2022.12.13
Prospects are Bright for Becoming World Champion
Expecting to compete on the world stage, Kakeru Nishiyama has worked diligently to build muscle, and continued training without losing sight of himself during the COVID-19 pandemic. And his efforts have paid off. Nishiyama placed second in the All Japan Karate Championship — his personal best — and has been designated as a “medal potential athlete,” which qualifies him to compete in international competitions such as the World Karate Championships, for the last four years since 2019.
- ― What impact did the Tokyo Olympics have on you?
- I was disappointed that I didn’t perform well enough in the international competition to be chosen to be on the national team. Due to COVID-19 I wasn’t able to enter competitions and couldn’t set immediate goals, but it did give me an opportunity to think carefully about the future. I’m often consulted by junior athletes, and through providing advice to them, I am able to crystallize my thoughts. I realized that since there were no competitions I could use that time to get better, and it led me to win more.
- ― You didn’t want to give up?
- I was disappointed for a long time that my rivals were chosen to represent Japan in the Olympics, but I went back the basics and focused on reexamining each and every technique in detail. I worked on both enhancing my techniques and building muscle, and I increased my weight.
- ―Have there been any changes since you’ve increased your muscle mass?
- In terms of physical strength, now I’m on par with athletes from other countries. For men, physical strength greatly impacts judges’ impressions. But my strong suit is speed, so I was careful not to lose my sharpness when increasing my weight so I could maintain that speed. I concentrated on my core strength and balance, and my control over my body improved considerably.
- ― What do you think is needed to be a karate athlete?
- When performing kata, the ability to deliver powerful strikes is important, but you have to keep going at full power, so you also need lung capacity, endurance, and the control to make precise movements. And to win, you also need something that sets you apart from other athletes. I want to be the best in both speed and power. And I want to perform kata in my own unique way. Karate is now an Olympic event and has become pretty big as a sport outside of Japan, but since it is a martial art, I want to pursue strikes and kicks that can bring down my opponent.
- ― What is your goal for the future?
- Since the Tokyo Olympics I’ve had more competitions where I felt I demonstrated my full potential and achieved results that matched. I know I am on the rise. I want to represent Japan in the Asian Karate Championships. Becoming world champion is always my goal. I’ve gotten pretty close to the level of the top athletes. Overcoming each obstacle takes time, but I have no doubt I can do it.
10 Questions ~Shinken Wanna Know!~
- What food do you like to eat?
- Castella. I eat Castella for nutritional support before karate match.
- What are tips for weight management and diet plan?
- I measure my weights and control lipid especially when I gained my weight rapidly. Basically I consider nutritional balance. It is important to compare weight gain with muscle mass to keep my best condition.
- What do you always keep in the refrigerator?
- Kimchi.
- What do you like to do?
- Listening to music.
- What’s something that made you happy recently?
- My nephew was born and he came to see my match. He is cute.
- What is your favorite saying or phrase?
- Bring out all of my best.
- Tell us your routine?
- I drink protein 4 times a day, after training and every meal.
- How do you see yourself in 10 years?
- I will have finished my karate career.
- What item do you want the most right now?
- Gold medal of world championship.
- What do you need in life?
- It is the most important to be connected with people. Also, taking a rest is important.
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