Tatiana Nabieva - her experiences in China

 Tatyana Nabieva and Maria Paseka spent a year in China, working as coaches for the country's women's national team. We spoke with Tatyana about her experience working with Chinese gymnasts and memories of the trip.

❓ How did the idea to go to China even come about? Was this a long-planned invitation from the Chinese side?

💬 This was a complete surprise for me. I was in Dagestan, I had my plans lined up, but Masha called and asked if I wanted to go to China to work. I enjoy risk, so I answered: “Why not, let’s go!”

❓ You went to training camps in Russia for many years as a gymnast and even as a personal trainer. What was your job in China?

💬 Let me correct you, in Russia I only went to a training camp once as a personal trainer, replacing my coach. And we were invited to China as specialists to work on individual apparatus. We worked with the Chinese women's team in Beijing.

❓ What kind of equipment did you work with and did you have any specific task formulated before starting work?

💬 We worked with vault and acrobatics, this was a priority. We practiced both basic elements and complex jumps. Somewhere they helped with acrobatics, more technical aspects. I also worked a little on the uneven bars.

❓ It’s better not to ask anything about the elements, probably you can’t tell anything other than what they themselves show from training?

💬 It’s better not to ask, they have strict rules about this. In general, in this regard, perhaps they are great, because everything is confidential and strict with them.

❓Masha already talked a little about training moments in the podcast, that in China the main emphasis is on the balance beam.

💬 Oh yes! The log is their signature weapon! By the way, for the first time in my life I watched their twirling on the uneven bars. Since we don’t make them here, it looked really nice!

❓ Will you install equipment like this for your students? Or does it also depend on body type?

💬 Of course, I have a vision of how I will work with children. And there are many factors: physique, coordination, performance! We are still different, we need to find an individual approach to each child.

 The Chinese team opened my eyes to some things. I had a good experience from this trip. The Chinese are very efficient and hardworking!

❓ Were there other invited specialists in China? At least the Chinese media posted a report about the floor exercise choreographers.

💬 There were specialists in floor choreography a couple of times, and they put together a very beautiful program. The choreographers were from different countries, I talked a little with one of them, she is French. There was a funny moment when I was helping her with translation. The choreographer spoke in English, I translated it into Russian for the translator, and the translator explained it to the girl in Chinese. This happened only once, since each of us had our own translator. But it was also interesting to take part in such a role.

❓ It sounds unusual for Russia that other specialists are regularly invited to the base. What do you think? Is it necessary to do this?

💬 It would be cool if Chinese gymnasts were invited to join us at Krugloe for joint training or vice versa. Russian and Chinese gymnasts are the strongest in the world. Sharing experiences is always good. God willing, it will be so.

❓ It’s difficult to imagine working with gymnasts through a translator. Some things are difficult to explain even in Russian, but through a translator it is doubly difficult. Did you have any difficulties with this? Or was it easier to show it somewhere?

💬 Our translator is smart, because it is difficult for an ordinary person and in their native language to learn the names of gymnastic elements and how they are performed. The translator had to learn in a short time not just a few words, but a huge amount of professional specific vocabulary. And most importantly, it must be explained in such a way that the child understands.

 I also listened to how she translated what she said, asked her how to say it correctly and learned some terms in Chinese.

I had smart girls, in the process they learned enough Russian words and understood what I wanted from them. But in general, gesturing helped a lot.

I often drew my student’s attention to how the guys were jumping and asked: “Did you see?” One day we once again watch the men jump, I silently turn my head towards my student, she smiles and says to me: “Did you see it?” It was 1:0 in her favor, I really remember this moment.

❓ Both Masha and you have already mentioned efficiency several times. Are they really that different from the usual attitude towards training in Russia?

For example, in figure skating, Russian coaches note that foreign figure skaters really value their time on the ice, but there is a huge financial component - ice is expensive. What is the motivation of girls in China?

💬 VERY hardworking and efficient girls! What motivates them? Perhaps the same as for any gymnast - the goal is to perform at the World Championships and Olympic Games.

I know our gymnasts who know how to work and fight until the end! No one will break the Russian spirit 💪🏻 In this regard, we are no different, but we have different methods and work systems.

