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I returned to ping pong today, after a haitus of probably a few years (torn Achilles tendon; the pandemic; worsening of my Parkinson’s symptoms, among other problems.)
I was shaky at first, with real Parkinson’s tremors in my right hand and a clumsy stiffness in my legs. And in the back of my mind was a fear of falling and breaking a bone in my body, as happened to a member of our Ping Pong Parkinson’s group (click!).
But as you’ll see in the videos below, I fit right back in with my terrific instructor, Kokuo, who competed in the Tokyo Olympics.
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In this first video, we’re just volleying back and forth, all forehand.
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In the second video, we practice backhand.
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In the third video, the drill is to switch from forehand to backhand, adding an extra volley each time: first just one back hand followed by one forehand, then two backhands followed by two forehands, then three backhands, and so on. It requires that I keep count of how many balls I’ve hit, and I have to step from side to side.
I had only a 30-minute lesson, as I wasn’t sure how long my legs would hold out. But they were fine until I got home, after which they were wobbly.
I’m ready for more.
Note: To learn more about ping pong for people with Parkinson’s, visit their website.
Very impressive, Bruce!