Through Anne-Charlotte Bouleau
Published on
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As far back as he can remember, Herehau Li has always been athletic. As a child, he walked on the tatami mats of several martial arts, such as judo and kung fu, before moving, a little later, to ju-jitsu and Thai boxing.
The water sports were not to be outdone, enjoying both surfing, paddle boarding and, of course, va’a, so many activities that he still practices today.
“At school too, I was a jack of all trades, including team sports, such as volleyball,” he recalls. But it was through Thai boxing that he first set foot in coaching, his interest in training methods pushing him to pass his federal instructor diploma, at age 19, thus following in his father’s footsteps. If he was considering a career as a high school sports teacher, Herehau Li finally took a different approach, seizing a unique opportunity.
Getting started despite the crisis
“Normally, to train, you have to go to France, but exceptionally, a sports coach training was opened in Tahiti, through the IJSPF, in 2018. When I heard about it, I dark subscribe! It lasted ten months: it was rather intense and selective, but I got my diploma, ”he explains.
In the process, he started as a traveling coach, providing home sessions between the Peninsula and the urban area. A year ago, just before the health crisis erupted, Herehau Li was already planning to settle in Taravao, himself residing in Toahotu since his adolescence.
Between confinement, restrictions targeting sports halls and administrative procedures, not to mention the doubts inherent in setting up a business, the 25-year-old young man armed himself with patience, to finally inaugurate his own premises, the month last, under the name of Tahiti Personal Training.
“There are only two other venues in the area, and each has its specificities. I do a lot of private coaching, plus some small group time slots at the end of the day. There is still plenty to do in coaching, which is not as well known as in the city. It is both an opportunity and a challenge! I’m pretty happy with the start, but there’s a lot of management work behind it, ”he notes, with a busy schedule already.
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