Badmintomania

Anna Ciok, a coach certified by the Badminton World Federation (BWF Coach Level 1 and 2), a second-class PZBad coach, a tutor for the Shuttle Time program—which introduces badminton to schools—and a translator of Shuttle Time training materials. She is a participant in numerous coaching consultations at the Badminton Europe-certified Training Centre in Odense (Denmark). A graduate of the University of Physical Education in Warsaw, she is a former national team player, a team European championship runner-up, a multiple-time medalist of the Polish Championships, a team runner-up at the 2015 Polish Academic Championships, and a bronze medalist in doubles at the 2015 European Academic Championships.

Since 2007, she has been a coach at the AZS University of Warsaw club, where she conducts training sessions for children and adults at all levels of proficiency.
She also leads badminton classes for students at the University of Warsaw.

In 2011, she founded the Badmintomania! Badminton School, where she primarily conducts classes for children and teenagers. Phew. That’s a lot for one girl. And that is precisely why we had a heart-to-heart with Ms. Ania :)

1. We got interested in badminton somewhat by accident. Before, we had no idea that it was such a popular discipline—and that it really is a sport... When I heard the word "badminton," my imagination conjured up a scene from a holiday: kids running around with rackets chasing a shuttlecock that was being blown away by the wind forever... How did your adventure with badminton begin? Why this particular discipline?

I started my adventure with badminton at the age of 8. I played often with my parents during the holidays and I really liked this sport. One day, a man came to school with an announcement about badminton classes. I took the bait immediately. I showed the announcement to my parents, went to a practice, and that's how I stayed :)

2. Almost like love at first sight! And an exceptionally serious love at that, considering that many years later you founded a children's section for this discipline! How did that come about?

The children's section was established in 2007. After staying in England, where I organized sports activities for various groups of children aged 8-15, I decided to try my hand as a badminton coach. I already had experience working with children, badminton had always been my passion, and I decided that I wanted to link my life to this very discipline. The beginnings were very difficult; there weren't many people interested... When I started conducting classes, the group consisted of two or three children. Now, our group has about 70 children aged 6-14. We have divided them into children training competitively and children who treat badminton as a way to spend their free time actively. The former train 4-6 times a week, go with us to camps in Poland and abroad, and play in tournaments. The recreational group, on the other hand, plays badminton once or twice a week, depending on their preferences and availability.

3. Wow! That’s a huge leap and a lot of great work in terms of popularizing this discipline. Looking at badminton in general—is there a lot of interest in this discipline? I still feel like badminton is more associated with the beach than an Olympic sport...

From year to year, there are more and more people playing badminton. This is evident not only in the number of people training in our groups but also in our tournaments. For comparison—when I started organizing badminton tournaments back in 2011 or 2012—we played on 4 courts and the tournament lasted about 3-4 hours. Now, we play on 10 courts and have to limit the number of participants just to finish the tournament in one day. We play from 8:30 AM to 10:00 PM!

5. What achievements can the children's section boast about?

Our competitors win medals at national badminton tournaments in singles, doubles, and mixed games. Last season, 2015/2016, our player, Andrzej Niczyporuk, won a double Polish championship—in singles and mixed doubles. Our player, Marta Styczyńska, won the Warsaw Championship.

6. What are the section's plans for the future?

We cooperate with a Danish coach and try to go to training camps with him at least twice a year. In the near future, we are going to a camp in Finland with two of our players—Marta and Jędrek. Currently, we are preparing for the Polish Championships for Younger Youth and Youth. And in our further plans, of course, the Olympics.

Certainly. Bodyshape, which is a vibration mat, was created specifically as a gentle alternative for people who, for various reasons, cannot use shiatsu massage performed by massage heads.

And for such people, it will certainly be ideal. For me, however, such vibration is too gentle, not noticeable enough; the muscle mass dampens it.

Do you follow any diet?

I am not a fan of diets at all. I believe in the effectiveness of balanced nutrition and keeping track of the right amount of calories. You have to eat what your mother taught you, what you like—as long as it’s in moderation. You need to ensure you supplement your macronutrients and not eat carbohydrates at night. I'm also not a fan of chicken breasts—I just eat meat to provide protein. I eat seasonal fruit, I regularly eat fermented foods, I use a lot of spices, and I supplement vitamin E and D3.

And that’s it?

Of course, there is also work, effort, and muscle development. We are creatures with athletic bodies, and we must take care of these bodies. But unfortunately, current society is on bad terms with sports. Many people complain about various health problems, and yet, if they recall their childhood or youth, they didn't have those problems. They ran, lived actively, and nothing bothered them. Those problems appeared not only as a result of age or genetic predispositions, but above all, it is a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet. On top of that, there is stress—not just oxidative, but also caused by the chase for money. Shopping has become a way to spend time. Instead of going for a walk or a bike ride, people go to Lidl and Biedronka. They don't try to spend their free time together actively. This is most visible since non-trading Sundays were introduced—people don't know what to do with themselves when stores are closed. We lack a national program that would promote physical activity. And yet, physical activity and sports are the best way to preserve yourself. My meniscus problem is most likely not the fault of age, but the repercussions of a car accident.

But outdoor gyms have appeared in playgrounds…

Yes, they appeared, but what of it, when there are no proper instructions there and people don't know how to use them, or how many repetitions of a given exercise to perform? Since such investments have been made, teachers should, for example, take students to outdoor gyms during PE lessons at schools and explain how to use them. Besides, Poland is not Spain—how much time of the year can these gyms be used? It's not a beach in Barcelona where you can use such equipment all year round. Such solutions are completely disproportionate to the actual demand. On the other hand, I was officiating at a competition recently. People walk around and whisper, "Oh, I wish I could look like that" or "I wish I could look like that." No problem—you just have to come to the club, start exercising. The form won't build itself.

And people don't come to the club?

Unfortunately, fewer and fewer people find the time for it. I will probably have to close my gym—although I feel sorry for it because I have been connected to this place for 40 years. I proposed to the district that I would hand over the club to them, but I would be happy to come and train people, even for free. I have the knowledge and experience, and I would be happy to share it with others. But what can you do when there is no interest? I don't know which direction all of this will head... for now, it's not going in a good direction. Society is getting weaker; it prefers to reach for pills instead of taking care of the quality of nutrition or physical condition. Let's remember that only sports can save us.