; it is not something you turn on or off like a light bulb…start with steadiness; and then add aggression and power.

Make Up Your Mind
Indecision is a common problem for many players…You can take too long to make up your mind and end up trying a foolish play…In most situations, there is a bread-and-butter play that works ninety percent of the time…

When You Get in Trouble
Aim for the center strap of the net. If the ball passes over it at a reasonable speed, it should stay in, regardless of where you are on the court.

The Important Points and The Important Games
The first point of the game is key. After that, the points on the Ad side of the court are more important than the points on the Deuce side because you are either building a two-point lead…pulling even…or winning or fending off a game point…The first four games are important because that is the feeling out period of the match, and no one wants to lose his serve. I think Bill Tilden was right about the seventh game, which he identified as crucial. [That] is the place where you can forge or consolidate a winning lead…or…break your opponent’s momentum.

Make Your Opponent Hit the Shot He Hates
Every player has a shot that he or she would rather not hit…If your opponent is shaky on overheads, lob a lot. If he doesn’t like to come to net, feed him a lot of short balls. Chip away at your opponent’s confidence by making him hit the shot he hates.

Covering the Court
Too many club players play as if they can cover the whole court, which cannot be done. Whoever configured the court back in the 1880s did a pretty good job because even the fastest players…cannot cover the whole court very well. You have to try to get your opponent to hit the ball where you can cover it, and within that area you can be more aggressive.

Anticipation
Anticipation…is the ability to size up a situation and intuitively guess where the ball is going to be before it gets there…It gives you a huge advantage…There is no question that experience helps you anticipate better. But [also] pay attention. If somebody hits a ball crosscourt to you, more than half the time you are going to hit it back crosscourt. The way a person holds the racquet has a lot to do with where he can hit a ball.

Keys to Better Play
1. Play with a decisive attitude
2. Mix up your shots
3. Have a plan on break point.
4. Lob when you’re in trouble.
5. Hit approach shots down the line.
6. Cover the open angles at net
7. Get moving after you hit the ball
8. Practice with a purpose

What It Takes To Win
It is not just the more talented player who wins. Some players may try a little harder. Some players may be a little smarter with strategy and tactics. Some players may be in better shape. Some players may have a better temperament for the game…To be a winner, you must be a fierce competitor as well as a shotmaker.

Relish the Combat
The sheer intensity of your competitive fire may be enough to overcome an opponent with more firepower in his strokes…you can get a psychological advantage by the body language you display on court…Always try to look like you are a winner, even if you are behind…a sustained look of control and confidence can give you a mental edge…

See Yourself Succeeding
Pancho Gonzales once told me that whenever he thought that a stroke of his was a little off, he would close his eyes and picture himself hitting the shot perfectly…Close your eyes before the point begins, and see yourself executing the shot, and then open your eyes and do it, without worrying too much about the result.

Conditioning
Vic Braden, when asked, “What’s the first thing I should do to improve my tennis?” always answered “Lose five pounds.” There is some truth to that…Most people play at a level or pace commensurate with their conditioning. If you improved your conditioning, you could play a lot more and a lot better.

Timeless Tennis: A Blog
www.timelesstennis.net

DVD Review: Biomechanics of Power

Biomechanics of Power, with David Sammel (ITP, 2001) 54 minutes with 19 Chapters and Bonus Feature.

International Tennis Products (ITP), based in the U.K., has produced this fascinating 54 minute DVD about the Biomechanics of Power in tennis, as part of their Visual Learning System series.

In this DVD, David Sammel, U.K. national coach of top Davis Cup stars and currently Head of Coaching at Monte Carlo Tennis Academy (MCTA), introduces and explains the human physiological components or “biomechanics” of tennis power and fluidity.

Sammel breaks downs how biomechanics works in the major groundstrokes – forehand, backhand (both one-handed and two-handed), closed stance, and open stance. He includes many practices tips, drills and techniques to help the club and recreational player improve in this area. He also adds a bonus feature on developing a feel for groundstroke power and on maintaining dynamic balance on the run.

The core of Sammel’s concept on biomechanics is: groundstroke power comes from the body’s “big parts” rotating – especially shoulders, hips, and “core”. He explains the so-called kinetic chain movement with power coming from the ground-up traveling from feet to bent knee to hips to shoulders in the takeback (i.e. “loading” or “coiling”). This is followed by movement traveling from shoulders to hips to arm to hand with racket head “sweet spot” following-through to full finish (i.e. “unloading” or “uncoiling”.)

