Interview with Sempai Joel and Michi
about the 21st Canadian Championships
Interviewed by Terry Ash from Downtown Dojo
Terry: So, I'm
sitting with Sempai Joel Tobin and Michi Nagase at the Richmond East Dojo and would like to ask them about the
tournament they just fought. My first question is "how did you prepare yourself
for the tournament?".
Michi:
I went to the dojo four, five times a week and, when I had time, I went to the
gym for swimming. And also, after each general class, I sparred a lot with
Sempai Joel and Seiji.
Terry: So, you carried out a general requirement as
a student, plus you did extra hard training on your own for the Canadians.
Michi: Osu. That's right.
Terry: So, Sempai Joel, how did you train for the
event?
Joel: I basically did the same thing that Michi did.
But I could only get to the dojo three times a week because I
live in Abbotsford. Two nights a week for a general class and one night for the
Sunday fighting training. On top of that, I ran two times a week and did
weightlifting as well. And did some different training drilles that I can't tell
people because they are top secret. Osu. (laughter) Actually, for most of the
partner training, I did with Michi.
Terry: So, both of you were very focused on the
tournament right ahead. Ok. Let me ask you the next question. Start with Sempai
Joel this time. What was your goal in this event?
Joel: My goal in this tournament was to
just do my best and to not hold anything back. I wasn't worried about an
outcome. I was just worried about me doing the best. Osu.
Michi:
My goal was beating up Sempai Joel. (laughter) Well, I really wanted to go to
the final and fight him there. I think that was my goal.
Joel:
Actually, before the event, we knew we would be on the opposite end of the fight
draw since we were from the same dojo. So, we made a deal as we trained together
that we would meet each other in the final match.
Terry: Well, I was at the tournament with other
students from the downtown dojo and watched the two gentlemen fight in the ring. It was
very inspiring because they did their best against one another in the match
although they always trained together before the event. It was a very
well-fought bout. OK. Let me move onto the next question. Did you set any
certain goals to achieve in improving your techniques?
Michi: Yes, I did actually. I really wanted
to fight clean this time like a real Kyokushin fighter. In the previous
tournaments I fought, my techniques got sloppy sometimes, and I didn't like
that. Fighting in a Kyokushin tournament is not street fighting. Like Sensei
always says, Tournament fighting is an art. You must first try to figure out
what your opponent is trying to do to you. Then, you decide how you're going to
deal with it. I think that's how Sempai Joel fights and that's how I want to
fight in the future.
Joel: When I compete in a tournament, I
always come up with some strategies depending on what type of caliber the event
is. In this tournament, I wanted to use Mae-Geri (front kick) a lot because
most of the Canadian fighters stand flat-footed and make linear moves, so
Mae-Geri is very effective. And of course, my favorite technique is Hiza Geri (Knee Kick).
I'm good at the technique following Shita-Zuki (Upper cut). These were the
techniques I had in my mind before the event.
Terry: And I saw them executed very effectively
in your fights. OK, my next question is "How did you feel before the event?".
Were you totally ready? Were you nervous at all?
Joel:
Ha ha, you are always nervous. I think...what's a tournament is all about for a
fighter is dealing with stress. The more you have experience in tournament
fighting the easier it gets to deal with stress. I felt really good before the
tournament. I actually trained less for this tournament than I did for others.
Physically, I felt more rested this time, so, mentally I felt better coming into
the tournament. I'm always nervous and always thinking like.. "Is this really
what I wanna do?" "Why am I doing
this again?"..or "Do I need to improve myself any more?". But I keep coming back
to it, so I know this is what I'm meant to do. I believe fighting in a
tournament is about challenging yourself. You shouldn't worry about outcomes too
much but just focus on the way you fight.
Michi:
I was nervous as well. I knew I trained hard for it. But you would never feel
you are completely ready. As the tournament was getting close, I also became
even scared... scared of losing. That's when Sempai Joel told me not to worry
about winning or losing but try to relax more instead. And everyone else in the
dojo was very supportive helping me stay focused on my training.
Joel: Actually, the biggest thing
about a tournament is not so much about a physical thing. Watching how Michi train
everyday, I knew he was physically ready. His techniques were more than good.
So, it all came down to a mental aspect. Whether you're gonna go for it or not
is all up to you and you have to make a solid determination. That's what Michi
did, and did it well.
Terry: Now I know how you felt before the event.
Could you talk about how your first fight went during the event?
