(A light-hearted look at my playing/coaching instincts)

Every coach has a natural style. Some coach like teachers, some like analysts, some like motivators.
I recently realised, with a smile and a raised eyebrow, that my own tactical instincts seem to line up surprisingly well with… the Huns.

Yes. The ancient horse-archer warriors. And yes… I’m Hungarian. So the irony writes itself. Let me explain (before anyone starts galloping across the sports hall).

1. Pressure… then movement

The Huns didn’t stand still and trade blows. They applied pressure, created uncertainty, then moved before the opponent reacted. This is basically badminton footwork done right.

Apply pressure, read cues, disappear from danger, re-appear in opportunity. All without breaking rhythm.

2. Hit–and–run (the peaceful version)

They would strike, retreat, reposition… strike again. I coach rallies almost exactly like this.

Not chasing power. Chasing timing. Not forcing collisions. Forcing mistakes.

3. Feigned retreats (Setting traps in the game)

Their specialty was pretending to back off, waiting for the enemy to rush forward, then punishing the overcommitment.

I’ve done this countless times in matches. Many of my players do it naturally now. It’s basically:

“Let them think you’re off balance… then take the point while they’re celebrating.”

Attila would be proud…

4. Speed over strength

The Huns were not big shield-wall fighters. They were fast, agile, unpredictable. That’s exactly how I teach movement and tactical choices. Use angles, not force. Use space, not size. Use clarity, not chaos.

5. Psychological pressure (the healthy kind)

Their true power was not violence, it was uncertainty.

Enemies didn’t know:

• where they’d attack from,
• when they’d appear,
• or what angle they’d choose.

In badminton, we have opponents and that’s called controlling the rally.

Make your opponent react. Make them guess wrong. Make them uncomfortable in the right moments. All done respectfully, calmly, and without burning down any villages.

So what does this mean for my coaching?

It means my approach naturally focuses on:

• timing instead of brute force,
• clarity under pressure,
• attacking space, not bodies,
• adapting faster than the opponent,
• and using intelligence over intensity.

Whether this comes from experience, instinct, or ancient Hungarian DNA… I’ll let you decide.

But one thing is certain: my players learn to fight their battles with strategy, calmness and confidence,
not with chaos. And that, at least, is a legacy I’m happy to claim.