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Kogawa-san

These articles first appeared in the print version of TSD from December, 2003. The views expressed are those of each writer and do not reflect yadda yadda etc. etc.Enjoy. 

OZ RULES (cont.)Held at the Radisson Hotel Narita Airport and sponsored by Fosters and Hardys Wines, the Narita Cup is an annual event showcasing Australian Football and is fast becoming the Australian Football equivalent of the Hong Kong Sevens. Since the Narita Cup became an international event it has never been won by a local side. For that matter, a Japanese team has never won ANY international Aussie Footy event.

 

Over many years the Japan AFL has successfully organized a league and a number of major events. This effort was always destined to translate into on-field success and the Samurais victory will ring out loud in international circles.

 

At the beginning of the tournament no-one dared dream that a Japanese team could win. Even when the Samurais were undefeated on day one and had beaten the Indonesian favorites, few thought they could go on with the job on day two. On day two they overwhelmed all opposition and proved that they were true champions. This result will be heard back in Australia. The professional Australian Football League sent representation to this years event and they were privileged to witness some remarkable footballers plying their trade here in Japan.

BFCMastersTSD play first tournament: two girls missing!! 
With a couple of no-shows, things didn't auger well, but in true BFC tradition we were up for it and sallied forth, recruiting the necessary women on the spot. We came second after beating Gods Hands 4-1. They took the early lead and then super-sub Rich equalised with a left foot zinger into the roof of the net! The TSD dominated play with Don and Adie both scoring excellent goals. Rich ran half the length of the field (25 yards!) and banged in the fourth. Glen played well throughout the game despite his first game since junior high school and the ladies gave it their all.
Problems surfaced in the second game against NBR Plant FC: first they were young & quick & we had to play straight after the previous game! We were soon adrift by more golas than absolutely necessary & only Don could keep up with them. Without him we would have lost more than the 8-1! He  scored our only goal and though Andy made many swift skilful runs down the left (bit over the top that, actually...)with super shots their goalie was in top form. 
Top scorers: Rich/Don 2, Adie 1 

 
INTERVIEW: Yukiko Kayano
For aperson with firsthand knowledge and experience of the development of thefitness and health industry in Japan over 25 years, it is surprising that, atthe end of TSDinterview with Yuki Kayano, she saistrange, Im really not a sports person" . An Art & Design graduate, Yuki got intothe industry via American Football, the Appollo Space Program, and appliedintelligence. The company then survived being ripped off (big time) byJapan' s mail order sector, the explosion of the fitness club sector in the bubble, and the resulting collapse when it burst -  all while introducing a new type of training machine to Japan from Germany and branching out into specialist coaching areas in Japan's Pro Baseball League, tennis, golf and rugby. All this without the Vice President being particularly interested in sport? Mmm..., omoshiroi.
Her involvement started with her partner's interest in American Football while living near the US Air Base in Fussa. Having been hooked on the game, he noticed the huge advantage that Americans had simply because of their physiques, and an advantage far more important in Football American style than in soccer and other team sports - including rugby. Then followed an interest in weight training and help with publishing a Japanese American Football magazine, which the couple eventually took on full-time themselves.
It is no understatement to say that the concept of sport-specific training (and player-specific training within a given sport) was basically down to this innovative couple. Yuki was looking after their daughter while doubling as accountant and support team.
They opened CCY, Yoyogi Conditioning Center, which was sparsely fitted out but had a coffee shop looking into a fitness studio on the 1st floor and a training area on the 2nd . Standard arrangement - or at least not uncommon - by the mid to late 90s, but in the early 80s pretty radical. The next major step was to introduce the "Appollo Exerciser" to Japan. This fitness device, as used by NASA boys, was inertia-free, easy to use if properly instructed, and adaptable to different muscle groups and users.
It was a hit, as Japan' s High School baseball coaches latched onto the product and word spread. Enter the mail order industry, which not only undercut Appollo on price, but nicked their explanatory literature and  - just to stick the boot in -   referred any customer complaints back to Appollo! Charming. Deciding against the law suit route, Yuki's personal story then took a major turn with the discovery of the Kaiser training system,
but Appollo was already branching out into other areas and was way ahead of its time compared to the construction companies, liquor producers and supermarket chains who were belatedly jumping on the fitness book at the back end of the1980s boom.
Click back soon for the second installment of this story...
 
