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The Principle
With a combined passion for music, the arts and athletics as well as academics, Beeyong promoted and encouraged a well balanced scheme of development. His method of teaching was based on the principle of nature and nurture, a child's growth with proper activities through unhurried time – a good mind and spirit must develop with a good body. A staunch follower of both Rousseau and the Pestalozzi principle (18 th century Swiss philosophers) of “learning through play”, Beeyong believes that:
“The foundation of education should be organic, meaning that intellectual, moral and physical education (or in Pestalozzi's words, development of “head, heart and body”) should be integrated and the education should draw upon the faculties or “self-power” inherent in human being. Training should be literally the drawing-out of this self-power, a development of abilities through activity; -- in the physical field by encouraging manual work and exercises, in the moral field by stimulating moral actions, and in the intellectual field by eliciting the correct use of the senses in observing concrete things accurately and making judgments upon them. Words, ideas, practices and morals have meaning only when related to concrete things."
Beeyong was able to interpret most of these principles in the playing field where children are started out by conceptualizing – muscle memory (physical relations to materials) and a strong ground in basics and fundamentals. The results have been astounding as parents report improvement of their youth's study and work habits, self-esteem and confidence, and a sense of realistic achievement.
Beeyong's program is “child-centered, not subject centered and there must be emphasis on object lessons that acquaint the young with realities of life. The development of skills is emphasized, not for their own sake, but in connection with intellectual and moral growth. The activities should strive to know the nature of the child in order to determine the details of his education. This means that the stages of training and education must be related to the stages of youth development”.
Specifically, Beeyong adheres to the principle that any improvement of athletic performance in tennis can only be achieved after five to ten years of systematic training and activity. A high level of performance could be attained at the age of sixteen and maintained until forty years old, as the history of tennis has shown in the likes of Connors, Rosewell, and Filipinos like Ampon and Deyro.
Experience and study have also convinced Beeyong that age consideration must not be decisive factor in measuring a youth's progress since some athletes are far ahead from others in development and performance growth while athletes who develop slowly catch up at a later period and achieve excellent results. He insists that chronological age is not always an accurate indicator of development.
Admitting that the competition in the game has become more intense and success is more difficult to come by, Beeyong professes that “if an athlete encounters “triumph and defeat”, these two impostors must be treated one and the same and they should not deter an individual from attaining the standards he has set for himself. Competition must be properly understood. Opponents must not be viewed as enemies but as friends.” Beeyong further explains that “the word competition comes from two Latin root words, com and petere , which means, to seek together. True competition is identical with cooperation. When two performing individuals match their skills and wits against each other, both are able to elevate their respective level of performance. Overall, winning may not be as significant as the value and satisfaction gained from self-improvement.”
Asked on how he was able to open numerous doors for himself the world over, Beeyong answers, “Diplomacy”. He always believed that the ideals of tennis as an international sport are for cementing friendly ties among participants. Players are ambassadors of goodwill, individuals whose conduct, on and off court, is impeccable and whose love for the game is authentic beyond challenge.
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