Rugby Performance Summit 

Recently, I was invited to the online rugby summit by my long-term friend "Ben Norcott" who coached Tuggeranong Vikings, the club that I played for in Canberra.

He is now Brumbies' Academy S&C Coordinator & AUS u-20 S&C coach who also has an experience coaching at one of the Japanese top level team.

This was my first time experience being on a podcast & I really appreciate Ben for his help.

Thanks, Ben.

I am also really humbled by joining this group as they are the ones that I am learning from.

But hopefully this challenge will help me going further and making me better in the future.

Through this experience, 

I leaned how effective this works in terms of communicating with and learning from the experienced coaches on-line.

The one of the key aspect of S&C these days I think is to utilise on-line tools.

By utilising these tools, we can effectively provide information to players and coaches as well as friends, coaches in overseas.

Please be patient if you listen to my podcast.

There are a quite few areas that I still need to improve as speaker.

But thanks for your interest. 

http://rugbyperformancesummit.com

Mitsubishi DynaBoars

Poster was Designed by Mariko Kita 

A place for my passion in rugby has been moved to the new location from 2015 season where Mitsubishi DynaBoars is headquartered. The DynaBoars belongs to Japan Top East League that sits under Japan Top League. We are aiming for promoting to Japan Top League Competition. 

Our 15-16 season has already been finished by losing vs NEC at promotion game by 14 points.

However, my challenges for the 16-17 season has been already started.

Meeting friends, discussing the topics, looking for improvements and the most importantly becoming better everyday. 

Please keep in Touch with DynaBoars, we are making history in this club.

Website: Mitsubishi DynaBoars Rugby 

http://www.mhi.co.jp/gsh/dynaboars/

University of Canberra Graduation Ceremony

University of Canberra Graduation Ceremony 

At 10th April 2014

http://www.canberra.edu.au/monitor/2014/april/14-hitoshi#UC%20sports%20grad%20now%20coaching%20in%20Japan

I have concluded my university life at the Permanent House in the Capital city of Australia. 

The best moment during the ceremony came when I was on the stage and being called my name.

The presenter who called my name was Dr. Gordon Waddington

He and his family members came across my life in Canberra so many times. I coached his son Ross at College when he was 15-18years old and Gordon's partner Kathy who was English teacher for my wife and myself a few years ago.

We had a great chat after graduation ceremony. Gordon families has helped me to survive during my living in Canberra. Thank you. 

It has been a valuable experience being a student at this age.

There were so many friends from rugby back ground, class mates and teachers who helped me to dig deep into my study.

I can not say thank enough for these friends.

At the end, my family members including, wife Shoko, mother Kazumi, sister Chisato visited at ACT for this ceremony. 

Thanks for them allowing me to challenge and pursue my dream.

Since we arrived at Canberra in 2006, we survived until 2013.

3 years of rugby playing career, 4 years of rugby coaching career, 2.5 years of Uni life, 1.5years with Brumbies and 3years with AIS.

We still felt that this is our second home but now we are in our original country "Japan". 

Do what I need to do and go as hard as I can.

My life is still looking for a new challenge. 

ENGLAND RUGBY

England under20 Camp vs Ireland under20

After I arrived at Heathrow, I was picked by my friend "Richard" to Northampton where U20 team had been camping for a game against Ireland. I stayed with them until the end of the camp. All of staff members were very open and I appreciate their kindness and positive approach. Thanks for coaches.

Game against under20 Ireland was at Northampton Saints' home ground that is currently on the top of ladder in premiership rugby competition. The score was favoured for England finishing with 33-9. The young talented group finished the game with a strong performance from attacking open rugby. They will come to Japan in 2019 as National squad. I am looking forward to seeing them again in their future.

Photo on the right is from staff dinner during the camp.





Twickenham Rugby Stadium & England Rugby Union HQ

As Japanese coach, this place surprised me in so many ways. Hope Japan rugby will manage to build a big stadium for the world cup in 2019. Coming back at this place will be my next goal. Good to see my new target for my next challenge.

Home of England rugby was not only hugely big but a great quality of facility inside. Thanks Richard for taking me around.

England under18 vs Leicester Tigers Academy

The game was posted by Leicester Tigers' home ground. The England u18 team spread a ball wide and defended well toward the end of game, finishing narrow win. But so far, rugby game that is played by England rep team were well played with width of attack which was slightly difference from my imagination. This is the rugby that they challenge to implement within young talented squads. Future England will play like this? Good question. Hope they keep focusing on the developmental challenge.

The last 2 days of England visit was with Exeter premier rugby club.

The  first day was started with weight training. I was managed to discuss some questions with coaches and players. Good to see how premier team trains their top squad during season. Again, staffs in this team were well supported from their program and very open for some like myself.