SURFIN MEHICO WAY...with John Buckley
I had been surfing and camped at Barra De La Cruz on the southern Pacific coast of Mexico for 6 days. Barra is a right hand point, which breaks in front of a granite cliff. A fast wally wave with a potentially board/body snapping take off, many consider it one of Mexicos best.
We were a crew of 4 living on a diet of rice, fresh fish, coconut, mango and the odd chocolate treat. Rich (mad dog), Dan (dirty Dog), JR (Fireman) and myself (nutcracker). This particular night we had been invited to dinner at the house of the local sheriff - Edgar. We loaded up with a few 6 packs of corona and set off in anticipation, looking forward to a good sit down homecooked Mexican meal.
Over the course of dinner the stories from 4 months travelling the Pacific coast started to flow fast and the beer even faster. Edgar proudly told how his younger brother was a rodeo champion. The drunkenreply from our crew was that anyone could ride one of those oversized steaks. Beer is well known as the ruin of the Irish. We were then challenged to ride the local bull and in a drunken state we accepted. As forfeit if we failed to last a full minute we agreed to give up a day for beach cleaning.
Next morning we were awoken by a deputation of local kids who had been sent to fetch us. Avoiding police trouble is straight forward enough with a donation to said policemans favourite charity but the kids and the hangover could not be bought off. We were marched to a field where the main crops seemed to be thorn bushes and rocks. A small herd of bovines were hussled in. Our sheriff friend? asked me to choose my beast - knowing I was damned any way I decided to continue the bravado and told him - that it did not matter as they all looked pretty tame. Paching - he lassooed this horned thing and with the help of his father and the kids harrying the animal with sticks pinned it against a fallen tree. He then strapped a rope around it's body and a wry smile came to his face as he invited me to jump on. Four seconds is all they say I lasted but it seemed much more. To the laughter of the kid posse I peeled my bruised ass off the ground and managed a half grin as my friends had now to go.
Our combined riding time was about 25 seconds so the next day we gladly set about on a beach clean up. Barra is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been - an 8km beach where giant leatherback turtles lay their eggs, dark golden sand, white granite cliff, perfect waves and unspoiled by shops or hotels. Maybe the local kids watching us at work will take just a little more pride in the natural beauty of where they live seeing the pleasure an outsider can take in freely giving his time to maintaining this place.
 
BE CAREFUL!
 

BE CAREFUL TENNIS & GOLFER`S ELBOW(S?) Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)

Tennis Elbow or Lateral Epicondylitis is a condition when the outer part of the elbow becomes painful and tender, usually as a result of a specific strain, overuse, or a direct bang. Sometimes no specific cause is found. Tennis Elbow is similar to Golfer's Elbow which affects the other side of the elbow.

Symptoms

The outer part of the elbow is painful and tender to touch. Movements of the elbow, and also movements which involve lifting, with the hand on top, hurt.

Causes

Although called tennis elbow, lateral epicondylitis is much more commonly seen in people who are over using their arm doing something else. It could equally well be called "plasterer's elbow" or "mechanic's elbow" or "painter's elbow".

The most common cause is over use of the muscles which are attached to the bone at this part of the elbow. That is to say, the muscles which pull the hand backwards (the wrist extensors). All the extensor muscles of the hand attach to the elbow at the outer part (the lateral epicondyle). If they are strained or over used they become inflamed, which means they are swollen, painful and tender to touch.

Sometimes the inflammation is caused by a direct injury or bang. Sometimes, especially when the cause is direct injury or strain, the muscles are actually partially torn.

Rarely the inflammation comes on without any definite cause, and this may be due to an arthritis, rheumatism or gout. Sometimes the problem is partly or completely due to a neck problem, which is causing pain in the elbow via the nerves from the neck.

Diagnosis

The doctor or physiotherapist will test for tenderness over or near to the bony bump on the outside of the elbow. He or she will also test to see whether the pain gets worse when you bend the wrist back (extend it) against resistance. In the event of both these signs being present, it is likely that you have tennis elbow.