In general, was working in China perceived as work-work or more like an adventure? Did you feel like you wanted to give up everything and come back?

💬 Yes, everything happened😅

But in general there was work, I was completely focused on work.

I was constantly thinking about how best to do it. Or again about an individual approach - how to say it correctly so that the child really understands me.

Vera Iosifovna (Kiryashova) helped with advice and supported me, even when it was difficult. I sometimes thought about what Alexander Vasilyevich (Kiryashov, Tanya’s coach, who sadly died a few years ago)  would do, say or show... It helped me a lot.

After work it was also interesting to take a walk and look at Beijing. We have been to tournaments in other cities and provinces. To be honest, it’s easier to perform on your own than to watch students at competitions. Maybe it wasn’t visible from the outside, but my worries knew no bounds) I learned all the girls’ combinations and, with my eyes, like my coach, guided them through, doing exercises with them.

Now I understand how the coach feels when we perform😁👍🏻

❓ If you were offered such a contract again, would you go?

💬 Yes!

❓Are there any funny stories about Chinese cuisine?

💬 😁😁😁 I was only able to try 5% of the 100 foods.

The cuisine is varied and interesting) But as it turned out, it was not for me🤷🏼‍♀

Masha tried everything with pleasure, ate tofu, but I didn’t like it. In general, I had a very difficult relationship with food 😅 But still, I managed to find something. Such small chicken and beef kebabs, but they are really small.

They have this interesting dish called “hot pot”. This is a “grill” in the middle of the table on which you cook yourself. They bring you what you ordered (chicken or meat) and you sit there and fry it, literally for a minute and everything is ready.

❓ Did you have any rest from work?

💬 I took a vacation for 13 days, walked around Beijing, visited the Memorial Museum, there is a very emotional exhibition there.

I managed to get to Shanghai for 3 days. This is a wonderful city, very beautiful!

I walked there non-stop all these days, but the only thing I did was get caught in the rain, and as the locals told me, in Shanghai the rain lasts for a month😂 So I ended up in this month)

Shanghai is one of the largest fashion cities, and when I was walking I saw various photo shoots. The city is similar to St. Petersburg and New York. I didn't want to leave there. On one side of the river is New Shanghai, on the other side is Old Shanghai. Architecture, atmosphere, new and old buildings harmoniously coexist, a lot of people walking quietly, no one is in a hurry and, of course, different street food)

And if you choose between Beijing and Shanghai, I would choose Shanghai)

I climbed a skyscraper there, probably 280 floors - it was cool and scary. When I stood on the transparent glass, many interesting thoughts appeared😂

Masha (Maria Paseka) could not go with me, since at least one person had to stay to work. Therefore, she took vacations at other times, but I think the next time we fly to China and there is an opportunity, we will first go to Shanghai, I almost know it. So I’ll show her and tell her what and how.

❓ If we didn’t know, we would still guess after this comment that you are from St. Petersburg😂

💬St. Petersburg is my soul) I adore my city, although I spend very little time in the center, but every time I come, it’s wow for me and I think “Lord, thank you that I was born in such a beautiful city.”

❓What about shopping? Did you take two suitcases from there?

💬I took 4 suitcases and 6 boxes 😂The hardest part was unpacking 🤦🏼‍♀

❓ Do you miss China already?

💬 I miss the girls! We said a very touching goodbye! I was lucky with the coaching staff, they treated me very well and we became friends.

Now the Asian Games are going on and I can’t watch them, I was nervous and worried, but everything seems to be fine.

I will also be nervous at the World Championships😅 Because there are also girls there with whom I managed to work very well🙏🏻❤

❓ What will you do in Russia now? Will you return to work in Dagestan?

💬 While I'm minding my own business at home, I help my mom. I'm on vacation from work, but not from household chores😅

And then - what and how will be seen. I definitely need to go to Dagestan, see the gymnasts, they already wrote to me that they miss me very much and are waiting for me, and I also need to go to my relatives.

❓ Thank you very much for answering the questions. Well done to you for deciding to take this trip. We wish you great luck in your coaching work!

💬 Thank you very much! While we are young, we must try and take risks, but never forget about the Motherland!