This is a quite new club that is still developing their home facility. But in their future plan, this far south-west team bases this area to beat teams in the London district. Young talented players, coaches and team are waiting for their spark to be happened. Keep eye on them.

Drive back to Heathrow airport.

On the way back from Exeter rugby club, I could manage to take one great picture of country side in England. Sunshine and rain live together in this country therefore one moment in sunshine is something special.

Thanks for England, I learned so much staffs from you.

University of Canberra "Monitor" Magazine

University of Canberra Magazine "Monitor"

This "Monitor" Magazine has been published by University of Canberra twice a year. The magazine originally started as a twelve pages tabloid news paper which became an online publication in 2005 then moved to the current format which is well printed magazine style. The magazine provides current topic at UC as well as reporting outstanding achievement of student and alumni student.

University of Canberra as Brumbies' main sponsor, has developed many connections with local sporting institutes, include AIS, Brumbies, Raiders, Canberra United etc... My internship opportunity with Brumbies came up within these environment.

The honours degree in this University involves many research opportunities. Three staffs in the photo were all current or graduate the honours degree holders. I was really lucky that I joined this group of people to represent UC at Brumbies.

As I mentioned with my previous post in this blog, coaches at Brumbies are very open and the environment is the best for someone who is keen to develop a career through these research projects.

At the end of the degree in June 2013, I was contacted by ass-professor, who taught me a few subjects of sport studies, that UC media group is interested in your effort and would like to report the story in their publication. The ass-professor told me that "YOU DESERVED IT".

The word of "YOU DESERVED IT" is very important reward for someone who did extreme hard work to contribute something to a belonging organisation and themselves. During my stay in AUS from 2005 - 2013, How many times I could hear the word? Not many but when I heard the word to myself, I always felt that my effort was acknowledged and my effort was good enough to impress others.

My study at UC and the internship with Brumbies, as well as working for local rugby team and local rugby school team were all great when I looked back the each content that I learned at the each place. However, working at Brumbies is very special moment. Finishing with the UC degree as well as the internship at Brumbies at the same time was something that I wanted to do.

I would like to thank to UC media group that they posted me 3 copies of the magazine to Japan. These kind of staffs, give us power for tomorrow and future sometimes.

Yes, I need to work hard and study hard to pursuit my career.

My study has not finished, yet.

New Challenge in Japan

Kubota Spears Athletic Performance Coach

In 2013, I joined to Kubota Spears Rugby Union Club in Japan as Athletic Performance Coach. This was the first time in 8 yrs working in Japan since 2005.

I have known about 10-15 players who visited Canberra between 2009 and 2013. They played for Vikings, Uni-North and East for their rugby experience in ACT. These guys have become older and now they are taking this Kubota club forward and I am really happy to see them improving here.


Started working in new environment, there are so many things to adjust my thinking and direction. It has been a great learning process for myself. Our manager "Marty" has been helping me to get on the right pathway for future settings and I am really lucky that he has been a great teacher for myself, especially his very positive approach. Things I learned in AUS have been precious for my coaching commitment, I have no doubt about that, however I still can not ignore my hunger for learning at the same time. In term of this, Marty has given me bunch of readings to me which are an important information for myself.

I also work with "Ura" who has been here for 8yrs. He has been working hard and hard on many aspect of jobs, especially his data processing skills has been a great help for me to see players from a different point of view.

How can I adjust?
How much can I actually contribute to team?
How can boys improve effectively?

etc........
These questions last forever.
But
I should concentrate on own task first, this is the first thing that I can do for this team.
Do it well and Do it hard.

My life is still looking for the challenges.

AUS Video Crip

This is my playing clips in AUS on You-Tube.

Hope this somehow helps Japanese players to go overseas and people in the world  to see the fact that there was Japanese player who was interested in the world rugby.

Life is full of fun when we try to do our best for longer period of times. Look back the time on the clips, I have no regret on a decision to leave Japan in 2005. Hope hope I can keep challenging on my life.

The world is big, to reach it, I have to focus on jobs I have currently been doing. 8yrs been away from own country made myself a bit tougher.

In Japan, there seems so many things I can possibly do, but an important thing is that I focus on what I need to focus.
This would be the first target.

How can I be better coach?
What can I do for players to improve?

The questions have not been answered, yet.

Summary of Rugby in AUS & IRE

I would like to summarise my rugby playing history in overseas.

At First, I arrived at Wagga Wagga from Japan with a formar team-mate Mark Marry who played rugby together for Toyota Shokki Shuttles in Japan.

At Reddies, I had to travel country towns at the most of weekend for games which helped me to get into the team quickly. Good thing at Reddies was that every weekend I could take my wife to games. Player's partners, wives and girl friends were there for her to join the enjoyable atmosphere. We were really lucky that the first place we arrived and played rugby was Wagga Wagga.