Your doctor may also examine your neck, as this may be the cause, or part of the problem. After all many of the things that might strain your elbow might also put a strain on your neck.

Treatment

* Rest helps, with avoidance of the activities which over use the elbow.

* Physiotherapy treatments, which may include heat or ultrasound therapy

* Use of anti inflammatory drugs and ordinary pain killers (analgesics).

* The doctor may suggest an injection of a small dose of steroid to the affected area. This is not the sort of steroid banned for athletes. If used it can last for up to three months, and although it may need to be repeated you seldom need more than two or possibly three injections.

* You can buy a brace from a sports shop or pharmaceutical supplier, which can be helpful. This is probably largely because it reduces the amount you can use your elbow.

Golfer's Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)

Golfer's Elbow or Medial Epicondylitis is a condition when the inner part of the elbow becomes painful and tender, usually as a result of a specific strain, overuse, or a direct bang. Sometimes no specific cause is found.

Golfer's Elbow is similar to Tennis Elbow which affects the other side of the elbow.

Symptoms

The inner part of the elbow is painful and tender to touch. Movements of the elbow, and also movements which involve lifting, with the hand underneath, palm upwards, hurt.

 

Gaelic Football 
The Japan GAA is a Gaelic (Irish) football club of over 100 members that meet to play Gaelic football  in Tokyo and participate in the annual Asian Gaelic Games, hosted by a different Asian country each  year. We were founded in 1997 in response to the initiative of the  Irish in Taiwan to promote Gaelic Games in Asia.
We strive to be as inclusive as possible so that anyone, male or female, of any nationality, can take part and enjoy playing Gaelic football with us.
The focal point of the entire year is The Asian Gaelic Games. The objectives of this event are to promote Gaelic Football in Asia and to raise money for charities such as The Childrens Home in Chiba and Father Joe Maiers Human Development Fund in Bangkok.

 

Recent News And Events.
22 & 23/05/2004 - Japan GAA went to Izumo for Ireland Friendship Week, to play football and hold childrens sports clinics.
Recently arrived GAA Kits from Ireland have been sent to various High Schools in Tokyo to encourage young Japanese students to play GAA.
We are always looking for sponsorship from any company or individual.
Details of how you can contribute are available by emailing
info@japangaa.com or visiting our website at www.japangaa.com

 
RUNNING
The Hash House Harriers (H3), an international running club officially called "The Drinking Club with a Running Problem", got its start, most people say, back in 1938 in Kuala Lumpur when a group of British military staff and others got together for a bit of variety to their routine training but running through the bushes (H3er term is "shiggy") of Malaysian jungle. Hashing is somewhat of a combination of running and orienteering, with the group of runners (called "the pack") chasing what is called a hare or hares (individuals who are laying and marking a trailto follow).
For the most part, the H3 is a social club ("kennel") with a bit of exercise and plenty of beer tossed in for fun. Hashing in Japan began in June 1976, founded by Pat Donoghue, an Hong Kong H3er who was given the H3 name "Dunafew". Each individual who turns up at the Hash is eventually given a H3 name, sometimes ones which are rather "colorful". H3 kennels include male and female members, Japanese and all types of foreigners (American, Canadian, British, Australian,etc.) from all walks of life, making it rather interesting meeting people who work in different business fields. If you can run, jog, or walk (and drink beer, of course), hashing might be for you.  Competition is NOT emphasized!
In Tokyo, one can hash on every Monday (19:15 starting time), Wednesday (19:20), Saturday (in Kanagawa)(14:00), and normally Sunday (normally Kanagawa but sometimes TYO proper) (varies but normally 14:00 or 15:00). Average turnouts run toward 20-25 members on Mondays, 20-35 on Wednesdays, anywhere between 50-100 on Saturdays, and 30-odd on Sundays, all depending upon such factors as the weather, primarily, and run location.
Trail lengths normally are one hour, with runs on weekends somewhat longer as they begin during the daytime. Trails usually include as much of the greenery in the run location, plus as many of thelocal sites (shrines, temples, parks, etc.) to add some scenery to the fun. Runs are normally A-to-A on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays; A-to-B on Saturdays.
 

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