Joel:
In the first fight, because I didn't know who I was fighting, I sort of tested
my techniques. At first, we came close and I threw a couple of uppercuts. Maybe,
he wasn't ready for this sort of thing, so he backed up a little and we kind of
split. I made a plan to deliver some Jodan
(high) kicks to keep his hands up, then hit him in the body. I was lucky that's
how the fight turned out. Of course, I was nervous. You never know what's gonna
happen in the first couple of rounds. That's why it's important to stay calm and
focused, and to pace yourself.
Michi: My first opponent was Sempai Shawn from
Newton. I'd seen how he fought before, so I could prepare myself by picturing
his techniques in my mind. Before the fight began, Sensei gave me advice that I
should throw lots of Shita-zuki (upper cuts) in this fight. Shita-Zuki is
actually Sensei's favorite technique, so I wanted to win by using it a lot. The
plan went very well.
Terry: Both of you also won victory in the second
rounds, then you met each other in the final. How did you feel about that? Michi,
how did you feel when facing off Sempai Joel, who is your instructor and partner
at the dojo.
Michi: I knew before the fight it would be
a hard one for me because I'd already fought two full-round battles while Sempai
had fought a total of 40 seconds only in the two fights combined! And of course,
both his techniques and experience are much higher and better than mine. But I
felt good and relieved. It's partly because my primary goal to go up to the final
was achieved there already and because the match would give me a good experience
in fighting an international fighter such as Sempai Joel.
Terry: I watched the whole fight there. You
fought really hard against Sempai. How about you, Sempai Joel? How did you feel
when fighting Michi?
Joel: First, I wanted to win like any
other fighters would feel in the final match. Second, I knew it would be hard to
fight someone you know. But I also wanted to gain more experience. I think
Kyokushin is about doing your absolute best in any situation, so I used full
power and kicked him my hardest. If I'd taken Michi lightly just because we knew each
other well, Michi would have knocked me out. Thinking back my first thought, I
was glad when I met Michi in the final. It was our promise to fight each other
in the final, and we always train together at a general class on weekdays and
fighting sessions on Sundays. We always talk a lot to each other both outside
and inside the dojo. There is, of course, a Sempai-Kohai relationship between us
but we are also good friends. And you feel good when you see your friend do well
in any events. But again, I wanted to win so I did my best. It was a really good
experience for both of us.
Terry: From
your answer to the question, I figure that, to respect your fellow fighter, to
go onto the ring and give everything you have to the other one is pure respect
towards your opponent.
Joel:
It's the Kyokushin Way and Budo Spirit!
It's actually one of the most important things when fighting. Regardless of what
type of fighter you face in the ring, you must do your best. If you are cheating
that person, you are not expressing the Kyokushin Spirit.
Terry: This interview is getting very educational
for me. OK, gentlemen, I have one more question for you. Michi, you were very
focused on the Canadian Championships and fighting Sempai Joel in that
tournament. Now, you got the 2nd place there. I'm interested to know what your
next goal will be. Do you have any further aspirations to reaching a higher
level? Tell us what you are thinking.
Michi: My short-term goal is to win this year's
Vancouver Cup Championship. And I will aim to become the champion of the
American Open Tournament which is held in New York every year. That's my
long-term goal. I know it's a very difficult task. And of course, I want to
become a Black Belt someday, then just keep on training. I think training Karate
is a way of a life. I want to keep training through my entire life. Osu.
Joel: For me, as far as goals for
tournaments, I'm not sure because I'm getting married soon. I'm going to have a
wife soon and maybe, kids to follow. So, I'm not quite sure about which
tournament I can fight this year. But probably my first goal in Karate right now
in my mind is fighting in a big tournament in next year and a half. Also, I want
to help Michi get
ready for New York or any other tournaments he'll enter. Sort of... be there for
him and help him out. It's truly important for a fighter to have someone to be
there for him. Of course, Michi has Sensei and other fighters to help him out.
I'm also anxious to support them all because I believe in them a lot.
Terry: Sounds like you are talking about a real
mentoring roll in your future of Karate.
Joel: Sure, I like to teach. I know I have
to help students because I'm a higher ranking belt in this dojo, so it's part of
my job. I need to do that. Besides, I enjoy training with Michi and I like the way
we train at this dojo. I feel pretty good, so I will keep training. Osu.
Terry: Gentlemen, thank you for your time
tonight. I've been speaking with Michi Nagase and Sempai Joel Tobin from
Richmond East Dojo. Thank you, gentlemen.
Michi and Joel: Osu!
