Sukoshi!

A bitesized update, slightly delayed, as totally underestimated how much time I had to write this up at the airport. I ate a fair bit, in a bid to shift some of the coins hanging around in my wallet.

 

Anyway, pretty sure you don’t read this so that you can find out what I eat… a couple of last matches to recap quickly. I’m going to sit and write a sizeable blog covering the trip as a whole, over the next couple of days, so this will be more of a ‘skim’.

The 25th saw us all cram into that minibus again and take the overnight ride to Osaka. I actually managed to sleep on the bus -for 2 hours- so the thought of building a ring, doing a match, selling goods to fans after, and then the long ride back, wasn’t the most appealing on arrival.

Still, I’m paid to do a job, and I had a decent match with Thai rookie, Paksa, in what was also a 15th defence of the PW4U G6 championship. Paksa’s kicks were bloody hard, and I managed to limp through the match after getting a deadleg on the first contact of the match. Fun! Sold 1 t-shirt . Meh.

Bus ride back,  managed to sleep through 2 Joe Rogan podcasts , so at least 6 hours sleep. Bonus.

Next day, the last match. 6 person tag match which saw me team up with Riho and Hikaru Shida, taking on ‘Kotori’, Masa Takanashi and EK Bak, in Ichigaya. By the way, Ichigaya has no ring, so these shows are a ton of fun as you have to be creative and innovative here. I really enjoyed this match, and managed to cap off the tour just fine.

I’ll cover more of these matches in the full recap. For now, I’m going to jump on the train home!

Strides

The heat is beyond ridiculous. I mean even August didn’t feel this bad. I’m not complaining though, even if I do feel like I need a shower every half an hour.

About waist deep into this tour(originally thought there was a show today, but I misread the schedule). 2 down, 3 to go.

First up was a small show in Ichigaya. A draw of less than 50, but it was a fun how nonetheless. I was in a 3 way featuring Emi Sakura and Sawasdee Kamen. I’d wrestled both before, but I never been happy with the matches. Alas, this was a more enjoyable encounter, pretty much everything was as smooth as should be, considering the experience levels between all of us. Three ways aren’t usually fun, but this was. The audience seemed to take to the change in persona since my last visit. Think they especially enjoyed my reaction when I was told my team partners for my last match here on 26th – Riho and Hikaru Shida. I’ve been something of a fan of Shida-san for a very long time, and she knows it. This will be another box ticked as I’ve never been in a match involving either, and something I’ve always wanted to do. No pressure,lad…

Next up was a 2 1/2 hour trip to Maebashi in Gunma prefecture for something of a homecoming show for Gatoh Move wrestler ‘Kotori’. Definitely an emotional event, and most of the town had come to see her.  A draw just shy of 300, most of who had probably not seen live pro wrestling, and the rest were Gatoh Move hardcores who had made the trip from Tokyo.

I was in the opening match here , so a first impression was super important. Of course I almost fell off the rope on my entrance, saved only by a goofy landing on my feet, and a Tatanka walk…

I think my playful demeanour and Sailor Moon-style outfit helped here, as during the intermission I made a lot of friends mostly younger kids, and flogged a few t-shirts. Job done. The match itself was a tag match, with myself teaming with Thai rookie Paksa, vs my opponent last year ‘Choun Shiryu’ and Yusuke Kubo of the ‘Basara’ promotion. I really enjoyed this match. Whilst there are things if change, the language barrier sometimes makes creating matches a bit difficult. Whilst my Japanese is definitely better, it’s not good enough yet. Annoyingly.

Next stop is Korakuen Hall on Wednesday, and I aim to push my reputation up a few notches here because I have to kick down a few doors that my foot is currently wedged in to.

I’m taking this trip by the horns, and if I leave here feeling like I’ve half arsed it, I don’t deserve to come here again .

 

Song of the Week

It’s back after a break, and well. Well….

 

Deadlifts in Sailor Moon socks

Reading the title guess what I did this week… rhetorical, of course I bought some Sailor Moon socks!

Amongst other things, this week has been all over the place. Training everyday under either Emi Sakura or one of my friends from another company (apparently its not to be public knowledge), but its been eye opening already. Again. Ive already got a bunch of new training drills in my back pocket, a renewed work ethic, and a thirst for training again.

Of course being away from wrestling at home, it makes me consider where I am, and some of my frustrations, which I think is ok to think about and review. There’s a fair bit I’d like to change, but thats down to me, and if I want to properly progress.  I don’t want to think of what I ‘could have’ achieved once I hang up the boots.

Enough reflection, this week as I said has been mostly preparation for a busy run of shows here in Japan with Gatoh Move. Kicking off tomorrow in triple threat action on Ichigaya, Tokyo. I’ll take in Gunma on Sunday, where I’ve never been, so I’m looking forward to that one.

Then back to Ichigaya before heading to Korakuen Hall again next week. Ill probably blog the day before as I have a free day.

Until next Tuesday, at some Barmy hour!

“Ja mata!!”

I’m definitely 100% (unprepared)

I originally sat down to write this blog on Thursday, scrapped what id written, and promptly lost any enthusiasm to write.

