Comparison of training in USA and China in terms of Sports

Pasay, Philippines
August 7, 2012 3:05am CST
As I’ve read the article on how the children trained in China http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2182127/How-China-trains-children-win-gold--standing-girls-legs-young-boys-hang-bars.html?ICO=most_read_module I am totally wondering if that is really for them to be trained or it is like they are being physically tortured already in order for them to learn and to become champion. Yes I understand in some instances some practitioners sometimes can beaten so that they will learn more and forced themselves to work very hard. Just like in Kung Fu I’ve already seen on TV that at times some of them are being beaten so that they will be having presence of mind and the body must be in proper position. But in some other sense as like what I’ve read on that article, I can’t totally judge 100% if the kids are being tortured already. Because if that kind of training will happen here in our country then the trainers will be surely reported in human rights or even DSWD. Now my question is do you think the training will have to be too much strict this way in order for them to be champion? Just right now I already understand that practitioners in Martial Arts of Chinese are being beaten when they commit mistakes but not being tortured unlike the athletes. Maybe it is effective but I am wondering what if that kid or a person is physically sensitive? I mean how much tolerance it will be for that kind of training? Just accept it that not all human can tolerate of being physically hurt or even being beaten. Again does it have to be that way in order for them to become professional? Now in comparison with the USA training my question here also if that is like that too? I haven’t heard any feedback in regards with that matter. Though as you have watched on the news they really gained gold medals especially in swimming. I believe to the fact of no pain no gain, but usually this message implies if the students are being motivated to do what she wants no matter how hard it is. Example in ballet, if you really like ballet then you are also willing to sacrifice like at times your feet will be wounded because you know it is also part of your job. But having pain for being tortured and forced is at times will cause them into danger or it can be health as well.
1 person likes this
4 responses
• United States
8 Aug 12
I know that with China failure is simply not an option because children and adults are expected to be the best of the best. I teach Chinese student how to speak English during the summer, and I can tell you that many of them know that they have to succeed or else. They are taught to learn English at a very young age. Some of them are reluctant learners and they don't want to learn, but the minute they get back to China, and their parents have seen what they have learned or haven't learned will determine what they will do to that child. They are pretty strict when it comes to just about anything.
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• Pasay, Philippines
9 Aug 12
Maybe because it has something to do with the population as what the other poster stated. In my other point of view seems like they really have to be the best or else. But yeah if most of them are having that kind of mentality then expect it that is much competitive and challenging.
@artemeis (4194)
• China
7 Aug 12
I do not really know what to actually say about the news article but I have to disagree that the children are being tortured. Again, this is just another bad journalism from the western world where they just report without any proper understanding and doing their homework. I think the best sum up would probably be the interview conducted during the Beijing Olympics involving USA's women's volleyball coach where she was being asked just what the difference is during her time as a trainee and now as the head coach of the America team. She mentioned that the main difference being that the Chinese training is more intense where there's no such thing as recreation or entertainment in their training schedule. Every undertaking in the Chinese camp is no nonsense and very concentrated. No pain no gain and unfortunately this has to be literally taught at a tender age. So, children can be seen crying or even screaming when they experience pain during their training. It is just natural. From a common sense perspective, I am sure we Chinese will be insane if these training camps are actually torture camps that is just out to torture our children and we are sending them there. Say what they like but I think the current results (medal tally) in the London Olympics is a clear testimony that the trainings are conducted correctly and is actually wielding remarkable results.
• Pasay, Philippines
9 Aug 12
I agree that there are times it is about the false statement of the media that can lead to misinterpretation to the extent that people will believe if that is already torture or training. I have seen the other training China and seems that they really want to make it intense.
@lampar (7584)
• United States
9 Aug 12
Yes, it is tough on those kids who has to train vigorously inside China in preparation for international sport matches, all of them are being told at very young age it is their duty to win gold medal for the sake on pride of the Chinese nation and for the survival of superiority of communism ideology. It is their patriotic and national duty to train hard, perform well and win in every international sport event. The indoctrination of nationalistic spirit is always done at a very young age to these children who are enlisted for national training camp to represent their country abroad. Those children and their parent who can't make it through the training camp are considered as liability/shame to the country, those who can make it and graduated from the camp are promised bright future await for them by the national leader. For China, it is considered a serious matter as far as gold medal is concerned, they don't like the idea of sending their athletes to Olympic or ASEAN game for representation only without winning or for the sake of friendly match only, that is why those children are put on a very vigorous training program to win, not just train to represent their country only. Due to the hardship training program, China is reaping some of the reward now from their representation in Olympic.
@lampar (7584)
• United States
10 Aug 12
China had actually put in some real effort to scout for young talents annually in preparation for their national sport team without a doubt, most of their athletes are trained at very young age, they had to go through vigorous and tough trainig camp to create world champion and top athele, the young talents are push very hard to achieve the impossible feast if possible by their coach. It is a long process and need plenty of dough on the part of the Chinese's national government willing to pay big $$ to search for the best coach, top talent and training facility for the sake of their future glory in internatioanl sport events. In the near future, China will be another great nation in the hall of fame on gold medalists like USA, it is no more a sleepy giant that is fill with sick men, women and opium addicts like the rest of the world want them to......
• Pasay, Philippines
10 Aug 12
nice point of view lampar. Though I am wondering now how about the Chinese players who were cheated like they are having strategy to the point that they were all disqualified from the game? All athletes around the world has objective to make themselves a winner and grab the gold. But this is very challenging and competitive that at times they can't avoid that there will be a champion from other countries that can be better than them. Now as you look the medal tally, USA is becoming no.1 I am wondering now if the training in USA is same with China?
• Singapore
7 Aug 12
I guess China has a larger population, hence they may not treasure life as much as other countries with smaller population do. But ultimately, these trainings or what we see as "torture" seem effective in letting their athletes achieve their success in the Olympic games. Different countries do things in different ways, we may have objections on how human rights should be, but at the end of the day, it's about the human spirit and the determination of oneself to achieve your desired results in life.
• Pasay, Philippines
9 Aug 12
You have a point there but then they must still accept the fact that they can't be champion all the time. As what happened to the volleyball the other day China loses the game and some of the players were crying. I don't know if that is about acceptance of defeat or it is because she was afraid of something.