The positive aspects that creative jiu-jitsu gives.
Please tell us about your work as a letter boy.
L:I do hand drawing based design. Sometimes I paint, sometimes I draw like writing, and sometimes I do sign painting. My designs are used in various situations on the web, in magazines, and in stores, but they all have one thing in common: they are based on hand-drawing.
Have you changed your life in any way by doing Jiu-Jitsu?
L:I guess it depends on how often you go to learn, but Jiu-Jitsu has a meditative role in your life. In my normal life, I am surrounded by all kinds of noisy information, like looking at my cell phone screen or checking something on the Internet, but when I go to practice and roll on the ground or team up with people, that's all I have in my mind. I block out everything else. So, for example, if I practice for an hour and a half, I think I can say that I meditated that much. And since my body is tired, I can sleep well.
Has Jiu-Jitsu had any effect on your way of thinking?
L:. I think I have calmed down more in terms of my personality . . because I think I have come to think that I don't need to show my strength or anything. I am not that familiar with the situation in Tokyo, but in Europe, people often get into fights over drinking. I think they want to prove their strength, and that's why they do it. Of course I don't start fights, but I think I can handle it more calmly now than before, even if someone tries to pick a fight with me.
What is the relationship between your work and your life? For example, ideas, relaxation, concentration, etc. .
L:Lately I try to go to practice at noon, but when I go during my work day and go back to work, my brain is also activated and I get more energy. Going at night has the same effect, and in my case, I get so excited that it becomes a little difficult to go to sleep. And I think Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu itself is very creative. It's kind of like solving a problem according to the situation. . So, although it is creative, it is very different from the creative work that I do, but I like that difference.
The dojo is called Carpe Diem, which also insists on painting its dojo.
Why did you choose Carpe Diem as your Jiu-Jitsu dojo?
L:I first started going to the studio because it was close to my work studio. It was also easy to go there during lunch time. Then, around the same time, Kohei Ohkita (of Vinyl Archive) told me that he had started going to Carpe Diem, and now we are attending the same dojo. I usually go to the dojo in Aoyama, and most of the people there are about my age or a little younger, so it's very relaxed and easy to go there.
. I heard that you painted the walls or painted the logo. Which dojo is it?
L:Carpe Diem's Aoyama Dojo was designed and painted by me. I also designed the dojo uniform that I wear during practice. I did not design the dojo in Jiyugaoka, but I did the painting.
What are the other students like?
L:When you hear the word "jiu-jitsu," you may have a strong masculine image of it, but the people who actually do it are not macho people, but very gentle people. No matter how big they are or how gender-neutral they are, I think everyone is kind to one another. Besides, and I think this is common in martial arts as well, many people who study jiu-jitsu are very calm. Absolutely no one is going to pick a fight with them, and I don't think anyone has an ego that tries to show how strong they are.
What is your teacher like?
L:There are several teachers. Each one specializes in his or her own area of expertise , and they all have great skills.
What are your goals for the future in Jiu-Jitsu?
L:I am a purple belt now, but it is a long way to go and not easy to change the color of my belt as I move up a level. . But even if it takes time, I would like to learn little by little and aim for a higher level. I think Jiu-Jitsu is a sport where you grow by being open-minded and learning from various people. For example, even if you are paired with a white belt, you can still learn from them. The path of jiu-jitsu is a very long road that will probably take me a lifetime, but I will not give up.
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