Office for Sports Promotion

【profile】
Yutaro Iisaku Born December 1994, 12.
2017 East Asia Championship Winner
2017 East Japan Business Group Tournament Winner
2017, 2018 Tokyo Karate Championship Winner

I hope the Japanese can win even at the heaviest super class.
I want to appeal to the world

~After being selected as a ``Tokyo Athlete Certified Athlete,'' Mr. Iisaku is enthusiastic about competing in competitions with an even greater sense of responsibility in his daily life.What made you start karate? ～

When he was five years old, his mother enrolled him in a nearby dojo to learn etiquette.Back then, I was a very mischievous child who liked to pretend to fight, so I felt like my parents threw me into the dojo.I've been practicing karate for almost 5 years, and I think I've learned about hierarchy and etiquette.However, it seems like it's an occupational disease that I always end up saying "Osu-nobu" when greeting people (lol).

~What is your current practice schedule? ～

Practice, including teaching the children, is about 4 days a week and lasts about 3 hours.When I was in university, I had a set practice menu, but now that I'm a working adult, I'm creating my own practice menu.While incorporating weight training, I usually practice hitting my opponent with precise techniques, as well as practice moving freely in a competition format.

~In 2017, you have expanded your career to include winning the East Asia Championship and the East Japan Business Team Tournament, but are there any events that have left an impression on you so far? ～

When I was in my first year of university, I participated in the All-Japan Championships for the first time as a representative from Tokyo.During the finals, I stood on the center stage at Nippon Budokan for the first time.Although we ended up losing, I was happy just to be able to stand here.When I was in high school, I wasn't able to participate in the Inter-High Championships, and I thought about quitting karate, but I continued to do it in college and was able to perform at Nippon Budokan, which was very emotional.

You are tall at ~191cm, but what do you think is your competitive strength? ～

I've always been tall, at around 180cm since high school, and I think I've been able to take advantage of this height and the long reach of my arms and legs to succeed in Japan.He also specializes in the front left kick followed by a chopping thrust (a kicking technique in which he punches the opponent with a quick front fist).I have started to participate in international competitions, and I feel that there are many players overseas who are good at kicking.I also have long legs, so I would like to strengthen my foot skills to take advantage of that.

~Are there any players you look up to or admire? ～

This is Ryutaro Araga, representative of Japan.We sometimes practice together, and it's a great learning experience.He has a good track record and is a player I respect.Araga is around 180cm tall and his speed is said to be the best in the world.I don't have that speed, so I want to catch up.

~You went to Belgium for samurai training, how was it? ～

There were players representing Chile, and I was able to practice and interact with players from various countries such as Mexico.It is characterized by a lot of technical practice, and I was able to learn various combinations.Also, there are very few players taller than me in Japan, so it was great to be able to practice with bigger players.In Japan, my techniques that utilized my reach were enough to reach the opponent even if I stopped them a little short, but against overseas players who were taller and had a longer reach, I had to extend my arms and legs even further to be able to hit them. .I had a habit of stopping short, so this was a good experience for me as I continue to play more international matches.

I make new friends through national tournaments and overseas expeditions, so it's interesting that I have friends no matter where I go, both domestically and internationally.This is also thanks to continuing to practice karate.

～Please tell us your goals for Tokyo 2020. ～

If there is even a 1% chance of getting closer to participating, I would like to take it.In order to do that, we must be able to win prizes in international competitions.The heaviest weight class is over 84kg, which is a class that is difficult for Japanese to win, but I would like to win there and show the world that Japanese can win even in the super class.

~You are also an actor, but how would you like to be involved with karate in the future? ～

It would be great if more people could learn about karate through my appearances in the media.I am currently teaching children because I am now able to explain what karate is and want to spread the word even more.

If I play in a match overseas, I won't be able to work during that time, so I've found it difficult to balance this over the past year, but I would like to continue acting and coaching in parallel with my playing career.

～Please tell me how you use your free time. ～

I like watching movies, and sometimes go to the movie theater on my days off.I have a pretty easily influenced personality, and sometimes I challenge myself to a match by listening to the music from a movie I've watched (lol).He became an actor because he loved movies.Watching movies now is a way to study acting and a way to relax.

~If you were to take a friend of yours, such as an overseas athlete, to Tokyo, where would they go? ～

I don't know much about Tokyo as a whole, but I think it's ``Kachidoki.''You can go to Toyosu Market, Ginza, and Tsukishima Monja Town, and with the Olympics coming up, there are a lot of new shops.

~Please tell sports fans what to see in karate. ～

There are two types of karate: Kata competitions, which are performed by one person, and Kumite competitions, which are performed with other people.In kata competitions, you perform while imagining your opponent in front of you.I would like you to see the "quickness", "technique" and "beauty" of the technique.Kumite is a fast-paced sport, so people who see it for the first time may say that it's too fast for them to see.I hope you enjoy the speed.I think it's probably the fastest in martial arts, so please enjoy the attack and defense of the techniques.

Tokyo Karate Federation