We also had a really special moment with this club. We made Grand Final and won it, what's more, I was awarded as "Man of the Match on the Ground Final" and "Club's 1st Grade Best and Fairest". Winning the grand final was my first time experience in my whole life and we were really enjoyed the moment with team-mate and the supporters, including my wife of course.










After spending 10months at Wagga, we headed to Dublin in Ireland for a year to play Irish rugby. Beautiful place to be in spring and summer for sure but in winter (rugby season), it was killing fingers on hands and toes at feet. My wife was still at side line to check my plays but without having Bective's warm treatment to her, she would not be able to stay on the side line. Thanks for clubs and team-mates to help my wife to be warm.

Also this was my first experience that i was categorised as foreign player who can not be on the 1st grade member if other foreigner is already on the field. Competing against NZ players sounded tough but I felt pretty special in the environment as Japanese player in Ireland. What is Irish rugby about ........ if you want to know it, you have to go there and live with it, play with it and punish yourself to be in the coldest and wettest winter rugby. It was awesome rugby out there and I am sure experience I got and people we met in Ireland were something special that not many players would gain. I was also really lucky that I could train at ground of Leinster rugby union.

After spending one season in Ireland, we decided to head back to AUS for more challenging opportunity. The reasons I got back to AUS were, to finish my playing career, to start studying at higher education sector for further coaching opportunity, to work and support our life and expose myself to more professional environment.

I played 2006-2008 for 3 seasons for Vikings rugby club where many Wallabies and S15 players are coming from. A few injuries affected my playing career in the 1st and 2nd years. But I guess even in the time, I could push myself to grab existed opportunity. In the 3rd season in 2008, I could manage myself to not get injured and my other commitments, such as school and work seemed easier to manage than 1st and 2nd seasons. I made some 1st grade appearances and played at several positions, such as 4,5,6,7&8. I thought this would be my last season as I had been feeling my body's damages. The feeling helped me to play even harder in the season to maximise my chance to play for 1st grade games.

At the end of season presentation, I was awarded as club's 24th "Player of the Year". I still remembered the feeling that I did not expect anything at the time, I was just drinking a beer for fun. But the moment came, and I lost myself for a few second and realised that the award I got. It was special feeling of course but more than this, showing our achievement to my wife was special for us.

Coaches and players I and my wife met are still great mates who opened my next door. I believe that people's connection was the best developed in hard working environment where every one of us moving toward same goal. This feeling can not be forgotten. I should keep challenging myself for future opportunity.

To conclude this, our rugby travel was something that other Japanese rugby players should try and gain open knowledge/skills in rugby. Hope I can help out Japanese players to go overseas when they realise that they need it for Japan.

Thanks, AUS and Thanks IRE.

I love to head back and expand my future doors.

http://reds.rugbynet.com.au/default.asp
http://www.bectiverangers.com/
http://vikingsrugby.com.au/about-us/honour-board/player-of-the-year/

University of Canberra

In 2013, I graduated from University of Canberra where I met so many great teachers. 

The another greatest thing UC provided me was not only learning outcome but actual coaching job opportunity. As UC has been the major sponsor of Brumbies, we had tremendous chance during the Uni life.  Their program has been a great emphasis on professional pathway into the top sporting environment. This was why I liked the program, "Coaching and Exercise Science". 

I also was very lucky that I met Keane Wheelar who is course convenor of the course and also played rugby together at Vikings rugby club. He helped me to get research paper done and published which I have never expected to do in my whole life. If showing unexpected dream to student is the one of skills that teacher may have, then he did exactly same thing to me. I felt I was moving into the world where I have never been and I liked the challenge. Again, I learned that a little one more push may change the whole result at the end. 

Obviously coaching two teams, doing internship, working at two places and for myself, and studying were not easy things to continue, but what I could gain from these experiences was I guess not many people would have. Being smart is sometimes not good enough, we have to be tough and solid to complete tasks in really hectic schedule and get OK for everything we do. Identifying priority was the most important thing I learned during the period.

Now I feel like I would like to keep studying for higher degree and I am hungry for it. The point is can I manage myself for studying during Full-time work commitment. 

I do not know, but I will at least give a shoot and see what's gonna happen. 

At University of Canberra, things I learned provided me the foundation of coaching skills and knowledge. Now I need to progress from there for future settings. 

Thanks UC, and teachers, hope to see you again.

Australian Institute of Sport (AIS)

I started working at AIS in 2011 under Lee Culnane (Manager) who played rugby together for Tuggeranong Vikings Rugby Union Club in Canberra.

