It's never enough!

Inspired by an entree in my BBS section, I have decided to write in my BLOG. Do I truly live in the past, maybe at times I do live in the past, but let me tell you why I keep being stuck there. I need closure. Do you know what closure is? It means that you finally have some kind of way to finish something you have started. My wife bought me a really cool puzzle the other day, it was made of 540 pieces. And it was meant to end up as a ball...I mean have you ever tried to make a puzzle that ends up as a ball? It was a picture of Ariel and King Triton, from the Disney characters. I had seen them enough to know what they looked like, but this was different! I ended up spending every night of a week just to finish it...And so did my wife. I would go to bed early because I would be too tired to continue, and then my Wife would take over. It was like a competition, who was going to put in the most pieces or something like that. So I decided that next time we get a puzzle like that, we are going to get 2 of them and then start and spend the same amount of time on the puzzle. Just to determined who is the Master! I am not sure what I wanted to tell you, but it felt good to just write things down that where on my mind. It's almost like a pensive in the Harry Potter book's...You go figure it out if you don't know what I am talking about.

Nicholas

Mrs. Oyama's Funeral

今日は大山婦人のお葬式に行きました、昼の１３時から始まりました。本部道場の二階に行われた、僕は昨日のお通夜にも行きました。今日は早めに着いて二階に上がってゆっくりといすに座りながら、昔のことを振り返る時間はありました。二階道場はたくさんの思い出がある場所ですので、ゆっくりと座っているだけでも僕はいろんな気持ちになりました。お葬式の最後のほうには大山婦人はみんなの前に出てきました、そして体と顔の回りにきれいな花をみんな運んで起きました。本当に美しかったです、僕は見たとき足元に大山総裁の気に入り帽子はおいてありました。僕はそれを見て泣きました。その帽子を総裁のもとに持ってていくんだ、と思いました、とても感動的でした。大山婦人はすごくきれいに見えました。そして、僕も二階から霊柩車まで手を合わせて運ばせていただきました。最後まで感動的でした、本当にいいお別れが出来たと思います。押忍！

ニコラス

Just got back from the funeral now, sitting here in front of my computer reflecting over the past few days. It was such an emotional event, seeing the Family again under these circumstances was a lot harder than I had first thought. I almost burst into tears when I looked Kikuko in the eyes. It has been such a hard time for everyone since Sosai has passed away, and Mrs. Oyama has been so sick these last few months. But today when I layed eyes on her, she looked at total peace. There was a most sincere feeling about her and once again, I felt humbled. Being in the company of this family just gives you life. I whish that I could have done something, I whish that I could have been there more. I don't know what I whish, but I certainly had some time to think about my life from a different angle. When they opened the coffin and I first lay eyes on her, I noticed that someone had placed one of Sosai's favorite hat's at her feet. At that moment I wept, it was just truly the right thing to do. Thinking that she would now take this hat with her into heaven and bring it to him, I can just imagine them walking hand in hand with Sosai wearing that hat. Everything just seems like it has been on hold, I feel like I have slipped through time and somehow ended up here at the wrong place. I mean, how did I get to this point at this time in my life, it just doesn't feel right. Last night I got drunk with my wife and we stayed up real late talking about Sosai and all the things I/we have been through together. I have been with her right from the beginning, since I was 21, she came with me to Europe and helped me become the European Champion, and she had just given birth to my second baby girl when I won the K-1 Japan title. So I know how it is to be with someone that you truly care for, and I know how it is to have that kind of a back bone in your life. I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to loose that, so today I feel like living. All the best to you, Mrs. Oyama.

Nicholas

Oyama Chiako R.I.P.

Today earlier this morning Oyama Masutatsu's wife Mrs. Oyama passed away, I have know her for more than 15 years. She was always a kind and caring Motherly figure, she often spent time in the Dojo hanging out with her sister whom had been working at the office for many years. These last few years have been very hard on her, after Sosai had passed away she has been stuck in the middle of great storm raging around her. The results speak for them selves, since the name of Kyokushin no longer bears the same strength it did while Sosai still lived. Organizations that even today continue to crumble apart due to greed and selfishness of certain individuals, are the proof that when he passed away so did the empire that he had left behind. It pains me daily to see the development of each organization, when at the very heart of Kyokushin there seems to be so little support. I felt very emotional when hearing that she passed away, and honestly I hope that she will find more peace now that she has know for the better part of her life. I feel often that people underestimate the value of what a good wife is to a man. She was as much a building stone for Sosai's Kyokushin as was he, if I am not mistaken then I can with confidence tell you that Sosai was as passionate about her when they first met as he was about becoming the best fighter in the world. I feel that in life you must be passionate about what you do in order for it to come alive, I also feel that Mrs. Oyama was the point of passion that kept Sosai going when all else failed, right from the beginning she was there by his side, to the public as a silent supporting beam. Mrs. Oyama I will miss you with all my heart, I hope and pray that you may at last find peace and joy by joining back with the man of your life.
Osu Nicholas

