Continuing Kikuchi-sensei’s book ‘Strongly, beautifully….’

The last chapter of his book is more about his other experiences as a trainer and less about Yuzu, so I have translated just some excerpts from it. :)

Chapter 5. Listening to the sound of your body
[excerpts]

5.1  If (you) lose, it’s the trainer’s responsibility

Yuzuru the recipient of People’s Honour Award, or Yuzuru the gold medalist, to me, he is just Yuzuru.  Not changed from the time I met him when he was 8 years old.  Because he became passionate about something and works hard at it, I just wanted to do something for him.

Do something for the children who are working hard—-.  For athletes who are giving their best efforts to train hard, I just want to help them to be able to give their best at the actual competition time.

[this paragraph is summarised]  Since 5 years ago, I have been the trainer  for a unicycle club in Iwate prefecture.  A unicycle competition team is made up of 10 female middle school and high school students and they do spins and other well-coordinated movements with music.  I accompany them for competitions like the Japan National Unicycling Competition.

Whether it’s the Olympics or nationals or regionals, it doesn’t matter.  Whatever the competition, I just want to give some support to these children who have been working so hard, so that they can do their best at competition time.  That is my only thought.

My policy as a trainer is : “If the athlete has good results, it’s due to their efforts.”  This is what I tell Yuzuru before a performance.  "If you win, it’s due to your hard work.  If you lose, it’s my responsibility.  So just go boldly and do it!“

And not only to Yuzuru.  To the girls who go for unicycle competitions, I say the same thing.

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5.4  Communication that uses the 5 senses

When Yuzuru goes for a competition, his physical condition is at a high level. Because he is a professional athlete, he regulates his mind and body to bring it to a peak of conditioning at the competition.  What I can do is to keep it at that high level right up to the actual moment of competing.  Or even if it goes down, to keep it to as little as possible.

[rest of section is about golf and preparing for competition in general]

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Note: Apologies for an error when I translated the first chapter.  What Kikuchi-sensei practised in his youth was not Shaolin Kungfu 少林拳  but ’Shorinji Kempo’ 少林寺拳法 , a Japanese martial art inspired by Shaolin Kungfu.  I did not realise it earlier because the name in kanji is similar.  'Shorin-ji kempo’ is the Japanese pronunciation of the name and it literally means "Shaolin temple fist method”.

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5.7  The power to change an unruly youth

In elementary school, I was a mischievous kid and I was bad at sports.  In races, I was always last or 2nd last.  Even so, I still had the big dream of “I want to go to the Olympics!”  I feel embarrassed just recalling this.

In middle school, on the advice of my elder brother, I joined the table-tennis club.  But the training was just running round the school grounds.  Thanks to that, I became good at running.  As a result, by the time I graduated from middle school, I had become good at most sports.  I learned that the foundation for sports is running.

Because of my father’s job, I often changed schools. Transfer students usually attracted some attention and were often bullied.  Being separated from friends and having to look for buddies in a new world all over again, I got very tired of that and gradually became more and more unruly…… I caused a lot of trouble for the teachers at that time.

I started high school in that way, and then I met a teacher who was just like those enthusiastic and passionate teachers in the pictures, and my life had a big change.

That new teacher, who had practised Shorinji Kempo (t/n. martial arts) in university, soon noticed unruly me.  In the name of “discipline and guidance”, he gave me a good beating-up. (laugh)  A short time later, he asked me, “Hey you, I’m going to start a Shorinji Kempo Club, want to join?”  Planning for myself to take revenge one day, I joined the club. 

But that teacher had great personal charisma.  He tried hard to reform me, and slowly, he gained my trust.  Soon, there was a change in the way I spoke.  I started to use polite speech to teachers.  The threatening look in my eyes was gone.  The way I walked also became normal…..  "Kikuchi seems somewhat changed" became a topic in the teachers’ room, I heard.

When it was time to think about universities, due to my bad conduct in the first year of high school, I could not get the letter of recommendation needed for entry to universities.  That teacher objected to the school’s  policy.  "Everyone has made mistakes before.  But he has turned over a new leaf.  This (school policy) makes no sense!“   Other teachers also became involved, "If Kikuchi is not given a recommendation, let’s remove the recommendations for other students as well,” they protested on my behalf.

That person devoted great efforts towards me, he did his very best for me. That is why I changed.  Thanks to that teacher, at the graduation ceremony, I received the award for Most Outstanding Student.

From that teacher, I learned that people can change.  And also, to change a person, it is necessary to pour your heart and soul into it.  As a trainer, as a therapist, when I take care of athletes and patients, this is something that I never forget, my own beginning.

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Translated by me from Japanese book by Akira Kikuchi: https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E5%BC%B7%E%… (please buy to support, if you can)

(pic: searched from internet)

Next: The Afterword