Staffs and clients who are at AIS are very friendly and an opportunity to meet AUS's best coaches/sport scientists has been a great motivational factor since I started working there.


Recovery, Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics, Skill Acquisition, Strength & Conditioning, Sport Coaching and etc...
There are many disciplines that contribute athlete's sporting excellence.
This environment definitely changed my way of thinking about future sporting opportunity.

Meeting with coaches and wide variety of young talents were the best to cement my future goal.


Through this work, I started developing strength & conditioning coaching opportunity and realized importance of sport science at practical setting.  


One day, I would love to come back and look for new opportunity at the capital of Australia.

I would like to show my appreciation to people I met at AIS, colleagues who worked together and clients who I worked for.
Thank you very much.

Leaving this great institute is massive change in my life.
How can I become very influential coach?
What is waiting in my future?
My life is still challenging on me!!!

http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/visit/swimfit/news/australian_institute_of_sport_wins_act_fitness_centre_of_the_year

http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/visit/swimfit/news/trainer_profile2

Athletic Performance Internship

Athletic Performance Internship at Brumbies

This was the biggest decision that I made in 2012.
I had this opportunity through Brumbies - University Canberra (UC) connection as UC has become Brumbies' main sponsor.

As Japanese, having experience at Super 15 franchise is tremendous opportunity. Knowledge in sport science I have learned at UC has becomes integral part of me to understand what the purpose is and the reason of why. Thanks lectures at UC for giving me a great chance to learn sport science.
Brumbies coaching staffs has been described as one of the best coaching staffs and the quality, therefore the program has been well recognized in AUS.

The details they have faced at each day and things I can see what's happening, have been an incredible learning opportunity. I am fortunate to continue the internship 2012-2013 season which hopefully I will be able to gain more detailed information about how the coaching structure effectively work and what makes difference between a great program and a good program.

I have worked under Dean Benton's performance unit as the intern and his open approach, players first thinking and carefully detailed his planning (which I want to know more about) in my point of view, are the good surprises that I see the most of days at Brumbies' performance gym.

There are a few inputs who played in Japan, as well as players who can speak Japanese in this current squad. As 2 Japanese players have gained contract from S15 teams in 2013, Japanese domestic players should start aiming for the special opportunity in their mind. The top league in Japan becomes a part of resources for AUS rugby, as well as NZ, SA and a few European countries which may be the one way of making Japanese or Japanese national team stronger.
Next Challenge Japanese has to face, will be a coaching export. How Japanese coaches can gain a contract from oversea's teams? Players & Coaches, we are all in the world rugby scene, so why not, Japanese coach should develop their aspiration to become premier coach in overseas. That's what I am thinking and what I'm aiming for.

I had an opportunity to sit on bench at S15 match last season.
I have never expected it happens in any ways in my whole life. My next long term goal is to reach the level as real staff member in the future  and experiencing as close feeling as this. 

Thanks always  Dean san, Gavin san, Ben san who have allowed me to learn so many aspect of athletic performance in 2012.
I'll keep learning and being hungry in the learning environment.

How can I make players more athletic?
The challenge officially has been started in 2012.

 

Rugby Coaching at Radford

Rugby Coaching - Radford College


Another challenge I faced in this 2012 season was that I also involved in Radford College 1st XV rugby team as ass-coach.

I had been coaching past 3 seasons at Radford College where I met so many young rugby players who have a passion to improve and desire to steal a win against stronger oppositions.

If there was regret in my performance as rugby coach in 2012, it would be a fact that I could watch only 1 game for Radford boy's game. I had no option but missing the games due to Uni-North 1st grade coaching duty I had. However, I managed to teach the boys 1/week in gym and 1/week on field which I could see the boy's improvement throughout the season.
However, boys struggled this season and the fact that I can not watch their game was a frustration I had.

The biggest reason of why I love to coach them at Radford were, boys are really good, smart, and keen to improve, and also Richard Browning who has been the 1st XV head coach for a long time. His approach to players is totally different to what I have experienced as player and as coach. His feed forward positive approach was something that kept me in the team.



How can coach/teacher grow young people in very positive manner?
I guess, things I learned in the college would lead me to right direction to the answer.
He has not missed the opportunity for boys to improve and it is not just about rugby skills & knowledge but their personal development.
How young boys like them becomes responsible person who has strong pride in their heart, therefore becomes more gentle and a kind for others in their future lives.

It is not same learning curve as I felt at uni-north but definitely he was my role model in the way he faced to boys.




When to say something, when not, knowing this is just a great skills to have as a coach.
What approach is the most appropriate for different age grade and different setting? Things I have learned in this school is not just skills & knowledge as coach but good human being.

Huge thanks to boys & parents, Richard and Radford College for 2012 season.

I have to keep developing the skills as coach.