Edmund Xu is the Co-Founder and Head Coach of Kaizen Racket Club, bringing extensive experience across junior development, state performance pathways, and school-based programs.
With over a decade of coaching experience, Edmund has played a significant role in shaping the junior badminton landscape in Western Australia.
From 2019 to 2023, Edmund coached alongside Daniel Fan and helped establish and develop the academy program at NKBA. During this period, he played a key role in developing numerous junior state-level athletes who have continued to achieve success at both state and national levels.
In 2023, Edmund was appointed Head Coach at Scotch College, a role he continues to hold. Prior to this, he worked at Christ Church Grammar School from 2014 to 2023 in an assistant coaching capacity, contributing to the development of strong school programs and competitive teams.
At the state level, Edmund has held multiple leadership positions:
- U15 State Team Coach (2022, 2023, 2025)
- U17 Head Coach (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
He has worked closely with Daniel Fan in state team environments and at national events, contributing to athlete preparation, tactical development, and competition support.
In 2025, Edmund was selected as a Head Coach to support the Junior National Falcons at their national training camps — recognition of his impact within high-performance junior pathways.
Edmund holds a degree in Exercise Science from the University of Western Australia. He has also completed a Graduate Diploma in Education at Edith Cowan University and is a qualified Physical Education teacher.
His academic background strengthens his understanding of:
- Long-term athletic development
- Fundamental movement skills
- Strength and conditioning principles
- Growth and maturation in junior athletes
- Evidence-based coaching practice
This combination of practical coaching experience and formal education allows Edmund to integrate scientific principles into age-appropriate training environments.
Edmund specialises in junior development, particularly in athletes under 15. His primary focus lies in building strong technical foundations, refining fundamental movement skills, and mentoring young athletes through critical stages of growth.
He believes in building more than just a badminton player. His coaching emphasises:
- Growth
- Curiosity
- Resilience
- Responsibility
Most importantly, he works to instil a genuine love for the sport and the process of improvement.
Edmund strongly believes there is no such thing as an elite professional junior athlete. Young athletes must first master fundamentals, understand development stages, and progress through appropriate training at the right time. Long-term growth, not short-term results, remains the priority.
Edmund competed at state level and was an active player from the age of six through to eighteen. His development included exposure to structured Asian-style training environments focused on mastering fundamentals from a young age. He also had opportunities to train overseas in Asian countries, gaining firsthand exposure to the standards and discipline required to excel internationally.
These experiences shaped his understanding of both effective and ineffective development systems, influencing his commitment to clearer pathways and stronger junior foundations.
Edmund’s coaching is always context-driven. Understanding the athlete in front of him is his starting point.
He carefully assesses how each player learns best:
- Visual learners who benefit from demonstrations and video feedback
- Auditory learners who respond to clear, explicit instruction
- Athletes who develop best through guided questioning
- Players who benefit from relatable experiences to allow positive skill transfer
He integrates visual demonstration, explicit language, and questioning into his sessions. He believes that effective coaching is not simply about delivering correct information, but about ensuring that information is understood and interpreted correctly by the athlete.
Communication and psychological safety are central to his approach. Athletes must feel safe to express their thoughts and ask questions. Without open communication and patience, development is limited.
Much of Edmund’s coaching philosophy stems from personal playing experience, observation of peers, and ongoing learning across other sports and industries. He actively seeks knowledge beyond badminton to better understand athlete development, tactical growth, and sustainable performance systems.
At Kaizen Racket Club, Edmund plays a central role in shaping junior pathways, mentoring athletes, and ensuring technical progression aligns with long-term development principles.
His mission is clear: develop technically sound players, resilient individuals, and young people who genuinely love the game.