How to create cool Karate-do demonstrations! (Hiyori Kanazawa, Paul Huglo, Mitsunobu Ito /SKIF)

0:08 This is Karate-do!

0:12 What kind of ingenuity went into creating this beautiful and powerful performance?

0:21 And what is the special story behind it?

0:24 That hit you, right?

0:25 Yes, it hit me.

0:28 It was just a moment, but it felt like an eternity to us.

0:32 In today's "Hiyori Express", three close friends who are instructors at SKIF Headquarters will talk about it.

0:41 My name is Mitsunobu Ito.

0:43 My name is Paul Uglo.

0:45 Ito-san, your karate performance at last year's All Japan Championships was very impressive.

0:50 Could you tell us what kind of techniques you used to create those moves?

0:54 It was a very distinctive kata, involving moving back and forth in a diagonal straight line.

1:05 Hiyori-sensei and I created a movement where we crossed paths while facing each other.

1:14 We started by showing that movement, and then demonstrated the techniques from the kata in a situation where we were facing an opponent.

1:23 Normally, when performing a team kata with several people, everyone starts facing the same direction.

1:36 This time, we started facing each other, so there were moments where we couldn’t see each other, which was nerve-wracking.

1:49 It was our first attempt, so I think the movements are pretty unique.

1:56 Since we couldn't see each other, timing was really all about trusting ourselves and each other.

2:05 What is the name of the kata?

2:06 "Gankaku-sho".

2:09 I wanted to do it, so I asked Hiyori-sensei.

2:16 Why did you choose that?

2:17 Actually, I saw a video of Nobuaki Kancho demonstrating it overseas.

2:25 At that time, I thought Gankaku-sho was so cool.

2:31 However, it is not a kata that is performed in matches under the current rules.

2:39 Really? -Yes.

2:40 This kata is not very well known.

2:44 So, I asked Hiyori-sensei to do it as a demonstration because I thought it would be interesting.

2:50 I remember now.

2:51 When he asked you if he could do Gankaku-sho, did you think it was okay, or were you not very enthusiastic about it?

3:03 To be honest, I thought it was okay.

3:08 That kata is really cool, and the movements are unique.

3:17 I really liked the idea of choosing a kata that the competitors in the national tournament wouldn't do.

3:28 However, we were a little worried about how the two of us would do the diagonal movements.

3:35 So we practiced repeatedly, filmed every session, and when we reviewed the videos later, we realized the timing was completely off.

3:44 Did you start from that stage?

3:46 Yes, we began there.

3:47 Gradually, we started focusing on aspects of the kata we wanted to highlight,

3:53 where we wanted to really put all our strength into it and then relax, and we shared those points with each other,

4:02 and finally our movements started to sync up.

4:08 Yeah, that's right.

4:10 Since it's a kata with low recognition, we started by slowly expressing simple movements and showing them in detail.

4:22 Then we increased the speed and added extra elements like more dramatic kicks to make it more dynamic.

4:29 What really surprised me was that Hiyori's "mae-geri" looked like it actually hit your face.

4:37 That hit you, right?

4:39 Yes, it hit me.

4:42 We had been practicing where I would react to her kick by timing it and deflecting it.

4:51 Well, she usually controlled it very precisely,

4:56 but during the actual performance, she tightened it a bit.

4:59 Intensely?

5:00 No, but it wasn't strong—just a light touch on the skin.

5:06 Hiyori, are there any parts of the performance that were particularly challenging for you, or parts that you think are the coolest?

5:19 The "mae-geri" part that came up earlier—I think I managed to get the distance just right, which I’m pretty proud of.

5:33 Actually, because we trusted each other, I was able to kick at the right distance.

5:42 We've been training together since we were kids, so there's a lot of trust between us.

5:51 Without that, I don't think we could have pulled off that kata performance or the applied techniques between the two of us.

6:00 Paul-san performed a demonstration with Kancho Kanazawa.

6:04 That must have been a very challenging role, as it carries a lot of responsibility.

6:09 How did you feel at that time?

6:10 I felt an immense sense of responsibility.

6:13 Even though we practiced the content several times, first there was the performance of those two.

6:20 I kept thinking I didn’t want to lose to them, and if I messed up, it would be really bad.

6:27 Also, Kancho came up with the performance content, and since he’s the main character,

6:34 I felt a lot of pressure thinking I couldn’t let him down if I messed up.

6:40 I had watched the two of them practice many times, but it was truly amazing.

6:47 Seeing it up close was overwhelming.

6:51 They showcased their high-level techniques in a dynamic demonstration, and I was completely captivated.

7:02 It might not be clear from the video, but both of them are really tall, around 185 cm.

7:11 When those two perform such three-dimensional demonstrations, it’s truly overwhelming to watch in person.

7:31 Is there anything in particular you would like to mention?

7:33 First, we showed a slow exchange of attacks and defenses,

7:40 then repeated the same techniques four times with slightly increased speed and modified counterattacks.

7:49 Doing it slowly first made it easier to remember.

7:55 After that, we did some free-style fighting like "jiyu-kumite".

8:05 However, since we were moving freely, it was difficult to maintain the correct distance.

8:14 That was the highlight of the performance.

8:22 And during the actual performance, there was a "jodan-mageri" in the very first movement,

8:34 but I slipped.

8:36 When Kancho's mae-geri came, I slipped and fell right under him.

8:45 I should have fallen farther away from him, but I ended up under his feet.

8:53 It was embarrassing.

8:54 Kancho panicked and tried his best not to step on me.

9:03 According to the original plan, I was supposed to react by stepping back in sync with Kancho's kick.

9:11 But in reality, I slipped at the same time I reacted.

9:14 In the end, it added more impact, right?

9:16 I was going all out, so that's why my foot slipped.

9:21 It looks real, so it's totally fine.

9:24 It's not a bad thing.

9:27 But I didn't notice it at all.

9:28 These behind-the-scenes stories are really interesting.

9:30 Yeah, I just found out about it too.

9:33 Honestly, there was another part where I messed up.

9:36 I don't remember exactly where, but there was a part where I kicked and then kicked again.

9:46 I momentarily forgot what I was supposed to do on the second kick.

9:51 And for a split second, I stopped, and Kancho stopped too.

9:57 It was just a moment, but it felt like an eternity to us.

10:03 What a cinematic expression!

10:06 After that, of course, we both noticed.

10:09 I apologized to Kancho after the performance.

10:12 I'm really sorry.

10:13 Kancho just said, “Don't worry about it,” and thanked me.

10:18 But I really felt bad.

10:22 But in the video, it doesn't look like anything happened, so it's okay.

10:26 Have you ever experienced a moment that felt like “0.0 seconds but felt like an eternity”?

10:29 Yes, I have. I felt that during a "kumite" match.

10:33 Everything looked like slow-motion.

10:36 2025/08/30.31 45th SKIF All Japan Championships. Please come check it out!