| SATA NEWS SAM ARNOLD TENNIS ACADEMIES |
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Action Sports Feeding Language Learning Frenzy!
by Jonathon Walsh (Hiragana Times – July 1st, 2004) While Australian sports people have soared to incredible heights since the 2000 Sydney Olympics, few can say they have played tennis with a President. That is unless your name is Sam Arnold. The Adelaide-native is now Director of the huge SAM ARNOLD TENNIS ACADEMY (SATA) in Tokyo’s Setagaya ward, but before coming to Japan in 1999, he worked as a tennis coach to the rich & famous in Los Angeles. Sam has played tennis with U.S. President Bill Clinton, George Bush’s brother, Neil Bush, actors Dustin Hoffman, Jason Priestley, Jane Seymour, Olivia Newton-John & even coached Mel Gibson’s children. With 34 tennis courts, two indoor basketball courts, a baseball diamond, a swimming pool, aerobics & weights studios, SATA offers more than enough for those wanting to improve their fitness. Volleyball, water polo, squash & badminton are also on the menu for the 350-400 patrons who visit the center each day. “Joining SATA is not just a way to learn a new sport,” Sam explains. “The most important benefit of the academy is that people from different cultures can mix & enjoy each others company. We have many Japanese University students & young people attend during the week, & so many foreigners visit in the weekends I often feel I am back in Australia,” he says with a smile. “A lot of Japanese want to go abroad & coming to SATA is a very good way to make valuable contacts,” Sam says. “Japanese join to improve their communication skills & learn to mix with non-Japanese, many of whom are embassy staff, doctors, lawyers & other professionals.” On the other hand, foreigners tend to come to the academy to communicate & find friends, Sam adds. “A lot of foreigners find this club is very beneficial since many of the Japanese patrons are trying to learn English so the atmosphere is just right for cross-cultural communication to take place. People with any level of playing or communication ability can join which suits many of our members. We promote the club as being bilingual,” he says. While tennis & basketball make up 80% of the bookings, there is an additional benefit players may not be aware of. “SATA is the feeder club to the JBL (Japan Basketball League),” Sam remarks. “They send their scouts here to check out & evaluate our players to fill their teams so watch out – if you are good, you might be asked to sign up!” The main reasons people come to the academy are to improve their fitness, communicate & to meet other members. Networking is also big, Sam says. “We have many members who have met here and are now doing business with each other.” Another major benefit is the very low membership fees. “When I first came to Japan I saw many sports clubs charging exorbitant joining fees of over Y100,000,” Sam recounts. “We charge only Y2,000 to join, & session fees of Y4,000 to play tennis & Y2,000 for basketball. Whenever you are free to play, you can book within a weeks notice.” Sam also runs similar academies in Hong Kong & Los Angeles and plans to open a new centers in Kuala Lumpur in 2005 & Singapore in 2006. “If you join any one of the clubs, you can play at any of the others. As the club expands, the networking possibilities expand. It is opening up the Japanese to different people throughout Asia.” SAM'S AN ACE TO PRESIDENT BILL by Herald Sun - Sep.7th, 1997 Former Williamstown tennis pro, Sam Arnold, plans to give United States President, Bill Clinton, a real serve. And after that, he will give him a few decent ground strokes & a better lob. "The President's backhand is pretty shabby," said the fearless Arnold from his Los Angeles home at the weekend. "But you have to remember that he's hardly played any sport, since he injured his knee at Greg Norman's place." Arnold, 28, helps with the court skills of the President through his work at the exclusive Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles. He has played with Mr.Clinton twice in recent weeks, with the promise of more sessions to come. "He told me he really enjoyed it, & he wants to keep it going," said Arnold, who grew up in Adelaide, but honed his tennis skills in the years he lived in Williamstown in the early '90s. "It looks like I could become his regular coach." He may have benefited by the re-emergence of Australia as a tennis power - particularly through Pat Rafter's brilliance in the U.S.Open. There was a time when Arnold hoped he woulds be up there with Rafter & the rest. He played the satallite circuit with some success, but had his spirit broken by a Williamstown junior who whipped him regularly. The kid's name was Philippoussis. I went to Hong Kong where I coached Neil Bush, whose father was President George Bush. That opened a few doors when I moved to LA," said Arnold, who was in the right place at the right time when Mr.Clinton turned up at Hillcrest looking for a game. "We played doubles against the LA mayor & another coach & we won 6-2. Then I sorted out a few of the President's problem areas." Really? Like Bosnia & the middle East? Outstanding.... |
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