挑战 THE CHALLENGE 挑战

The following is a true account of four ping-pong matches and the unique individuals that participated in them. The events of the account took place the summer of 2009 in Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai, China.  Since this tale is being recalled from nothing more than memory and a few pictures, it is possible that some elements of the story have been slightly dramatized, but hey, when has over-exaggeration ever made a story worse?  Exactly.

Some years ago it was my tremendous privilege to travel to the Far East.

 The nature of my visit had to do with a university-sponsored business program that allowed me and several of my fellow collegiate participants to visit multi-national corporations and organizations throughout China, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Vietnam.  The learning experiences from the visits to the organizations were invaluable.  I walked away not only leaning a lot about the firms with whom we visited, but also much concerning respecting the Asian culture and customs. China is a beautiful place. The people are kind, the food is delicious, and the culture is rich. I wish that I could have spent more time in the country. The visits to the businesses and organizations were enlightening. However my business visits are decidedly not the reason for this article.  For something strange occurred during the Chinese portion of the trip.

 There were a series of trials and challenges that would push me to my patriotic and hand-eye coordinating limits. In the 2006 movie Fearless, Huo (Jet Li's character) must defeat four different challengers in various forms of combat.  The four challengers have different strengths and weaknesses.  Huo's tactics changed and were altered depending on his opponent.  Why am I referencing this movie?  Well other than it being a classic, it fits quite well with the Chinese ping-pong challenge that I experienced the summer of 2009.  During my ping-pong trials I was tasked with my own personal version of combat with four challengers, only instead of the fists and swords, we used tables, nets, and paddles.  Like Huo I needed to showcase strength and discipline to defeat my challengers and bask in the glory of my victories. My time was now. There was no time to doubt or fear.  Like the famous Chinese proverb states:

"机不可失 时不再来 "
"Opportunity knocks at the door only once."

My Chinese ping-pong challenge took place in three different cities: Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai.  They were all away games for me, and I enjoyed no home court advantage.  Throughout this article I will profile each one of my opponents, as well the details of the match.  Ping-pong is China's national game, such was evident during my matches.  It would take all of my stubborn American spirit to make up for my lack of touch with a paddle.

Let the challenge begin. 

PLAYER PROFILE

Name: Kaden Comadena

Hand: Right

Style: Defensive/Conservative

Strengths: Excellent spinner, stout defender against strong shots, can sustain long rallies.

Weaknesses: No real kill shot, poor smasher. Also I'm puzzlingly wearing jean shorts for three of my four matches, that should probably be counted as a weakness.  For the record I don't wear them anymore. 

Special Move: Backspin cutter mid-rally that usually results in the opponent rushing forward and smashing waist first into the table.

Bio: My ping-pong game was honed during my two-year LDS mission in Europe.  There were tables at all of the churches that allowed me plenty of practice.  I play it safe on the table, letting my opponent be the one who makes the mistake. I can routinely be in rallies that last minutes, my goal is to frustrate the opponent into running out of patience, and resorting to a risky kill shot. My play-it-safe mentality usually pays off. I have a descent backhand, however my grip doesn't allow me to get much speed on backhand shots.  I have three serves.  My primary front-spin speed service, theside spin angler, and finally my off speed change-up back spin serve. 

CHALLENGE 1 

 眼泪救不了火

THE BATTLE OF BEIJING

CHALLENGER: SCHOOL BOY (BENNY)

CITY: BEIJING 北京

Don't be fooled by his small stature and friendly grin.  This young Chinese school boy (I'm going to call him Benny) has serious skill.  The challenge commenced when I randomly strolled through a park in Downtown Beijing with some of my fellow travelers, and noticed Benny and one of his friends enjoying a friendly game of table tennis. Once our presence was noticed by Benny and friends, the Ping-Pong grudge match was inevitable.

After Benny wiped the floor with some of my traveling colleagues, it was my turn to step up.  It was time to set a tone for the rest of my time in China.  I found it appropriate that Benny was wearing his school uniform, he was about to be taught a lesson he'd never forget.  A real education on ping-pong taught by a tenured  professor. I'm not beyond making  little children cry. School is in session.

