SAM ARNOLD TENNIS ACADEMY(SATA) Sam ARNOLD

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 was ranked among the world's top 500 tennis players in 1990 and 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 and famous in Los Angeles. Sam has played tennis with U.S. Presidents Bill CLINTON and George W. BUSH, actors Dustin HOFFMAN and Jason PRIESTLEY, Jane SEYMOUR and even coached Mel GIBSON's children.

With 34 tennis courts, two indoor basketball courts, a baseball diamond, a swimming pool, aerobics and weights studios, SATA offers more than enough for those wanting to improve their fitness. Volleyball, water polo, squash and 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 and enjoy each other's company. We have many Japanese University students and young people attending during the week, and 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 and coming to SATA is a very good way to make valuable contacts," Sam says. "Japanese join to improve their communication skills and learn to mix with non-Japanese, many of whom are embassy staff, doctors, lawyers and other professionals."

Sports Open up Opportunities for Networking
On the other hand, foreigners tend to come to the academy to communicate and 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 and 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 our players to fill their teams so watch out - if you are good, you might be asked to sign!"

The main reasons people come to the academy are to improve their fitness, communicate and 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 100,000 yen," Sam recounts. "We charge only 4,000 yen to join, and session fees of 4,000 yen to play tennis and 2,000 yen for basketball. Whenever you are free to play, you can book within a weeks notice."

Sam also runs similar academies in Hong Kong and Los Angeles and plans to open a new center in Singapore in 2005. "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."

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