There were total of one hundred twenty eight fighters who were selected from all part of Japan competed this biggest and longest history tournament in Japan for two days. 

And this year, It was open to foreign fighter and ten fighters were selected from Russia, Brazil, USA, Spain and Canada. 

When I got an e-mail from Shihan Stuart saying my application was accepted by Honbu, I was really excited to go there and fight in this prestigious tournament representing Canada after Shihan Stuart and Shihan Don competed in the 14^th All Japan 27 years ago. 

I could get only five days off for this tournament. So my stay at Japan was very short. I left Vancouver on Thursday 19^th, arriving in Tokyo on Friday night. I went to Ikebukuro to do fighter check in at Honbu. Shihan had already done that for me so I could go to Hotel right away and got some rest for the big day. 

On Saturday morning I left the hotel around 7am to go to Metropolitan hotel in Ikebukuro. I met with Shihan Stuart, Sensei Terry and Sensei Brad there. We went to the Tokyo gymnasium along with other foreign fighter. We arrived at the venue around 9:30am. 

I started the warm-up around 10am. I did 10 minute skipping followed by 5 round of 2-minute shadow boxing and also did a few more exercise to get ready for the first fight. 

After the opening ceremony, The 1^st round was started. My fight was 13^th fight. Before the fight, my goal was to stay calm, analyze the opponent�fs move and counter attack accordingly. 

First one minute of the fight, I try to analyze his move and counter attack by shitazuki and left low kick. After one minute I felt that he was feeling the left low kick so I continuously kicked the leg until the end. I won the fight by 5-0 decision.  

My second fight was against fighter from Yokohama area. I watched his first fight and I learned he is strong puncher. My strategy was to use what worked well in 1^st round plus more mae-geri (front kick). About 10 seconds after fight start, I accidentally punched his face but they didn�ft give me warning this point. And the fight went on, it was almost an even match. But towards the end of the round he started to learn my favourite move and counter attack precisely. I managed to move sideways and try not to back up. But I couldn�ft push him forward either. Then about 30 seconds left I punched his face one more time and this time I got a chui (warning). Him and I both geared up for the last 30 seconds, exchanging many techniques but the judges gave him 5-0 decision at the end.

I think I needed more explosive technique to appeal to the judges and execute my techniques more precisely. I couldn�ft show many techniques, which I had practiced before the tournament. But there is some improvement as well. I will try to utilized this experience and improve more for the next tournament to come. 

Lastly, I would like to thank Shihan Stuart, Sensei Terry (Thank you Sensei for sewing the number to my dogi!), Sensei Brad, and also from LA, Sensei Patrick and Sensei Taku for supporting me in this event. 

I also would like to thank Sensei Tats and our fighters class members for helping me to prepare for this tournament. 

I will train hard to do well in World tournament in 2011 as it is my ultimate goal. 

Arigato gozaimashita!   

OSU. 

             Michi Nagase

             Vancouver Kyokushin Karate

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