There have been many people that does not really seem to understand why a person like me would go to Japan for 2 years to do Judo. In this post I will try to explain my thoughts, hopes and ambitions related to me taking the decision to do this, but first I want to go back to the spring of 2010 and the start of my journey.
In april 2010 I was a student of the most prestigious and highest ranked business school of Norway, NHH. I was in the last semester of my bachelor-degree in Economics and Business Administration and all my friends were talking about what master-degree they were going to choose while I was thinking a lot as well, daydreaming about what to do. If I continued on the path of the business-student I had embarked upon, the future looked good, in fact really good. Being a part of the NHH-statistisitc is something a lot of people in Norway would like to be: Good salary, steady job, excellent career-opportunities and a great way to get top status in the Norwegian society.
And what about everyday life at NHH? Well, it would be filled with interesting lectures about the phenomena of economics, the beauty of business and long hours of deep studies into complex problems. On the social side a lot of great people are students at NHH so there would be parties, concerts, deep talks and good friends in a joyous and comfortable environment.
So why did I choose a Japanese Dojo as my place of study for the next 2 years instead of a Master´s degree at a prestigious Norwegian business-school in one of the richest countries in the world?
Firstly, In Norway there are few people that can live a life solely supported by Judo. One person that has done this is my good friend Martin Thiblin.
But he had been dominating Norwegian Judo for over a decade and has an unique position in the Norwegian Judo-community. I was nowhere near his status and results. Other than him you have various Judo-coaches, but they are quite few, and I was at the age of 23 and still felt that I wanted to compete and develop myself into a better Judoka as competitor and as a student.
During an exam in Japanese at NHH I got the opportunity to apply for a MEXT-scholarship doing Judo in Japan as a research-student. I made an abstract of what I wanted to research, got in contact with Tokai University. Tokai University were very interested in me going to Japan and they arranged Professor Toshiaki Hashimoto as guidance-professor. After going to the Japanese Embassy in Norway for an interview and tests in Japanese and English I got provisional acceptance and suddenly, in January of 2011 I was officially granted the scholarship. I could do Judo for 2 years scholarship-funded.
A second reason for me wanting to do Judo was my inner curiosity towards pursuing a different kind of education. I see Judo as an education, not only as a sport. Having completed a bachelor of science I felt that I had tried the conventional educational route and now it was time to try an alternate one through Judo. I started this journey at Bosei in Denmark.
This is a school in Denmark, with a campus built for a Judo-lifestyle with a beautiful Dojo, ideal facilities(weights, full-size swimming pool with sauna, surrounding woods perfect for running and so on). The only problem is and was - No elite-Judoka wants to come to this school. I took the leap and went.
And the Sensei at this school was Tommy Kjøge Mortensen, a 6th Dan, the highest Dan in Denmark. He had been to Tokai many times for training when he was an active competitor and I figured that he could prove to be the ideal person to help me prepare for Tokai Judo. He teached me not only Judo in the Dojo, but also outside the Dojo in how to be a good person.
His Judo is fantastic, both on and off the tatami. Things did not turn out as planned; I was his student for a while, but he found love and had to move away from Bosei. Surprisingly, he left me to be Sensei. So for three months I was in charge of the Judo-students at Bosei. These students were about my age or even older. I try to follow Tommy´s example, teaching Judo on and off the tatami. You can ask my students if I succeeded. I got a great experience at Bosei, though not the same way I expected.
So In April 2011 I went to Japan. Despite the upset with earthquake(s), the tsunami and a Japan portrayed by the world as complete chaos. I was warmly welcomed by the Tokai Judo-people and I am now here.
And as I reflect on my choices after 6 months here I believe I made a solid decision. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity, but more importantly an opportunity solely created by my own will to pursue the way of life that I saw as ideal for me, knowing that in some years I will have different demands, opportunities and also a different view of things. The Tokai Judo- lifestyle is the Ideal Judo Education with unbelievable Sensei, perfect facilities and everything you need to develop your Judo.
But I have not given up the field of business, I just want to wait before I return. New perspectives, cultural understanding and the mastery of an asian language might be useful in my professional future as well.
I would like to end this post with the words of Shigeyoshi Matsumae, founder of Tokai University, Judoka, Budoka and former president of the International Judo Federation:
Have a good day!
Bård
But he had been dominating Norwegian Judo for over a decade and has an unique position in the Norwegian Judo-community. I was nowhere near his status and results. Other than him you have various Judo-coaches, but they are quite few, and I was at the age of 23 and still felt that I wanted to compete and develop myself into a better Judoka as competitor and as a student.
During an exam in Japanese at NHH I got the opportunity to apply for a MEXT-scholarship doing Judo in Japan as a research-student. I made an abstract of what I wanted to research, got in contact with Tokai University. Tokai University were very interested in me going to Japan and they arranged Professor Toshiaki Hashimoto as guidance-professor. After going to the Japanese Embassy in Norway for an interview and tests in Japanese and English I got provisional acceptance and suddenly, in January of 2011 I was officially granted the scholarship. I could do Judo for 2 years scholarship-funded.
A second reason for me wanting to do Judo was my inner curiosity towards pursuing a different kind of education. I see Judo as an education, not only as a sport. Having completed a bachelor of science I felt that I had tried the conventional educational route and now it was time to try an alternate one through Judo. I started this journey at Bosei in Denmark.
This is a school in Denmark, with a campus built for a Judo-lifestyle with a beautiful Dojo, ideal facilities(weights, full-size swimming pool with sauna, surrounding woods perfect for running and so on). The only problem is and was - No elite-Judoka wants to come to this school. I took the leap and went.
And the Sensei at this school was Tommy Kjøge Mortensen, a 6th Dan, the highest Dan in Denmark. He had been to Tokai many times for training when he was an active competitor and I figured that he could prove to be the ideal person to help me prepare for Tokai Judo. He teached me not only Judo in the Dojo, but also outside the Dojo in how to be a good person.
His Judo is fantastic, both on and off the tatami. Things did not turn out as planned; I was his student for a while, but he found love and had to move away from Bosei. Surprisingly, he left me to be Sensei. So for three months I was in charge of the Judo-students at Bosei. These students were about my age or even older. I try to follow Tommy´s example, teaching Judo on and off the tatami. You can ask my students if I succeeded. I got a great experience at Bosei, though not the same way I expected.
So In April 2011 I went to Japan. Despite the upset with earthquake(s), the tsunami and a Japan portrayed by the world as complete chaos. I was warmly welcomed by the Tokai Judo-people and I am now here.
And as I reflect on my choices after 6 months here I believe I made a solid decision. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity, but more importantly an opportunity solely created by my own will to pursue the way of life that I saw as ideal for me, knowing that in some years I will have different demands, opportunities and also a different view of things. The Tokai Judo- lifestyle is the Ideal Judo Education with unbelievable Sensei, perfect facilities and everything you need to develop your Judo.
But I have not given up the field of business, I just want to wait before I return. New perspectives, cultural understanding and the mastery of an asian language might be useful in my professional future as well.
I would like to end this post with the words of Shigeyoshi Matsumae, founder of Tokai University, Judoka, Budoka and former president of the International Judo Federation:
In Your Younger Years
Grow Your Spirit
In Your Younger Years
Strengthen Your Body
In Your Younger Years
Build Your Wisdom
In Your Younger Years
Chain Your Hope Towards The Stars
Have a good day!
Bård
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