On August 3rd, manager Lee Eol and 8 of his best wrestlers came to Japan from Baekseok University. Although this Korean envoy appeared a bit nervous during the welcome ceremony (held at Hill Top) held that day, they were much more relaxed on the 7th, four days after coming to Japan.

However, their relaxed expressions changed during the practice match held at the Chuo University Wrestling Facility. Both teams wore their official uniforms. The Korean flag is sewn to the ring shoes worn by wrestlers at Baekseok University. At the practice match, 7 matches were held for both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. Standing at the ringside were Dean Hee-Chul Joo of the Baekseok University School of Sports Science, who came o Japan the previous day, and Chuo University Professor Katsuhiro Shimizu (Faculty of Commerce), Director of the Chuo University Wrestling Club.

The first match began at 2:50pm. Chuo University won 5 consecutive freestyle matches from Hiroki Geji (1st-year student in the Faculty of Letters; graduate of Hokuto High School, Yamanashi Prefecture) in the 55-kilogram class to Yasunori Yoshioka (3rd-year student in the Faculty of Law; graduate of Sakura-Minami High School, Chiba Prefecture) in the 84-kilogram class. Korea focuses Greco-Roman wrestling and does not perform as well at freestyle. Even so, wrestlers from Baekseok University gave their best effort and won consecutive matches in the 96-kilogram and 120-kilogram classes. These victories should the power of Korean wrestlers in the heavyweight classes.

Chuo University struggled during the following 7 Greco-Roman matches. In the final match, the Chuo wrestler was fallen (both shoulders held down) on the mat by his Baekseok opponent.

Chuo’s overall record was 8 wins and 6 losses. Despite it being a practice match, the wrestlers fought hard for victory. 3 wrestlers from the two universities were injured and losers trembled with frustration.

“Chuo University wrestlers don’t give up,” said captain Jeong Jong Seok (3rd-year student; 55-kilogram class in Greco-Roman. “It was different from practice. Their wrestlers have outstanding endurance. We can learn from them.”

“I learned a lot from Korea’s Greco-Roman wrestling,” said Chuo University captain Yuki Yasuda (4th-year student in the Faculty of Letters; graduate of Mii High School, Fukuoka Prefecture). “They have much better technique than Chuo wrestlers. Also, they move swiftly. There is no hesitation in their technique.” As shown by Yasuda’s praise for Baekseok wrestlers, both sides learned from their opponents.

During their 1-week stay, Baekseok wrestlers participated in joint practice with Chuo wrestlers on the 4th, 5th and 6th. Following the same schedule as Chuo wrestlers, they trained from 6:30am. They ate and slept under the same roof. Their training included 1 hour of jogging around the lodging facility in Hino City, as well as 50 meter dashes or other auxiliary exercise of 30 minutes.

After eating breakfast and taking a break, all the wrestlers rode in a Chuo University bus to the wrestling facility. From 2:00pm they practiced while focusing on sparring. The mat was packed with grappling wrestlers from Chuo and Baekseok. They tested their strength and technique on each other.

Training sessions ended with weight training. Once training ended at 5:00pm, the wrestlers all traveled back to Hill Top for dinner. Their meal included the Korean dish of a chuck rib rice dish.

After returning to their lodging, they used smartphone functions to converse in Japanese and Korean. “Practice is hard. Chuo runs a lot,” said Baekseok wrestlers. “You must do a lot of weight training. You’re much stronger than us,” said Chuo wrestlers. They identified through their bonds as students and wrestlers. They gradually became friends through their many similarities such as studies, training…even girlfriends!?

Yamamoto brings the universities together

Interaction between the two universities was made possible by Yoshihito Yamamoto, a Chuo University alumnus who was a member of the wrestling club. After graduating from the Faculty of Law in 2002, Yamamoto studied at Korea National Sport University until 2005. At university in Korea, he met the wrestler Lee Eol, who would later become manager at Baekseok University.

In 2007, Yamamoto finished the Doctoral Program in the Faculty of Physical Education at Seoul National University. During that time, Lee Eol ardently desired to study coaching at Chuo University, which had produced 5 gold medalist in wrestling. The two men’s friendship grew into interaction between their respective universities. “We are alike in that we both seek to excel in studies and sports,” says Yamamoto.

“Chuo University students took good care of our wrestlers,” says Dean Hee-Chul Joo of Baekseok University, his cheeks flushed with feeling. “I’m very grateful. I hope that we can continue a relationship like brotherhood in the future.” “I hope that we can establish an even deeper relationship,” says Dean Katsuhiro Shimizu of Chuo University in summing up interaction between the schools.

“Working hard together to improve is a valuable experience,” said President Tadahiko Fukuhara in a speech mixed with Korean at the welcome reception. “I hope that we will have even more meaningful interaction in the future.”

In the evening of the 4th, Chuo University alumni invited all of the wrestlers from Baekseok University to a buffet restaurant along Yaenkaido Ave. The showcase was filled with meat for grilling. There were also many kinds of sushi, as well as curry, yaki-soba, white rice, fruits, ice cream, etc. The waiters were shocked at how much the wrestlers ate.

Captain Jeong is the university champion in Korea. Also, two of Baekseok’s wrestlers are ranked 3rd among university wrestlers in their weight. Two other wrestlers were high school champions. In Japan, these powerful wrestlers are just normal students. On the 7th, they went to a public bath. Apparently, the word onsen (hot spring) is used in Korea. “I heard that roads in Japan are free from trash and it is really so,” says captain Jeong. “Chuo University students are very well-mannered and respect their elders.

At Chuo University, Baekseok wrestlers improved their skills, formed friendships and learned about Japan. When the Korean wrestler returned home on the morning of the 9th, many of them were reluctant to say goodbye and exchanged hugs with the Chuo wrestlers.

Chuo University Wrestling Club

Founded in 1946. The practice facility and homepage of the club bear the phrase fighting spirit, a teaching of Ichiro Hatta (deceased; graduate of Waseda University), who is known as the father of Japanese wrestling. Five wrestlers gained fame for becoming Olympic champions while training under Hatta at Chuo University: Shohachi Ishii (1952 Helsinki Olympics), Shozo Sasahara and Mitsuo Ikeda (both at 1956 Melbourne Olympics), Osamu Watanabe (1964 Tokyo Olympics), and Shigeo Nakata (1968 Mexico Olympics). Hatta taught his wrestlers never to follow others and to always do things differently. One famous legend recounts how Hatta stared down a lion.