今朝、大山総裁の奥様が亡くなられました、聞いて非常に淋しく思いました。僕は１９９１年本部道場の内弟子として入門してからの付き合いがありまして。もちろん、総裁の奥様だと思いながら何でも手伝うことはしましたが、本当に素敵な方でした。われわれ、内弟子をいつもよくしてもらいました、自宅に交代ばんで行ったときは食事をよいしていただきましたし。別に僕たちに気を使う必要ないのに人間性がよくって、逆に僕たちは学ぶことはたくさんありました。現在の極真を見るとやはり総裁の名を使ってお金やほかのものを求めている人がたくさんいます、僕は極真をやめてから一度もそんなことした事はないです。独立してから僕はニコラス空手に変えましたし、たしかに大山総裁に教わった空手しか知らないけど、僕は今違う道を歩んでいるし。総裁が作ってくれた空手は永遠に生き残ります、自分自身これからはどうなるのか分かりませんが格闘議会でいろんな人と出会いが出来て、その仲では本当にいい人もいれば最高に悪い人もいます。この日は自分の中では大切にしたいです、すみません。この場でそういう失礼な話をするのは申し訳ありません。大山総裁にとってどれだけ大切の人だと一般的には知られていないと思います、昔は山篭りに行ったときにあの人にあえるから頑張れたって言う話もありました。英語で言う言葉は一つあります、Passionパッションかな～？情熱ですよ、やっていることに関したは情熱はないと駄目です、Mrs.Oyamaは総裁の支えでありながら情熱のポイントとなったのではないかな～と僕は思います。自分も奥さんの力があるから頑張れるので、今までの苦労はやっと終わりました、これからはゆっくりと眠っていてください。私たちはずーと覚えています。。。R.I.P.　（Rest in Peace)

押忍！ニコラス

Club Deep Hiroshima!

Just got back last night from Hiroshima, it was a really good event. I was set up to do a exhibition match with Akiyama Kancho, from the Vale Tudo Karate style. We started of standing up and then he kicked me and I countered with some punches, feeling was good. After going to the ground we wrestled a bit and then he did a triangle bar on me. Then we got up and boxed around a bit, I took him down and mounted him, then I got to take the armbar on him. 1 point each, and then after that it was like real sparring, I axe kicked him and the crowd went wild. It was just really cool to be in front of the crowd again, I felt like I wanted to try the real MMA fight. Maybe there will be such an opportunity for that in the future.

Nicholas

さて、広島から帰ってきました、何と秋山館長と野エキシビションマッチを無事に終わりました。僕は本当に楽しかったです、やりながらタイミングを考えて後ろ回しけりやかかと落としでお客さんにアピールをしました。なかなかよかったと思います、横になってもそれなりに頑張りました、エキシビションだったので一本お互いに取り合いましょうと決めてきたので僕は三角締めでやられました、その後にアームバーを決めました。その話よりも自分がアップをしたときに地元の子供たちに囲まれていたので”お前らもやりたいのか？”って聞くと”オス”、”ヨーシ、分かった！”そして、そこで空手の練習を始めました、一緒にじゅうなんをしてから空手の中段つきを教えました。そごい、いい気合が入っててみんなに注目された。空手は本当にどこに言っても押忍と気合だけでこころがつながるなーとあらためて思いました、その後に試合をしたときに一緒に運動をした子供たちはすごいいきおいで応援してくれました。久しぶりに”ぺタ～ス！ガンバ～って！”を聞きました、本当によかっただなーと思いました。

ニコラス

何ですか？この天気！What's up with the weather?

昨日は朝早く起きて川口のほうに用があって一人でバイクに乗って向かいました、いや～今日は天気がいいな～と思いながら、ノースリープで気持ちよく走っていました。それから会社のミーティングに参加をしまして、もう一度川口まで行きました。二回目行ったときは本当に暑くって日に焼けるぐらいでした、それから急に行き先の手前まで行ったら暗くなってしまった。。。まさか？雨？いや、それはないでしょう。無事には着いたけど、帰ろうとしたとき台風の目にあだってしまったため３０KM以上スピードは出せなくって帰るのに一間かかりました。この２週間でそういう天気はもう三回目です、今日はいいでしょうと思っても安心できないです。。。

今日はバイクを洗ってWAXをかけたいです、そしてノースリープでゆっくりと走りたいです。。。

ニコラス

I am telling, the weather in Tokyo is crazy these days. Like yesterday I had to drive out to Kawaguchi, which is a good 25km run, so I got up early and took my bike out for a spin. It was a really nice day and I ended up taking my jacket off, and riding in my tank top. I thought it would be a good time to work a bit on my tan...Anyway, as it turned out I was way too early for my appointment, so I drove back to my office and had a meeting. After that I had to drive back to Kawaguchi, and it was getting really hot, my tan was coming along just fine when...No Way! Rain? I couldn't believe it, it was like some just pulled down a curtain and everything went dark! When it was time to go back home, the eye of the storm was right above me and I could see the lighting and hear the heavens roar with thunders, enough to make even the strong at heart want to seek cover. I could hardly see the road ahead of me, and so a 30min. drive ended up taking over an hour! At least I didn't crash or anything, but everything was soaked through to the bone. Well, looking outside today, we are off to a good start but you never know...Today I have got a bit of time,so I just want to take my bike for a nice spin.