Sammel goes on the describe what he calls the three (3) forms of biomechanical power: 1) Linear Power which is body and racket moving forward horizontally, 2) Groundforce Power which is the body and head rotating and bending down below shoulder level and then rotating back and pushing upward from the ground, and 3) Circular Power which is the full extension and follow-through with arm, hand and racket.

Additional Research:
1. You Tube Clip of Sammel’s Biomechanics of Power (Apx. 2 minutes)

2. ITF’s (International Tennis Federation) Biomechanics of Tennis: An Introduction (47 Pages, PDF format.)

In my view, the biomechanics of efficient and powerful tennis has probably not been a well-understood concept by many club and recreational level players. Indeed, many coaches say that they see too many lower level players hitting the ball with too much “arm” and “hand” only. In contrast, we see the top players, though they may vary in play style and other aspects, efficiently and intelligently use their body mechanics to maximize their game.

This fascinating DVD helps to de-mystify this sometimes little-understood area of biomechanics for everyday players. And it offers illuminating insights into how recreational players can improve their use of biomechanics in their play, and thus elevate their game. Well done.

Timeless Tennis: A Blog
www.timelesstennis.net

Secrets of a True Tennis Master: Welby Van Horn and His Teaching System

Secrets of a True Tennis Master: Welby Van Horn and His Tennis Teaching System, By Edward Weiss (Wilson Printing, 2007).

The Book & Author
The author Edward Weiss is a lifelong tennis player and former Captain of Swarthmore College tennis team and Division III All-American in 1978, and is now a corporate lawyer in Connecticut. In this thorough book, Weiss has done a beautiful job in explaining the Welby Van Horn Tennis Teaching System. In 13 Chapters and 296 Pages, profuse with illustrations and photographs, Weiss details Van Horn’s concept – a theory based on four (4) fundamentals of tennis instruction, and a system of checkpoints to help students master their game.

About Welby Van Horn
Welby Van Horn is the legendary tennis coach Sports Illustrated called one of the most successful coaches in all sports. (The Right Way to Begin, Frank Deford, Sports Illustrated, April 28, 1969)

In tennis, Van Horn has been called “that rarest of breeds” – one of the few great tennis players who then became a great coach. He was ranked in the world’s top ten as both professional and amateur in the 1940s. He was the youngest male player at age 19 to reach the U.S. Open Finals at Forrest Hills in 1939. He played Jack Kramer, Pancho Gonzales, Don Budge and Bobby Riggs. His biggest win was over the great Bill Tilden in July 1945 (6-0, 6-2, 6-1), though Tilden was age 52 at the time and well past his prime.

In 1951, Van Horn moved the Puerto Rico to coach at the Caribe Hilton Swim & Tennis Club, teaching kids 8-10 years of age and other beginners. He slowly amassed an amazing record of teaching 100 nationally-ranked American junior players. This included Charlie Pasarell (ranked No. 1 USA player in 1967 and who many recall played Pancho Gonzales at Wimbledon in 1969 in one of the longest and greatest matches in tennis history), and Victor Amaya, No. 14 in the world and French Open Doubles Championship winner in 1980.

In his book, Off the Court, Arthur Ashe wrote: “If I had to send my kids to somebody to learn the game, I would send him or her to Welby Van Horn. He has the best track record. You don’t get that by accident…”

Later, the Welby Van Horn Tennis Academy opened in Boca Raton, FL and other locations. Van Horn was inducted into the USPTA Hall of Fame in September 2008. Van Horn is now retired in Palm Springs, CA USA, and is Tennis Pro Emeritus at Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

The Welby Van Horn Tennis System
The Welby Van Horn tennis system is evident in all his players – a fluid classical style and all-court game.

Van Horn believed that that there are four (4) fundamentals to the game and that they should be taught in a particular order. The four (4) elements are in order of priority: 1) balance, 2) grips, 3) strokes and 4) strategy. Let’s review these very briefly in reverse order to better understand Van Horn’s thinking.

*STRATEGY is useful only if you can control the ball. You control the ball through proper STOKES. Proper strokes are dependent upon correct GRIPS. But even with correct grips, proper strokes are predicated on good BALANCE. In other words, you can only control the ball and racket, if you control first your body and it’s balance mechanism. Thus, good balance is the first fundamental, and can be learned and practiced even without a racket.

In Welby Van Horn’s words: “Balance is the key fundamental. It is what makes the expert game look so easy. Proper balance means an economy of motion: achieving maximum results from minimum effort.” Van Horn’s system emphasizes use of checkpoints in helping players achieve their maximum balance as a platform for strokes and volleys.

The reader is invited to read much more about Van Horn’s equally compelling ideas on volleys, the serve, teaching drills and practice methods in this fascinating read.

Timeless Tennis: A Blog
www.timelesstennis.net