 比賽 THE MATCH 比賽 

Using my signature penhold dragon grip, I get off to a fast start winning the first few points.  Was this was going to be even easier than I thought? We would then go on to exchange the next few points.  

As the match went on one thing became evident, luck was not on my side.  Every seasoned table-tennis veteran knows that, in some games, the little white ball just doesn't bounce your way.  Benny must have had at least 2-3 of his points as a result of the hair-pullingly frustrating blooper that just flips over the net.  I really wish that I knew how to say "You're lucky!" in Chinese, I would have screamed it across the table.  Then again it might not have been a good idea, it most likely would have made things awkward, especially considering that he was being a good sport about it and only one of us (myself) was taking the game super seriously.

Despite Benny's luck, I was hanging around. Scrapping points where I could get them.  As we moved closer to thematch point Benny seemed to increase his effort level, this wasn't a good thing for me.  The more effort he put forth the longer the gap between us expanded.  Finally up against my last point, I needed to go on a run.  I started, what could be, the last point with a risky high speed serve.  Benny was caught off guard and had no choice but to fling his paddle at thegal in an attempt to get the ball across the net.  What ended up happening was a high lob that set up perfectly would a would-be smash.

The smash, my mortal ping-pong enemy.  For some reason this is my weakness, no matter how easy the incoming lob sets up, I always end up just just firmly but safely hitting gut ball across, but anything hit harder that that going right into the net.  Would this time be different?  As Benny's lob crossed the net, bounced and was set up for my hit, I was left with two choices:

Scenario 1:

Play it safe and just avoid the smash.  I would continue the rally using my defensive style and hope to force Benny to make a mistake to win the point.

OR

Scenario 1:

Smash that little white ball into oblivion and exercise my smash demons at the same time.  The option, although themore risky, might give me the momentum needed to turn the match around.

There was no more time to think, only act.  What would it be? Smash or no smash?  In an instant I wound up, paddle in hand, fire in my eyes.  I've made my decision.  Go big or go home.  I deliver a thundering smash with the fire and heat of a thousand suns.  Would my ambition pay off?

WINNER: BENNY

The result of my thundering smash was disappointing.  Once again denied by the dastardly net.  I had been defeated by Benny the school boy.  I had started the match so bullish and confident about my chances. I was beaten by a kid who could not have been 120 pounds soaking wet.

 Now I was left with shame and embarrassment.  My ping-pong challenge record was 0-1, I needed to rebound.  The next destination was Xi'an where  two new challengers were waiting. 

CHALLENGE 2 

 有志者事竟成 

LAST TANGO IN XI'AN - PART 1

CHALLENGER: COLLEGE STUDENT (JOHNNY)

CITY: XI'AN 西安

The scene of my next challenge was an outdoor recreational ping-pong park at a local university in Xi'an, China.  In the limited time that I had spent in Xi'an, I had made friends with some local residents.  One of those residents was Johnny. I'm not exactly sure if Johnny was a college student, but he took us to the university to play, so that's what I'm assuming.

Johnny was a great guy, very nice and spoke English pretty well.  Although I wasn't going to let how nice he was get it the way of my goal. I needed to send a message.  There's no way that I could start off my Chinese ping-pong challenge 0-2.

The city of Xi'an is known for it's history city walls that tower over the city center. It was meant to defend the city from intruders by providing an impenetrable defense from all manner of projectile attacks. Who knew my ping pong game has so much in common with it?

比賽 THE MATCH 比賽

The match was first player to win two games out of three.  Games were to 11.  Johnny played a similar style to mine.  He was careful with his serves, steady with his shots, and rarely made any mistakes.  The first game took an eternity, with both players playing it very safe.

There was one glaring difference between this table, and the one that I played Benny on in Beijing, the iron net.  Players could no longer be bailed out by accidentally blooping the ball over the net.  Now the ball would coldly clank off the iron divider.  Despite the iron net, it didn't effect Johnny or myself too much since, unlike Benny, we didn't rely on luck to score points during the match (I'm sorry if I sound bitter, but that school boy in Beijing scored a number of crucial points using that bogus net......No you know what?  I'm not sorry. Call me bitter.  Call me a poor sport.  The kid got lucky, it shouldn't have come down to my ill-attempted smash attempt).