So now I’m sat waiting to board a plane in Manchester Airport, which by the way, I already dislike immensely. My flights have been delayed, and I’ve been ill for most of the week, which is certainly adding to today’s misery.

Leta go back to last weekend, and pro Wrestling 4U, which saw myself and Danxig challenge for the pw4u tag team championships. Which we did win, in a match that id quite happily not see again. Tag wrestling is an area I could do with improving on, as I find it hard to get a good chemistry with anyone I’ve tried to team with before, and a 4 corner elimination match is probably not the best match to try and suss tag wrestling outin, but nevertheless, I became the first double champion in pw4u. I’d better get this tag thing sorted now huh..?

So yeah, as the Japan trip looms, this one feels somewhat final. I don’t know how many opportunities I might get again, so I really have to make this trip count. That being said, it is getting harder and harder to leave my family behind, so these trips really do have to count, because I can’t let the emotion i see from them when I leave, go to waste.

2 weeks away, and a very busy schedule will help keep my mind busy at least. First match is against Emi Sakura and Sawasdee Kamen in Ichigaya, and then all over the place. I’ll be even more tired than I am right now haha.

I’ve worked hard for this, and I’ll do everything I can to leave Japan knowing that ive given it everything I can. Certain other Brit guys have done a great job of making British wrestling at the forefront of Japanese audiences minds again. I can’t be the one to let the team down. No pressure.

Keep an eye on my Facebook page for some of those ‘facebook live’ videos. I’ll be doing them sporadically whilst there. Fun!

Juken Across The Web:

http://www.facebook.com/jukenprowrestler

Instagram : juken_gtmv

Twitter – @jukenuk

 

Upcoming appearances:

18/06 – Gatoh Move, Ichigaya
Juken vs Emi Sakura vs Sawasdee Kamen
(http://s.ameblo.jp/gtmvsakura/entry-12167790345.html)
19/06 – Gatoh Move, Gunma
20/06 – Gatoh Move, Ichigaya
22/06 – Gatoh Move, Korakuen Hall
Pro Wrestling 4U G6 Division match
Juken (c) vs Peruwan
(tickets http://s.ameblo.jp/gtmvsakura/entry-12155965050.html)
23/06 – Gatoh Move, Ichigaya
25/06 – Gatoh Move, Osaka
26/06 – Gatoh Move, Ichigaya

A previously stated I have availability in Japan on 16&17 June. Interested parties can email: jukenprowrestler@gmail.com for enquiries.

 

 

 

 

Momotoro

Another weekend down, and just one more match before I bugger off back to japan again in just over a weeks time.

This past weekend saw me in action for House of Pain on 2 of their 3 shows. Eventful and frustrating in equal measure is probably best used to describe the weekend.

The first match of the weekend was against Paul Malen. Now, I’ve been looking forward to this for a while as I hadn’t worked Paul in almost 3 years, and I wanted to see how I stacked up in his estimation since then. We didn’t really get to do a great deal as we were the first on, and the audience seemed more up for a drop toe hold bump more than anything else, so we kept things somewhat simple. Job done, I’d like to work Malen again with a little more time and further up the card, as I believe we’ve potential to so some really good business together. We’ll see.

As an aside, the attendance to the event was surprisingly good, considering an attempt to have the show cancelled earlier in the week meant a last minute venue change to the other side of Nottingham. A credit to the guys getting word out to the HOP audience and to the HOP audience for following the show. Good stuff.

Onto Sunday, and tag action, again for HOP, this time in Calverton. I literally had no idea who my partner was until 45 minutes before doors opened, as original partner Lucas Archer couldn’t make the show. Nevertheless my partner for the afternoon was young HOP rookie ‘Davey Thompson’, and he did pretty well for his 8th match, especially considering the experience everyone else in the match had. Also of note, on the opposing team was a returning ‘Textbook’ Dave Breaks, teaming with ‘The Crown Prince of Professional Wrestling ‘ Brett Ryans. Breaks was just about to become House of Pain Champion when I began training some 6 years ago, and he was great back then, if a little outspoken at times. He disappeared for a while and made a brief return in 2013/14 before going on hiatus again until this weekend. I genuinely hope this return isnt a brief one, as id certainly enjoy the opportunity to work him in a singles contest, I think he’s someone I can learn one or two things from. As for Ryans, only our second interaction, but he’s a solid hand with a good mind for wrestling. I’d like to see people take more of a chance with him.

So, I’ve one match before heading off to Japan again, and I’m working my butt off behind the scenes to try and get every last ounce of preparation on that I can. O always get the feeling that this could be my last trip over there, which makes me strive to present myself as best I can, so that these opportunities don’t cease to arise. I’ll keep going until I get where I need to be, or an absolute ‘no chance, pal’ is given.

Upcoming Appearances:

03/06 – Pro Wrestling 4U ‘Sonic Boom’, Silverdale WMC,Silverdale ,Staffs

PW4U tag team championship – Filthy Rotten Scoundrels (c) vs The Sickness (Juken & Danxig) vs Barmy Army vs S.O.B

Song of the Week:

 

Like a Russian legsweep where the dude doin the move doesn’t hook the leg, SOTW returns! Yasssss! And it’s Soyoubi No Campanella again because they’ve a new album out in a couple of weeks, and they’re aweeeesome!