The motivation to work out is "to be popular" after all.
From left, Makoto Takahata (A_UNN PR), Takuya Hata (BEAMS), Shingo Suzuki (1980inc.)
Today, we are here to introduce you to the fashion industry and to show you what fitness is all about. First of all, could you briefly introduce yourself?
Qin:. my name is Hata, and I'm a member of the press at BEAMS. . I have been training at Gold's Gym, which is located below my office, for the past four years.
Suzuki:My name is Suzuki and I run a company called "1980inc." I have been kickboxing and doing physical training for about 9 years now, but I only started muscle training 3 years ago.
Takahata:My name is Takahata from "A_UNN PR." I started doing muscle training about 4 years ago. I had a half-year break in the middle of my training, but now I am working out at my own pace.
What made you decide to do strength training?
Suzuki:. purely because I wanted to be popular (laughs). (Laughs.) But not just with the opposite sex, but with everyone, men and women alike. . It is more dependable and cool to be masculine, isn't it? For this reason, I used to practice martial arts once a week with a famous trainer, but it was just training to improve my instantaneous strength with my own body weight. It was for quick and precise punches and kicks, so my body wasn't quite ready.
It's like when you say, "I do martial arts," but your body is so normal that when you go to the beach, people say, "Not at all!" . So I started muscle training, and my world changed dramatically.
Qin:I wanted to be popular in the ocean. I wanted to be popular at the beach, and I wanted to look cool in a T-shirt, and I saw a movie on Netflix called "Homie Kei: The Japanese Who Became Chicano" about a Japanese man who survived a brutal American prison, and I realized that you need muscle to wear a white T-shirt. I admired men who could wear simple clothes like that.
Suzuki:These days, many young people think like you do, and when I talk to skaters in their 20s, they all want to do muscle training. I see a lot of young people at the Gold's Gym where I go.
Qin:I see! That's a nice trend.
Suzuki:Why do you want to work out?" I asked him , and he said, "I'm not really popular with these hijinks.
Takahata:Maybe it is due to the influence of Korean male idol groups and celebrities, but I guess there are a lot of people who want to be thin and macho.
. Many Korean men have military service, so many of them are well-fit, right? Why did you start training, Mr. Takahata?
Takahata:My reason was a little different from everyone else's. Around the age of 40 or so, I began to feel that it was harder to get rid of fatigue and that my blood flow was poor, so I decided to try to get some physical exercise. I used to go to a gym, but it was closed for a while due to the Corona Disaster. At that time, I bought a chinning stand on which I could do pull-ups and dips. Then I switched to home training.
Qin:Home training , I can never do it. How do you stay motivated?
Takahata:. I don't work out my whole body in a stoic way, but mainly the circumflexes and broad back muscles. . So, I concentrate on a short time and continue in a rough way, like, "I'm going to take a shower after I push this part today. . Just by building up the muscles in my back, I look in better shape.
Some people say that the more muscles you have, the less you look good in clothes.
Takahata:You don't get big right away, so you could switch to training to maintain your ideal body once you get there. Besides, I think there are many fashions that look better with a toned physique. The same is true of the T-shirts that Mr. Hata mentioned, and the oversized styles that are popular nowadays.
Suzuki:It is also cool to be able to wear a suit smartly like a foreigner. I'd like to wear a double-breasted suit someday.
I have had nothing but good things to say since I started training!
Do you feel any different since you started training?
Suzuki:I am often told that I look younger. I am now 40 years old, but I look younger than when I was in my 30s. . I guess it is because muscle training is a stress reliever in the midst of the pressure of running a company on my own. When I am on the verge of an outburst of frustration at work, I go to the gym and work out, and I feel so much better.
Qin:I understand that. I'm a night gym person, so I have 2 hours from around 10pm when I get off work until the last train, and I put all the stress of the day into my workout. I'm like, "Damn! . ( lol ).
Takahata:. after all, it has a great impact on the mentality. There is a sense of fulfillment that comes from within just by moving the body. I think it releases accumulated stress, which leads to youthfulness and keeps a good mindset.
. I know what it feels like to be physically active, to be positive, and to be able to think clearly.
Qin:There are only advantages. The rhythm of my life is totally different from before I started strength training. It is said that it is better not to drink alcohol after strength training. In my case, I feel so refreshed that I don't need alcohol. The quality of sleep also improves, so I recommend it for insomniacs as well.
Mr. Hata, you used to be quite a drinker, didn't you?
Qin:I still love to drink, but ( lol ), I don't drink on the days I do muscle training, so I have a rest day on my own. My diet has also changed drastically.
Takahata:On the other hand, I drink alcohol every day, so I am not at a level of zero, but I can drink comfortably because I am physically active. Muscles are said to lose weight when they are stressed.
. so I don't want to stress my daily life in order to stay motivated. . I don't think "muscle training = I have to keep going hard," but I try to enjoy physical exercise. Also, I've become interested in supplements. I take EAA, glutamine, and creatine as well as protein. There is a limit to the nutrients that can be supplemented with food.
. Indeed, I hear that there are not that many nutrients that we can actually get from vegetables.
Takahata:Some people think protein makes you fat, but it's only good for bodybuilding. Even if you just keep up a light workout while drinking it, your body will become firmer and healthier.
Have there been other positive influences on your life besides your diet?
Suzuki:Muscle training leads to all kinds of sports. My hobby of golf has improved, and my surfing has improved as well. I am always glad that I started doing this.
Takahata:. the question would be whether you feel the hurdle to getting started is too high.
Suzuki:. the impetus to do the heavy lifting could be, for example, fashion.
Qin:I think it is totally possible to start from the form.
Enjoy fitness and fashion at the same time
. I think more and more runners are enjoying fashion these days, but when it comes to muscle training, I guess I don't have such an image. What do you think about the way people dress?