I managed to fool Johnny into expecting my quick front-spin serve after feeding him several speedy serves the majority of the match. I starting throwing in my chang-up back-spin special and it really threw him off.  It was all I needed to maintain my lead and put the first game away.  One game down, one to go.

I was half way to my first win on Chinese soil and feeling good. However Johnny wasn't going away that easily.  The college student started the second match off quickly and never looked back.  I committed the rare double-fault twice during this game, shooting myself in the foot.  Johnny reached game point relatively quickly compared to our first game, he just needed one more point.  Despite the loss of the game the looming, I managed to rally to make up the deficit pulling even.  However it was no sooner that I had tied the score when I committed another dreaded double-fault. Johnny finished me off during the next point to split the series which lead us to a match-deciding third game.

I couldn't lose this last game. I needed to win.  I couldn't just sit back and let Johnny beat me at my own game.  I decided to make an adjustment.  That adjustment was to play more aggressive, more angry!  It was a risk.  It certainly hurt me in Beijing, that why I needed to control my aggression, like Bruce Banner when he's not the Hulk.  For if I got too aggressive, my hulk smash shots would, once again, result in a loss.

The strategy was looking like a success.  My more aggressive tactics resulted in an early lead in the third and match-deciding game.  I was in control and feeling good.  Johnny knew that I was close to victory, so he also attempted to change his strategy by playing more risky.  However it was too little, too late.  I was faster, more accurate and more ruthless throughout the entire match, and so things ended the only way they could.

Winner: Kaden

That's more like it!  With officially one feather in my cap, the confidence level is high.  Johnny presented a familiar challenge, it was like playing against a Chinese clone of myself.  I played with more discipline and poise, I deserved thewin.   After Lebron James won his first NBA championship, the great Duke University basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski said the following about Lebron, but I like to think that he was saying the same thing about me following my victory over Johnny:

"He's a student of the game, and he sees the game really easily as it's going on. Does his first win (championship) start a bonfire, or does it quail a fire?   Only that champion knows.  My feeling is that it will start a bonfire."

-Mike Krzyzewski

Time to start the bonfire.

CHALLENGE 3 

 大处着想

LAST TANGO IN XI'AN - THE SEQUEL

CHALLENGER: COLLEGE STUDENT (TIMMY)

CITY: XI'AN 西安

Quick, what is your favorite sequel? Empire Strikes Back?  Terminator 2? LOTR: The Two Towers? Sharknado 2?  Whatever your answer, one principle normally holds true regarding sequels, it's tough to top the original.  The next challenge in my Chinese ping-pong trails took place immediately after my match with Johnny.  We played in the same positions on the exact same court, hence the sequel. I was hoping that the sequel to my match with Johnny would be just as enjoyable as the original.

Timmy is Johnny's friend.  They both were students at the local university.  As you can tell from Timmy's picture, he takes his extracurricular activities very seriously, and dresses appropriately for the occasion.  His white mesh cut-off T-shirt and silky athletic shorts meant that he was serious about our match.  Timmy also seemed a little less friendly than his friend Johnny, which resulted in some awkward tension during our match.

Despite Timmy's serious athletic attire and somewhat salty attitude, I wasn't intimidated or fazed. I was coming off a solid win, and looking forward to notching another victory.  Would this be another case in which the sequel is better than the original?

Stay tuned.

比賽 THE MATCH 比賽

The match began with a bang as I was able to win the first 5 points of the game easily.  I was successfully able to carry my momentum from Johnny's match.  I'll try and put this as humbly as I can, I was in the zone.  The ball was literally spinning off my paddle like a tornado, Timmy was in trouble. Odd things were transpiring.  The paddle was light in my hands, the ball seemed like it was moving slowly.  It was poetry in motion.  In a matter of a few short moments, the first game was in the books.

Buoyed by my in-form play, I felt like a win was a certainty.  Timmy was the the type of player who tried to hit home runs on nearly every shot.  More often than not, he would miss his targets, but even when he did connect on his shots I would return them relatively easily.  Timmy was hitting shots against a brick wall, nothing was getting by it.