Nicholas

MMA Rules, 総合格闘技ルール！

So I have been getting ready for this MMA rules exhibition fight next week, I have been doing quite a bit of MMA sparring. Luckily for me, I have been fortunate enough to train with a few of those kind of fighters over the last year or two. Lately I have been sparring with guy called Oyama, not the Oyama that I used to know, but the fighter in the Hero's that took out Peter Aerts with a heel hold on the new years eve show. He is not as big as me but he is really good on the ground, so we have been giving each other tips on how to do our different styles. I have been teaching him stand up and he has been helping me brush up on my ground tech. I am having some fun with it, and am looking forward to the match up next week. It should be a lot of fun. Today I was sparring with some Russian fighters that I have over here in Japan training with me, and I choked out one of them and then I did the triangle lock on the other little one. It was awesome, I mean these guys are pretty good at what they do but I managed to pull some of my moves of on them. I don't know where this kind of training is going to take me, but for the moment it is just fun to challenge the other guys in the gym.

Nicholas

来週の土曜日はMMAルールでエキシビションマッチをやることになったので、最近はそういうスパーをたくさんやったりしています。やはり、キックルールと全然違うけどなんとなくやられながら覚えていくんです。去年からいろんな総合の選手と　付き合いが出来てずーとそういうスパーはやっていたけど。人の前でそれを見せなきゃいけないとやっぱり違う、今回に向けて大山選手と高瀬選手や戦闘流選手と今うちに来ているロシアの選手と頑張っています。今日は何か知らないけど調子は本当によかったです、いきなり三角締めを決まりました、それに次のラウンドでチョークがきれいに決まった！あれって本当に気持ちいです、ま～今のところではただの遊びなんですけど。。。将来的に、どうなるのかな～？

ニコラス

夏だ～！Summer is finally coming！

今一時間ぐらい使ってここでパソコンの前に座って日記を書きました、そしたらいきなり全部が消えたしまったよ。未だにパソコンのことはそんなに詳しくないですので、日本語で何とかメッセージが出てくると大体消します。消せば安心だと思います。。。ところがそれが今まで書いたものも一緒消されたので！悲しくなった。夏が来た～って言う話をたくさん書いてたのに、なんと今俺の回りにいる人たちはみんな頑張ってすごいいいエネルギーを感じているし、今回の冬はやっと終わって昨日ハーレーの駄目になっていたバッテリーを自分で交換して。代々木公園を三回ぐらい回って顔に風をあだえていたら冬の最後の糸をふっ飛ばしました。あ～今年は強いです、２９日MARS韓国大会でWill Bambinaccio Rivaは３ラウンドK.O.勝ちしました。TEAM　SPIRITはいまどこ行っても強いです、さー来いよ。今年は何でもチャレンジします、２７日DEEP広島大会で総合ルールでエキシビションマッチをやります。外ではれるぐらい自分も晴れています！

ニコラス

What a day it was yesterday, got up early because I could feel the sun on my face. Met up with Koichi and Jessie(He just off the boat and new to Japan) in the park and went for a run. My feet hardly touching the ground, I was floating along the path and just generally enjoying the fresh air and the buzz of the people playing in the park. Golden Week has begun and everybody suddenly has time for all the things they normally don't do. The park was full of families playing around, and by the time Koichi and I were about to cross the second bridge we had lost Jessie. I am not quite sure where he took the wrong turn, but he never made it over the bridge. We went back searching for him in true trooper style, swept this end and that end of the park but to no avail. So we made our way back to base camp and awaited his return. When after a good 10 min. He didn't show up we went on another foray, trying to find the point of where he might have gone wrong we swept other parts of the park. But still nothing, I reckon that by the time we went back the second time Jessie was so far gone that even a Bloodhound would not have been able to pick out his trace from amongst the other lost souls in search of a small piece of heaven. Yoyogi Park is not that big, but it is big enough to get lost in. After our second tour around we lay down and basked in golden rays of the sun, sucking up it's healing powers. By the time I had turned a lighter shade of pink, we got up and went to go and buy ourselves a soft cream. When speak of the Devil...Jessie pops around the corner, I had just about given up hope and were about to put out a search warrant with the police. Man, it was a true Kodak moment, the expression of relief on his face was just out of control...Now that shall stay imprinted on my mind forever, Jessie a true hero of the infamous Yoyogi park. I want to make a T-shirt for him, can you imagine the lettering. " I went to Yoyogi Park, and survived !" LOL Welcome to Japan, Jessie!

Nicholas