Shintaro Higashi

So I started running 3 weeks ago to supplement my strength and conditioning regimen.  The National Championships are May 1st and I know I will perform the best I have ever.  To do so, I need to train…  Besides for the grueling practices on the mat where I prep my weapons for maximum lethality, I need to work off the mat as well to keep myself in the most efficient condition.

In the past, I have been frustrated with my attempts at incorporating running into my daily agenda.  I am heavy set build like a chimp (not champ), have old injuries and have farrr too many fast twitch 2A’s to be running for distance.  However, this time around I approached these problems in a algorithmic manner.

1.  Severe Overpronation!  Googled for the right shoes, read dozens of articles and forums.

2.  Knee problems.  Sorbothane insoles to relieve impact…  Thank you Paul for the advice.

3.  Flat feet:  Arch supporting shoes.

4.  Wide feet: Buy 2E’s.

So the sum of these problem solving factors, multiplied by my diligent research on the internet leads to the product…The brook’s beast ‘08 with sorbothane insoles.

More coming…….

Summer has come.  Although the rain doesn’t put me in the best of moods, it is still summer and I am excited for the side effects of the seasonal heat.  Sweat, less clothes, tan and outdoor fun.  All great things the Earth’s angle brings upon us.

So many have asked me how goes my recent months.  Well, I am motivated and ambitious.  I eat clean every day and work out as hard as I can as frequent as I can while keeping in mind my recovery necessities.  Actually my knee has been bothering me since the Presidents Cup (I took 2nd) so I am sitting out fighting this week.  Still there are many other things I can do to improve my life, so I am on top of that.

When something a little more interesting surfaces into my life, I will let you guys know.  Thanks for reading!

It’s been a while since I’ve written and Big things have happened!  Although a long due brag fest would be most appropriate, I am not going to do that.  That is because I want to write about Chess.  Yes, chess.

I love the game.  I first learned to play at a young age.  My uncle taught me how and although I liked it, I didn’t have the patience to give myself the sit time to accel in the game.  Also, my progress was impeded by my severe ADHD.  I believe movement is medicine and since then have over-come that disability.  However, that is another post…  Chess.  I decided to trade private lessons with my friend and fellow judoka Chris.  He is an amazing chess player and I thought I can benefit my psychological aspect of judo through learning chess theory and tactics.  Here is what I have learned so far.

Advancement of the pawns= Grip fighting. (have to be strategical, placement crucial)

Developing your knight= ie:Uchimata you can hit from all angles.

Bishop=Diagnal attacks

Rooks=Straight back and forth, side to side

Diligent and strategical hand placement during grip fighting, can lead to the development of the ‘pieces’ to attack efficiently from many angles.

And queen…  Newaza?  Absolutely NOT!

Forks, skewers and pins…  Multiple combinations and threats to force check mate….

Anyways, it may seem stupid but I like it!  so That’s that, until next time.  It’s time to eat.

So I am back back in Westchester.  I have moved back home with my parents to focus on my Olympic pursuit…  That and my financial constraints to be honest.  Although being 24 and moving back in with my parents should feel somewhat social developementally regressive, it feels right.  Spending time with my family is great.  I love waking up to the smell of fresh coffee brewing in the kitchen.  My father down the hallway ready to joke and play at whim.  My compassionate mother and her eternal optimism.  And of course my sister with that million dollar smile.  Even though the commute into my regimented life (manhattan) is 30 minutes, I feel as if I have more time in the day to enjoy and take care of me.  I am comfortably living the life of an athlete the way it should be.  With my support system and loved ones close by.  My Judo shall increase exponentially because of my living situation.  So keep checking on me.  I wont let you guys down.  

Judo practice was great today.  I had an “on” day.  Tomorrow morning comes heavy morning WEIGHTS!

Here is my bronze medal match.  

