- Manager Kasai (left) instructs the children with the belief that judo will not become strong if the mind is not nurtured.
Daiki Kasai, the head coach of Asahikawa Ryukoku, a high school judo powerhouse, and Makoto Umeda, the head of the club, established a new youth judo club, the Asahikawa Ryukoku Judo Club, for local elementary and junior high school students. Director Kasai said, “I want to create a place where children can grow through judo.”
The Asahikawa Ryukoku Judo Club boasts brilliant achievements, including the 1982 All Japan High School Championship Team Championship and the 1989 runner-up. In August of last year, taking the opportunity of the relocation of the school building to Higashi-Asahikawa-cho Kyoei, the nearby former Asahikawa Daini Junior High school building (284 Higashi-Asahikawa-cho, Asahikawa-shi) was refurbished as a training ground for the judo club. As a “dragon’s hole” rather than a hole, I am devoting myself to practice every day aiming for the top of the country.
Asahikawa’s youth judo club, which had more than 10 groups at its peak, has drastically decreased due to the corona disaster. School extracurricular activities are shrinking due to teacher work style reforms. Against such a social background, he wanted to “provide an environment where children can devote themselves to judo,” and started a new boys’ club using the judo club practice field at the same high school.
Coach Kasai, Director Umeda, Ayako Kasai’s wife and manager of the Meisei High Judo Club, and Riku Nakajima, a member of society who once won the Hokkaido champion in high school, are the instructors. Judo club members from the same high school sometimes give lessons.
In addition, in order to support the growth of children in the golden age (around 9 to 12 years old), whose motor skills are growing rapidly, we have introduced not only judo but also dance and balance ball exercise, as well as coordination training to develop agility. , We aim to improve the basic physical strength and motor nerves that will be useful not only in judo but also in any path in the future.
Director Kasai and Director Umeda said, “One of the good things about being a boys’ club is that you can communicate with your peers outside of school and with children who are older and younger than you. In addition to improving your judo skills, it also teaches you how to nurture your mind, such as etiquette and cooperation. I want to do it.”
Practices are on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. From 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm, you can freely use the study room, etc., coordination training from 7:00 pm, and judo practice from 7:20 pm to 8:30 pm. On Saturdays and Sundays, you can practice freely in the morning. For inquiries about membership fees, please contact Mr. Umeda (TEL: 090-8906-3570).
