Former representative Kengo Takaichi, who will become a Taiwanese coach at the Judo World Championships, challenges his best friend Naohisa Takafuji with an unexpected connection – We Love Sports

The world judo championships will open in Doha, Qatar on the 7th. There is a judoka who stands on the stage while feeling a mysterious fate. Kengo Takaichi, 30 years old. The former Japan national team will be the coach of the Taiwan national team from this tournament. After retiring from active duty last year, he worked as a company employee at his company. He received an unexpected offer, cut off his retreat, and embarked on a leadership career abroad. The target of his student is Naohisa Takafuji, who won the gold medal in the men’s 60-kilogram class at the Tokyo Olympics. Unexpectedly, what did you think when you met your best friend in the same year at university?

Mr. Kengo Takaichi (right) and Yang Yongwei

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Through the screen, my senior acquaintances were not developing by taking Wazaari, but they were outnumbered and broke through the first round.

“I felt something different from Tsuyoshi-senpai.”

On April 29th, in the second round of the All Japan Championship, Tsuyoshi Ojiya, who was one year older at Tokai University and Asahi Kasei, wrestled with the vigorous young Green Karani Kaito.

With 2 minutes and 26 seconds remaining, he was instructed not to try to decide the game by grabbing only one sleeve or one collar. It was a few seconds after restarting the match with a crisis of losing by foul at 3. I showed how to hit the tatami mat with the four reverse techniques of fighting, the left Osotogari.

“You look fine today”

Takaichi was in Taiwan, more than 2,000 kilometers away from the Nippon Budokan, watching the video. More than two weeks had passed since I left Japan.

Taiwan national team coach. That title was unimaginable this New Year.

When I finished watching my senior’s winning bid, I closed the screen and headed to coaching that day.

“February. Mr. Lian told me that he is looking for a coach in Taiwan.”

It was a report from Ren Chinkan, a top player who competed in international competitions and also participated in the Tokyo Olympics. She was unexpectedly invited by a central figure in the Taiwanese judo world, who came to Japan in her second year of university.

“The talk progressed at a tremendous speed. In March, we were formally approved and applied in Taiwan. The contract started on April 1st.

Ren was also an old friend of Komatsu, the same company as his wife Mirai, whom he married last year.

“Takaichi Mirai”, her maiden name is Tashiro Mirai.

He has participated in two Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo, and is in the midst of aiming for Paris for the third time while overcoming serious injuries many times. The word “Takaichi” is now passed down in the judo world as his wife’s surname.

My husband had to cut ties with judo once.

■ Upset V to defeat Ebinuma in the second year of Tokai University

It was in 2014 that the name suddenly came to the fore.

Tokai University 2nd year newcomers were on the tatami mats of the All Japan Selection Weight Category Championships in April.

In the semi-finals, he performed an upset to win by one from Tadashi Ebinuma, who was winning the world championship for the second time in a row, and on the day of his 21st birthday, he won his first victory in his first appearance.

Atsuhiro, the father of a keeper at Ehime Prefectural Tobe Zoo, was the first in Japan to succeed in artificially fostering a polar bear called “Peace.” , caught my eye.

“Real Kintaro” has become one of the main players in the Japanese lightweight division.

At the World Championships that year, he became the first Japanese national team, and finished 5th after losing in the 3rd place match. The following year, he won the representative battle with Hifumi Abe and carried the Hinomaru for the second consecutive year.

The result is the loss of the first match. In 2017, I was hoping to get revenge at the Tokyo Olympics because I could not appeal to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in the previous year and the year before.

“I knew it was a very important competition. It was tough.”

Kengo Takaichi (taken on April 3, 2016)
Kengo Takaichi (taken on April 3, 2016)

It was a week before the Kodokan Cup in October, which would lead to the Japan national team. An abnormal sound resounded from his left elbow, which was pushed in by randori. He injured his ligaments and was taken by ambulance for surgery.

