Meet Yoon Bong Woo: From Pro Volleyball Champion to Volleyball Training Pioneer
WAVEWEAR FRIENDS
Volleyball Player / CEO of It's Volley | @itsvolley_official
Athlete Stats: 200cm, 89kg
WaveWear Fit: T20 (XL), K2 (XL), F1 (L), Side-slit Shorts (XL)
"2006 Doha Asian Games Gold Medalist & KBSN Volleyball Commentator"
"I want to teach fun and easy volleyball."
Interview with Yoon Bong Woo
What got you started in volleyball?
I started playing sports in my second year of middle school, which is relatively late compared to other athletes. My PE teacher recommended me because of my height, and from then on, I traveled between my hometown Yeosu and the training ground in Mokpo to continue my career. After college, I met coach Kim Ho-chul at Hyundai Capital, and that's when I truly opened my eyes to volleyball.
As I learned various tactics and techniques with my head and practiced with my body, I came to understand the true charm of volleyball. When I finished my playing career in Japan, I was able to establish a vision for my volleyball life ahead.
You were #1 in men's volleyball blocking in Korea. What's your secret?
First of all, blocking has a very attractive feel when the ball hits your hands and drops straight to the floor. That's why I analyzed more and refined my skills. As I got later in my career, my vision for reading the game expanded, and the synergy between both produced good results. I also owe a lot to my teammates (Jeon Kwang-in, Seo Jae-deok) for their support.
The Mikasa ball also helped. The touch is definitely great. Other balls have stronger rebound, so I think you need to handle the Mikasa ball a lot to secure international competitiveness. For attackers, there's not much difference, but for receivers and liberos, the sensory difference is significant.
You ended your pro career in Japan. What differences did you notice compared to Korea?
When I was contemplating retirement, I received a good offer. I always wanted to experience playing abroad, so I didn't hesitate to go to Japan.
Korea is trending toward speed volleyball, but our original strength is powerful hitting from high positions. Japan pursues lower, faster, and more precise volleyball compared to Korea. Each has pros and cons, so I think it would be great if they could be properly combined. Also, seeing youth training under pro teams in Japan without pressure, I thought Korea should learn from that approach, and that became the foundation for creating my volleyball training center, It's Volley.
What makes It's Volley unique?
Our motto is volleyball that you can enjoy. We hope that people of all ages from 7 years old to 57 can discover the charm of volleyball through It's Volley. Although volleyball is perceived as a sport that's hard to try because there aren't many places to learn, it's actually an easy sport to learn. That's why It's Volley is trying to lower the barrier to entry for volleyball. We want to convey the charm of volleyball as a team sport to as many people as possible, and it's rewarding to see young people grow through volleyball.
For elite athletes, our professional volleyball trainers teach advanced skills and provide systematic analysis and tight coaching on posture correction. Usually, individual time in team training is only about 15-20 minutes, so the current educational system has many shortcomings for developing elite players. That's why we're running It's Volley with the goal of creating a better environment for both elite athletes and general students who want to learn recreational sports.
How was your experience wearing WaveWear products?
I tried the compression t-shirt (T20) and it's definitely great. I've worn many compression products, and I've felt discomfort because they roll up during movements. However, with WaveWear products, the adhesive silicone inside firmly holds my back, so there's no rolling. The stickier it gets when I sweat, the better the adhesion - it was amazing.
The T20's shoulder and lower back taping holds the upper body well, so I could really feel the taping effect. The forearm support F1 Full Arm Sleeve and knee brace K2 also appropriately compress the forearm and knee joint areas, allowing me to perform various movements more confidently.
What are your future plans?
I have a personal goal to obtain an overseas coaching certification within next year. And before that, I hope the Korean public's interest in volleyball and recreational sports continues as it is now. I believe that volleyball fans who come to support and cheer for pro games are what enable volleyball to develop further. That's why I hope competitions like the FA Cup in soccer, where pros and amateurs (recreational sports) can play together, will also be created in volleyball.
Also, I was impressed by the Korean men's national volleyball team's performance at the 2022 Volleyball Challenger Cup (VCC). However, I think young players shouldn't stay at their current level and should be supported to gain various international competition experiences for a successful generational change. The Paris Olympics next year is important, but I hope a foundation for long-term volleyball development is established. I also want to study and work hard in various ways to advance Korean volleyball and change overall perceptions about the sport.
Bong Woo's WaveWear Picks
- T20 Compression T-Shirt: Shoulder & Lower Back Taping
- K2 Knee Sleeve: Running, Hiking, Gym Knee Support
- F1 Full Arm Sleeve: Forearm Support for Tennis/Golf Elbow
- Active Side-Slit Stretch Shorts: Perfect Layering with Leggings