Wow, it has been too long since I’ve written.  For good reason however, I have been extremely busy.  I’m moving back up to Westchester and Nationals is coming up this weekend.  I have been training and running errands day after day.  Well anyway, my condition is tip top.  Aerobic and anaerobic conditioning are tipping the balance beam with 50/50 equilibriation.  I have the perfect balance to enter my tournament comfortably without any cutting weight issues.  I am tapering off from my workouts this week and I got my last lift in just now.  All I have to do is stay loose, drill tomorrow and a treat awaits me on Friday night.  No it’s not Ice Cream.  It’s something sweeter.  2009 National Champion, World team.

I’ve been 2x junior world team alternate, 2x world team alternate.  This is my year for the big salami.  The planets are in alignment.  Thank you everyone for your support. From my dojo, the people that help me and my training partners.

This past weekend was the Liberty bell Judo tournament.  There were many elite athletes present and it was very intersting to watch.  It is a great warm up for the Nationals for the East Coast fighters.  I decided not to fight this year to preserve my body.  Plus, the idea of taking a back seat from the competitive mindset and being a spectator as a pure fan seemed appealing to me. 

At the tournament, I scurried from mat to mat to either observe a match up that intrigued me or to cheer for a fellow comrad.  I was involved in so many of the fights throughout the day, that there wasn’t a dull moment.  I was constantly stimulated and it was a very eventful day.  I have to go to work for now, so I’m cutting this post short.  Thanks for reading, I will write you guys soon.

I just wanted to share today with you a clip of my favorite Judoka.  Toshihiko Koga.

I absolutely love competition  Whether I am involved in the meat of it, a spectator on the sidelines or in front of a television, I absolutely love it.  I am not competitive about everything though.  I can accept defeat on certain things and take the back seat when I am supposed to.  But when it comes to sports I can not!  I don’t follow professional sports like I used to, but on occasion I do like to watch the best work their magic in their respective crafts.  Anything world related in the realm of competitive sports interests me greatly.  The Olympics is a great example.  To me the Olympics are sacred. Every throw, every match, every race and every moment gives me profound poignancy.  Determination, perseverance, heart, courage, all the best qualities a human can possibly possess is tested maximally to determine the best of the best through this World involved competition.

Anyways, the world baseball classic is in session.  Korea defeated Venezuela last night to advance to the finals against the Japanese who just beat the Americans tonight.  I was very impressed with the Asian teams.  Not to generalize, but in my opinion, the non-asian Major Leaguers preponderate the asian baseballers.  Yes I said it.  The average American professional athlete seem to be bigger and stronger.  My observation doesn’t just end there however.  The awestruck moments I experienced in front of my tv with my family were the moments the smaller, physically inferior athletes took it to the big guns with precisely, the Judo philosophy.   I was so amazed with their skill, strategy and perfection of field manueverance, I couldn’t help but be astonished.  Tomorrow evening.  Japan vs Korea.  Check out it if you can, I would love to hear your thoughts about this great rivalry!

Some of the common words to describe the word ‘mantra’ are transcendence, chant, Veda, sacred, meditation, prayer and Hinduism. Although it has a very distinct and rich background,  it is such a flexible word.  To me, mantra is a catch phrase you focus on to be most efficient at the task at hand. I guess this whole deal sounds weird if you have no preconceptions concerning the amazing power of Self-talk. Here is how my mantra helped me. I noticed one day that my Judo was very choppy. I’d rely heavily on my blessed fast twitch 2A muscle fibers and explode into a single move with out set up or finesse. I would explode, hang out, explode, hang on, explode, hang around, and if I was fighting a fish, BOOM! Ippon. My 1-dimensional Judo became very predictable leaving me succeptible to counters and pick ups.  So my mantra became flow.  

Flow Flow, Flow Flow, Flow… I would tell myself while I fought.  Eventually, my self-talk coaching methods pulled through and my Judo since has become more fluid.  Grip, create motion, attack the legs, Hi, low, motion motion, KILL!  Since then, my mantra has evolved to Commit.  Commit commit commit…  

Sorry for the super Judo-esoteric post.  All you non-Judo people reading this probably have no clue what I am talking about.  So here is a simple example.   Some youths on the 6 train bump into you and make a fuss.  Your temporary mantra is “relax.”  relax relax relax, wow I dealt with that situation really well.  I walked away and I didn’t punch anyone.  There you go.