After about four months of rehabilitation, I didn’t feel the aftereffects of the pull, but the reality was that there was a big difference in the selection race heading to Tokyo.

“It was tough because I couldn’t get involved in the fight for the national team.”

Asahi Kasei, a prestigious company, will not allow you to be treated with a lot of freedom if you do not have good results. It was 19 years ago when I was told that I would move from the Kanto region, which had been my base until then, to Miyazaki and Nobeoka, where the club’s dojo is located.

In an environment where there were many heavyweights, as a result of continuing every day to receive power at grappling, if I faced a light weight in a match, I would be slow to launch my moves. Judgment for carrying good points is dulled. With the lifeline undermined, the rising sun was getting further and further away.

“The last three years were really unsuccessful.

In January 2010, he was notified by his employer that his contract as a member had expired.

In the 2nd round extension of the All Japan Strengthening Player Selection Meeting in May, he received the third instruction in a camouflage attack and lost by foul, which marked the end of his active life.

“Asahi Kasei will remain as it is and continue to do business.

He moved to Tokyo and became a company employee.

“I think what I should do is support the future. She decided to do her best until Paris.”

I got married on November 22nd.

So, at one point, I thought I had cut off the connection between myself and judo. Three months later, the news came from Taiwan.

“I am really grateful to Asahi Kasei.

My wife also gave me a push on my back.

“‘Don’t do it'”

I decided to leave the company and moved to Taiwan.

■ Tokyo Olympics 60-kilogram silver medalist Yang Yongyi coaches

It was entrusted with the production of medalists.

With the appearance of Yang Yongwei, who won the silver medal in the 60-kilogram class at the Tokyo Olympics, there has been a trend that is gathering expectations as a strengthening event for the Olympics.

“It is men and women who are watching. I want the younger generation to judge what kind of athletes are likely to become strong.In addition to strengthening for Paris, I was told that I would like them to see it from a long-term perspective. I will

The contract is until August 31, 2024, but it is expected that he will be selected in anticipation of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Currently, there are several players who have achieved results in international competitions.

At the training session for instructors held locally, there were cases of misunderstanding of the basics of how to hold the gi.

While relying on the translation function of the iPhone, my head is sweating.

Among them, for the time being, we will try to work as a practice partner, mainly with Yang.

Men’s 60kg class.

It is Naohisa Takafuji who reigns now. He is a close friend who grabbed the long-desired gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. He was my roommate during my second year at Tokai University, and was in the same lightweight class. He spent a lot of time together on the tatami mats.

Yang lost to Takafuji in the final of the Tokyo Olympics.

Kengo Takaichi (left) and Naohisa Takafuji, who won the double championship at the GP Budapest (June 24, 2014)
Kengo Takaichi (left) and Naohisa Takafuji, who won the double championship at the GP Budapest (June 24, 2014)

“I didn’t accept the offer to be Yang’s coach, but when I came to Taiwan as a coach, Yang was there.

You will support your best friend’s rival player. I told Takato what happened.

Carry the Hinomaru on your back all the time and set the top of the world. Because I know it well, I know that defeating it will not be easy. However, I actually felt it after spending the days of practice with Yang.

“I really want to aim for the gold medal.

Yang’s dedication to the gold medal, such as the seriousness with which he devotes himself to researching techniques after all practices, straightens his spine.

Fairly and squarely, his position changed, and he looked at his best friend who was facing each other for the first time on the tatami mat.

Let’s start with the World Championships.

I went to the big stage where I could not stand again as a player.

“I felt like I had taken three steps toward Tokyo, and five steps back after retiring, but I feel like I’m back at once.”

In Doha, I think I will be able to watch the match of my future wife.

While feeling the connection over the reconnected judo, they are lined up on the front line again.[Kengo Abe](Nikkan Sports.com/Column “We Love Sports”)

2023-05-06 23:10:39
#representative #Kengo #Takaichi #Taiwanese #coach #Judo #World #Championships #challenges #friend #Naohisa #Takafuji #unexpected #connection #Love #Sports

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