In the next game I pulled out all of the weapons from my arsenal.  A drop shot here, a side-spin shot there.  There were corner-painting backhands, and sweeping services, everything was on display in its resplendent and awe-inspiring glory.  I felt as though I could defeat Zhang Jike himself.  Could this rhythm possibly be sustained over multiple matches?

Timmy and I couldn't really communicate due to the language barrier, however nothing needed to be said.  There was one language that we both did speak fluently.  The language of the Way of the Paddle.  Oh yes, we both spoke that language very well.  As the second and ultimately final game was drawing to a close, I was putting the final touches on my masterpiece, my Mona Lisa, my chef d'oeuvre.  It wasn't Timmy's fault, it was nobody's fault. 

With the match in hand I continued to cruise to the finish line.  Timmy was defeated, I could see it in his eyes, even if I hadn't yet scored 11 yet.  He was aware, as were all who were watching, aware of the one inevitable formality...

WINNER: KADEN

Like a peacock in full plumage I swaggered away from the table like a heavyweight prize fighter.  It was a dominant and comprehensive performance.  This was my table, my ping-pong park. I felt like I could take over the entire city with nothing but a paddle in my hand.  The embarrassing debacle of Beijing was now a distant memory.  I was a new man. I had improved my record to 2-1.

Xi'an had been good to me.  I had gotten a good taste of legitimate competition, and earned two solid results.  It was now time for a new challenge, a new city.

CHALLENGE 4 

 朝时运至

SHOWDOWN IN SHANGHAI

CHALLENGER: OFFICE WORKER (EDDIE)

CITY: SHANGHAI 上海

My last challenge would bring me to the world's most populated city, Shanghai.  My university group was visiting a large company in downtown Shanghai not far from the Pudong District.  Our visits on the trip were generally very nice. Most of the time it would depend on the company or organization that we were visiting; some would really open up their doors and be receptive to our questions, others just treated us like an American tour group.  This particular visit was at a commercial real-estate firm, and we were being guided through the firm's office area by one of the company's employees who was acting as our tour guide.

After having explored the cafeteria, office cubicles, and main entrance, the group entered the break/game room.  In the middle of the room was a ping-pong table.  The tour guide pointed the table out to the group and spoke in Chinese to one of his fellow colleagues in the room to approach the table.  The person that he called over was a younger employee that I will call Eddie.  The tour guide asked the our student group who wanted to play against Eddie.  We had a few in our group play him for a few points.  Eddie quickly dispatched a few of the students in our group when someone in our group yelled my name to play him.

I'm not exactly sure why I was volunteered to play against Eddie in front of the group but I have two theories:

Theory 1 (Unlikely):

My fellow students clearly recognized my ping-pong talents and knew that I was the man to take on Eddie. Word of my victories in Xi'an had spread throughout not only our travel group, but the entire Shanghai region. The group knew that only I possessed the necessary skills to win the game. Hence I was called to take him on.

Theory 2 (Likely):

I consider myself to be a humble guy, however I made no secret my affinity for playing ping-pong.  I probably bragged about being really good at ping-pong in front of several members of our group. The reason I was selected is because people just assumed I'd be good at ping-pong since I talked so much about it, like a bark being bigger than bite sort of thing.  This is likely the more likely reason as to why I was selected.

Regardless of why I was selected, the time had come to put paddle to ball.  Eddie would be my toughest opponent I would face, he clearly knew what he was doing.  What added even more drama was the fact that this match was in front on my entire traveling group (30 + people), several employees from the Chinese company, and the Dean of the school of business from my university.  I couldn't embarrass the school by losing.

It's a good thing I like pressure.  To quote James Marshall, former president of the United Stated of America:

"Get off my plane!"

比賽 THE MATCH 比賽

This match would be unlike any of my previous challenges.  The relatively small room was packed with people.  Many eyeballs were focused on the table and two participants doing ping-pong battle.  Nerves were a factor.  As a result I started the game off with consecutive unforced errors.  With each point I was losing I could feel the pressure mounting.  I couldn't embarrass the group and bring shame to my university by not putting up a fight, I needed to put up a better effort.

