Interview with Tokyo Parasports Staff Certified Person (14) Wheelchair fencing/trainer Koichi Ushigome (2020/3/9)

Koichi Ushigome's photo

【profile】
Koichi Ushigome Born in 1969 in Chiba Prefecture.
In addition to being involved as a team trainer for the Chiba Hawks wheelchair basketball team back when the term "sports trainer for people with disabilities" was not yet common, he also worked as a trainer in multiple sports before switching to wheelchair fencing.Currently, he is not only a trainer but also a director of the NPO Japan Wheelchair Fencing Association.

``Wheelchair fencing'' is a sport in which a wheelchair is fixed to the floor using special equipment and is competed using only the upper body.It is divided into two classes depending on the degree of disability, but the rules are basically the same as for regular fencing.This time, we interviewed Koichi Ushigome, who has been active as a trainer for sports for people with disabilities for many years and currently serves as a director of the Japan Wheelchair Fencing Association.

I want to support people who are working hard

We want to support the “individual athlete” without being tied to a specific sport.

~Please tell us why you became a trainer. ~

At first, I worked as a clinical laboratory technician, but I wanted to increase my ability to communicate with patients, so I opened an osteopathic clinic.As part of that, I moved into the world of sports trainers.After that, I became a trainer for the wheelchair basketball team "Chiba Hawks", which is how I got involved with sports for people with disabilities.At that time, the term "trainer" was not widely used.

~What was it like being involved in sports for people with disabilities? ~
Koichi Ushigome's photo 1

At first, I didn't know much about sports for people with disabilities, but when I saw the athletes devoting themselves to the sport, I was shocked to see how hard they work, regardless of whether they have a disability or not.

~Why did you switch from wheelchair basketball to wheelchair fencing? ~

that isNaoki Yasu(Certified Tokyo Athlete).He was a former Chiba Hawks player who represented Japan, but he switched to wheelchair fencing with the aim of participating in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.Since no trainer was available there, I also moved on to wheelchair fencing.At that time, I had taken a break from wheelchair basketball and was a track and field trainer for able-bodied athletes, but I returned to sports for the disabled.
 I want to support people who are working hard, so I choose to follow the athletes rather than the competition.

~What is the role of a trainer? ~

If it is a major sport for people without disabilities, there will be trainers for each area, such as medical, physical, mental, and nutritional, and I think the roles will be differentiated.In my case, I have to take care of everything, including diet, physical health, and mental health.For that reason, I studied a lot (lol)

Wheelchair fencing is still a developing sport in Japan.

~Please let us know if there was anything you found rewarding or difficult while providing support. ~

I now accompany trainers on training camps and tournament expeditions, but my job as a trainer requires 24-hour work.It is not a job that is held at fixed times from morning until evening, and only during athletes' training.When I was a member of a wheelchair basketball team, I had to deal with players who suddenly developed a fever or broke a bone, so I was more careful than usual.

Koichi Ushigome's photo 2

One person examines a large number of players; for example, in wheelchair basketball, there are five players, so even if it takes 1 minutes per person before the game, it will take at least an hour.At that time, there are questions about what to prioritize, whether to examine starting members or players with severe symptoms who require care.I learned from experience that if you act selfishly, players will become dissatisfied and cause trouble.I think it is important for support to check the opinions of players and coaches, consult with them, and provide them with information in advance.

~What do you keep in mind when interacting with players?Do you have any tips for communicating with players? ~

Make sure you talk to everyone.Since we are humans, there are people we tend to get along with and talk to more easily, and the frequency with which we talk to each other tends to be uneven.However, people around me may think that I am giving priority to others or that I am favoritizing others, so I try to strike a balance by having open conversations with everyone.

I can't do it alone, I need someone to hold my hand

～What kind of existence do you think “staff” is? ~

It's a completely supporting role.These are the people surrounding the player in the center.We can't do it alone, we need people to join hands, and we have to constantly push our players to the top.We must not let ourselves get on top of it.

●How does it feel to be certified as a “Tokyo Parasports Staff”?Also, please let us know your impressions about this system.

I would like to use this system as an opportunity to create an environment where staff can continue working for a long time.I want this system to continue and spread, such as by giving awards to people who have been involved in parasports for many years, to the extent that it makes people think, ``I want to become a staff member!''

~Please tell sports fans what the highlights and charms of wheelchair fencing are. ～

After all, it's all about "strategy" and "games decided in the moment."The match begins with the signals ``Pre (Are you ready?)'' and ``Are (Start!),'' and there are probably no other competitions where points are scored within one second.That's why I'd like you to watch the pre-game tactics.

Koichi Ushigome's photo 4

When you're next to the players, you can tell by the level of tension and the line of sight behind the mask that the battle is starting.However, you can't tell from the audience seats, so just knowing that the athletes are using these strategies will change the way you view the competition.

~If you have any dreams or prospects for the future of sports for people with disabilities, including wheelchair fencing, please let us know. ~

As a director, not a trainer, I think the first thing to do is to increase the number of people involved in the sport, especially coaches.Various approaches are being taken to increase the number of players, but since there are only a few coaches, we would like to increase the number of coaches with competitive experience to improve the quality.

NPO Japan Wheelchair Fencing Association
https://jwfa.jimdofree.com/
Koichi Ushigome's photo 5

My Feelings, Then and Now

The interview was conducted at the National Training Center (NTC) Indoor Training Center East (East Building), which just opened in September 2019.It's a bright and clean facility, and Koichi Ushigome and the other players are looking forward to practicing here.Mr. Ushigome has been a trainer for over 9 years, regardless of whether he has a disability or not, regardless of the type of sport he competes in.Regarding your current involvement as a staff member for the Japanese wheelchair fencing team, you said, ``I realized the weight of the role I was carrying, and I'm glad I didn't quit until now.'' Mr. Ushigome, all of his experiences have led him to where he is today.I look forward to working with you in the future.

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