Sekai Taikai
Today was the Shinkyokushinkai 10th World Karate Championship, held at Tokyo Metropolitan Museum. Happens once every four years. The best of the best, the strongest in the world, descend on Tokyo to battle it out. Last time I was fortunate enough to volunteer for both days as an interpreter. That was way cool cos I got to sit RIGHT up front and chat with the fighters a little bit.
But this time we had pretty sweet seats, not too far at all from the stage. Every fight was amazing. D: There were some old favorites of mine that knocked my socks off, like Valeri Dimitrov (Bulgaria), Takayuki Tsukagoshi (Japan), Roman Nesterenko (Russia). And some fighters who, until today, had flown under my radar, but you bet your booty I'll be paying close attention to them now. Folks like Carolien Brix (Greece), Margarita Ciuplyte (Lithuania), Brian Jakobsen (Denmark), and Yuki Maeda (Japan).
HOWEVER, I am very proud to say that perhaps my most favoritest Shinkyokushin male fighter ever, Norichika Tsukamoto, is the new world champion.... again!!! This is the only picture I could find on the net of him fighting today...
... but he kicked MAJOR butt and was his usual awesome self. I am so in awe of him, and was very happy when he won.
Right after the fight, the winner gets interviewed. And Tsukamoto said that he'd be retiring from competing. This was his last fight. ;__; It brought a tear or two to my eye, to think that this was the last time I'd ever see him fight. So Tsukamoto-senshu, and everyone else who gave their all out there today, THANK YOU for the inspiration. :-D
Here's a video of some of Tsukamoto's greatest hits. Watch at least up until 1:27, and I think you'll see why I'm so amazed by him. D: I realize that I'm a pansy, but fighting in karate tournaments is by FAR, the SCARIEST THING I have EVER done in my entire 29 years on this planet. The fact that he can just mosey on up and KO someone in a few seconds, wearing the same face he would while waiting for a bus or clipping his toenails........ is something I can't even imagine. D:
Also, mad props to Mr. Dolph Lundgren, 2nd dan, who apparently took time out from filming Expendables 2 to come to Japan and do a badass karate demonstration. He did some kata and kumite, and then broke like 6 ice blocks with a karate chop. He's still got the goods!!! And is still pretty damn good-looking, too.
Hey now!
Sooooooooooo..... yeah. I guess that's it. I'm insanely proud to be affiliated (formerly affiliated?) with Shinkyokushin, which in this writer's opinion is the best, strongest karate out there. OSU!!!!!!!1
But this time we had pretty sweet seats, not too far at all from the stage. Every fight was amazing. D: There were some old favorites of mine that knocked my socks off, like Valeri Dimitrov (Bulgaria), Takayuki Tsukagoshi (Japan), Roman Nesterenko (Russia). And some fighters who, until today, had flown under my radar, but you bet your booty I'll be paying close attention to them now. Folks like Carolien Brix (Greece), Margarita Ciuplyte (Lithuania), Brian Jakobsen (Denmark), and Yuki Maeda (Japan).
HOWEVER, I am very proud to say that perhaps my most favoritest Shinkyokushin male fighter ever, Norichika Tsukamoto, is the new world champion.... again!!! This is the only picture I could find on the net of him fighting today...
... but he kicked MAJOR butt and was his usual awesome self. I am so in awe of him, and was very happy when he won.
Right after the fight, the winner gets interviewed. And Tsukamoto said that he'd be retiring from competing. This was his last fight. ;__; It brought a tear or two to my eye, to think that this was the last time I'd ever see him fight. So Tsukamoto-senshu, and everyone else who gave their all out there today, THANK YOU for the inspiration. :-D
Here's a video of some of Tsukamoto's greatest hits. Watch at least up until 1:27, and I think you'll see why I'm so amazed by him. D: I realize that I'm a pansy, but fighting in karate tournaments is by FAR, the SCARIEST THING I have EVER done in my entire 29 years on this planet. The fact that he can just mosey on up and KO someone in a few seconds, wearing the same face he would while waiting for a bus or clipping his toenails........ is something I can't even imagine. D:
Click to viewAlso, mad props to Mr. Dolph Lundgren, 2nd dan, who apparently took time out from filming Expendables 2 to come to Japan and do a badass karate demonstration. He did some kata and kumite, and then broke like 6 ice blocks with a karate chop. He's still got the goods!!! And is still pretty damn good-looking, too.
Hey now!
Sooooooooooo..... yeah. I guess that's it. I'm insanely proud to be affiliated (formerly affiliated?) with Shinkyokushin, which in this writer's opinion is the best, strongest karate out there. OSU!!!!!!!1