Despite winning a few points, Eddie was in complete control of the match.  It was his world and I was just living in it.  Even when I hit clean hard shots they would be returned with relative ease.  After one particular shot I felt like turing to Eddie's work boss who was in the room and saying, "I hope this guy is as good a worker as he is ping-pong player!"  I ultimately decided against saying it because it would, once again, result in some awkward second language translating.  I was already getting embarrassed enough during the match, no need to compound things by attempting to be clever.

The new-found confidence I gained during my Xi'an sweep was slipping away with each losing point.  If I didn't act fast, I would ruin my university's reputation in Shanghai forever.  In some disaterous imaginary scenario, I could imagine the Dean of our business school having to apologize for my performance saying things like:

"He's not really with our group, we just bring him along to show a bit of charity,  he doesn't attend our school, I've never actually seen him in my life now that I think of it."

 or 

"Normally he's a lot better, don't see this as a sign of ineptitude for the rest of the group"

The showdown in Shanghai was quickly becoming the beatdown of Shanghai.  I was out of my league as Eddie wasn't showing me much mercy.  Enthusiasm in the room was waining, the cuteness and novelty of having one of theAmerican university students play Eddie in ping-pong was slowly wearing off.  To be honest, I don't think anyone really cared outside of me.  I figured this out when I won a rare point and looked around to see disinterested faces.

This is the part of the story where I describe some sort of miraculous shot that wins me not only the momentum of the match, but also the spirit of the room.  My fellow students would be galvanized.  They would cheer me on with shouts of "USA!...USA!...USA!...USA!"  I would battle Eddie to a satisfying and hard-fought victory, and despite our national and cultural differences, we would end the game with a hearty hand shake.  It would kind of be like the typical movie scenario where the bad guy or bully is defeated by the hero, and yet still earns his begrudging respect by winking or smiling at him.  That is what I want to say happen...I wish.

Reality would be less kind than my dream scenario.  I could read the writing on the wall, and it was written in plain Chinese characters, 失败者 or LOSER.  There was nothing I could do.  As Eddie plodded away winning the remain points of the match I was left was the realization that I was facing a result that couldn't have been any more utterly expected.

WINNER: EDDIE

As if this was a surprise? Full of shame I slunk away from the table.  Truly a pathetic display of table-tennis.  Not only was this my most thorough defeat, it is also the most embarrassing.  I felt like I had let down not only my university, but marginally talented ping-pong players everywhere.  Eddie, despite wearing a shirt and tie, didn't break a sweat.  He had made his point.

This wasn't exactly the note that I wanted to go out on. My comprehensive defeat was a bitter way to end my ping-pong challenge, yet I held my head high.  I had competed with the best, and despite the fact I could't hold my own, I gave it my best shot, and after all, isn't that  the most important thing?  Yes I realize that this is epic loser talk, but what else can I say?  I was utterly manhandled during the match, grasping at straws to find moral victories is theonly card that I can play right now. 

朝时运至 THE END OF A JOURNEY 朝时运至

China is an incredible part of the world.  The people are kind and the culture is rich. My ping-pong trials had come to an end.  It had truly been a choice experience that I would never forget.  With the exception of the Shanghai debacle, I had held my own against the best, and I had no regrets.  I respected and admired each one of my opponents, they had taught me much about ping-pong.

My challenges had brought me from the playgrounds of Beijing, and university parks of Xi'an, to the high-rising skyline ofShanghai.  Each city had it's own charm, and each challenge brought a unique memory that I can't forget.  Not only had I faired well against competition, but the trials galvanized and energized two nations. Excitement over table-tennis had not been this high since the Ping-pong diplomacy exchange of 1971.

With a record of 2-2, it was time for me to announce my official retirement from international ping-pong competition.  I decided against calling a press conference from my hotel, instead I just sent a press release to the local newspaper in Guilin.  I'm not sure what my official world ranking was at the time of my retirement, however the last time I checked, I was below HAO Shuai, however still above MIZUTANI Jun from Japan.

The way of the paddle is a path of discipline, a path of self-mastery, and a path of sidespin.  Can I imagine a day where I come out of retirement to, once again, challenge China in yet another ping-pong trial? Perhaps.  

Overall my Chinese ping-pong journey can be summed up by a classic lyric from a legendary American rock song:

Sometimes the lights all shinning on me...

Other times I can barely see...

Lately it occurs to me, what a long, strange trip it's been.