Female fighter file (2)
Kana Watanabe Interview Part 2
(Part 1: What I learned from the first black star in the 12th professional race >>)
“I think I ended up as an athlete in judo.”
Kana Watanabe, who is fourth in the Bellator women’s flyweight division of the US martial arts group, started judo at the age of seven. In high school, he played an active part with Misato Nakamura, a junior in the first grade who later won two bronze medals at the Olympics (Beijing, Rio Olympics). He had a track record in universities and business teams, and was selected as an all-Japan strengthening designated player, but he did not reach the goal of the Olympics in the world.
However, when he moved from judo to mixed martial arts, he was undefeated in 11 races. I experienced my first loss in June last year, but I am still in a position to aim for the summit. Kana Watanabe is now living as an athlete.
Kana Watanabe, also known as “Woman Kyoji Horiguchi”
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――Judo is the backbone of a fighter, but are you good at making full use of it?
“That’s right. I use Uchi mata and foot techniques a lot. Many people are practicing tackle, but I’m used to it, but players who aren’t used to judo techniques are quite effective. I threw it. The experience of judo is also useful for the control on the ground later. “
――It seems that you were injured at the end of your judo life and sometimes became negative, but how about mixed martial arts?
“I’m not as reluctant as I was in judo, and I can play games with a normal heart. In the judo era, I became nervous before I could reach the top, and I was thinking” What should I do if I lose? ” I’m Judo and I think I ended up as an athlete once.
The martial arts life from there is a “bonus stage”, so I have only a positive feeling. There is no worry about what to do if you lose. If I lose, I should do my best again, and I feel like I’ll do as much as I can. “
――What is the source of that motivation?
“It’s boring to have a life with nothing and no challenges. I’m purely happy to be an athlete now. I’m aiming to be the best in the world with goals. I’m happy about that. Now I just want to be stronger and become a champion. “