Suzuki:I run a lot myself, and it is true that the number of fashionable runners has increased. There are many sports brands that focus on running, and running brands that have penetrated the fashion scene. . But when it comes to muscle training, I feel like, "....
Takahata:There is apparel that specializes in strength training, but there are few that can be worn as a fashion statement like running and outdoor brands.
. To put it another way, golf is gaining tremendous momentum right now. Various companies are developing golf wear, but golf is a prestigious sport, so there are some things that can't be broken down. However, there are no rules about what to wear for muscle training, so if the fashion industry comes up with such brands and apparel lines, I think the image will change little by little.
You brought your training clothes with you today, but what kind of style do you usually wear when you work out?
Suzuki:I'm like this. An oversized T-shirt and loose-fitting blue shorts. After strength training, I often run on the running machine at the gym, so I wear shoes on my feet. I try to coordinate my socks with other colors for a fun look.
Qin:It would be much more fashionable if you were at Gold's Gym.
Suzuki:. this is Everlast, a boxing brand. It is a collaboration with Bedouin & the Heartbreakers. The shoulders are also sloped, so it can be worn in a modern style.
. It's a design that's more like everyday wear. If more people wore this kind of clothing, the image of muscle training would change.
Takahata:Is the T-shirt cotton 100%?
Suzuki:. yes, I do. When I run outside, I also place importance on functionality, but the gym is air-conditioned, so I don't worry too much about water absorbency. . Even if I sweat a little, I can just take a shower on the way home and change my clothes.
Qin:. On the contrary, I sweat a lot, so I work out in sportswear. I chose sportswear based on mobility and comfort, and ended up choosing this one from Nike.
Takahata:. It's nice because it's not bulky. It is important not to pack it in my bag on the way home from work .
Suzuki:Are the bottoms running shorts?
Qin:. for running. . There is a slit at the hem , so it is easy to bend my knees when I do squats. . I used to wear short-sleeved tops, but I thought sleeveless tops would be more exciting.
Suzuki:It's fun to see pumped up muscles ( lol ).
Takahata:I wear T-shirts and shorts by "One Hundred Athletic. It is the brand of martial artist Kaoru Uno, and just wearing it makes me feel stoic.
Qin:You also collaborated with Gold's Gym. The all-black color will make you feel more relaxed. I didn't know that New Era also produces mesh caps like this.
Takahata:This cap is so easy to use. It doesn't get stuffy and is lightweight. And the shoes are "New Balance" shoes. I like the design of this model, which can be worn not only for running but also as a fashion item.
Mr. Suzuki's Training Style
Mr. Hata's training style
Mr. Takahata's training style
Let the editor-in-chief start muscle training!
. Actually, the underlying theme of this article is to get HOUYHNHNM's editor-in-chief, Mr. Komuta, to do some muscle training. I figured that if I could get him into the mood, readers would feel the same way.
Takahata:I think it is a good idea to start by incorporating it into your daily life, even if it is just once a week. As you gradually start to notice changes in your body, you will probably start to feel more positive. By exercising your body, you will be able to enjoy your meals more.
Suzuki:To stay motivated, I feel it is essential to follow Testosterone on Twitter. He's also published a book called "Muscle Training is the Best Solution" , and he has 1.8 million followers.
Qin:Amazing!
What do you tweet about?
Happiness cannot be bought with money.
- Testosterone (@badassceo) June 1, 2022
cake
1 piece = happiness
2 pieces = super happy
3 pieces = Bored.
4 pieces = painful
5 pieces = no longer possible
, so that more quantity is not always better. The same goes for money. It is an illusion that having a lot of money will make you happy. Think about it for a minute. Do you want to eat cake until you feel sick? I want to eat it. I'm going to the cake shop.
Suzuki:He says things like, "Strength training and protein will solve 99% problems in the world," or "Strength training increases hope and muscle, while it decreases negative thoughts and flab. ( lol ) Sometimes he says extreme but very informative things, and they are just interesting. . And, strangely enough, it's very convincing and motivating. He conveys the appeal of muscle training with humor, so you may want to give it a try.
Qin:And maybe we could team up like a running club?
Suzuki:. I have formed a team called "Thursday Macho Kai". We get together every Thursday at Gold's Gym and train together. We compete with each other to get the best bench press.
Qin:It's easier to get started and more motivating if you're with someone else.
Takahata:Isn't this one too? Like the muscle ache feels so good that it keeps you going. That aching sensation, that feeling of fulfillment, is what I personally love.
Suzuki:After the macho meeting, we wake up in the morning and report to each other, "I have muscle pain coming.
Qin:It would be fun to share things like "I'm having a bad day. "( LOL ).
Suzuki:. Also, the pictures are good. Once a year, the Macho-kai asks Mr. Michi Nagao, who has been photographing martial artist Tenshin Nasukawa since before his debut, to take pictures of his body after it has been shaken up. I enjoy seeing the before and after of my body from a year ago. By the way, when I showed it to my wife, she said, "That's really creepy. ( lol ).
Takahata:( lol ). , but the pictures would be nice because you can see and feel the change. Personally, I think anti-aging might resonate as well.
Qin:Indeed! . everyone who does muscle training looks so young, don't they? If we can show the older generation of cool adults that they like to exercise their bodies as well as fashion, I think it will fall on the younger generation and have a positive impact on them.
Takahata:After all, what can we do? This is it! Is there anything like that?
Suzuki:I have an answer! How about building a gym where only cute girls are allowed? If the number of cute girls training increases, boys will inevitably train too.
Qin:That's right ( lol ) . absolutely yes. HOUYHNHNM's office, shouldn't it be that gym, ( lol)
