What is the next stage for Aya Murakami, a female Jiu-Jitsu practitioner who wrapped a black belt at the fastest speed?
The popularity of women's martial arts is sweeping the world. In the RIZIN ring, RENA and Miyu Yamamoto are outstanding. "DEEP JEWELS", a gateway tournament to RIZIN held in February this year. Aya Murakami, who challenged this competition from the jiu-jitsu world. Murakami, who is active as an amateur martial artist, works as a system engineer and also disseminates a lot of information as a YouTuber. We interviewed Murakami, who is active in many fields.
Satoshi Dairaku
|
2020/05/25
―Can you tell us what made you start Jiu-Jitsu?
Murakami:I've always loved Jackie Chan and wanted to become stronger. The movie that influenced me was "Rush Hour." I'm originally from Tokushima, and I visited local dojos for karate and aikido, which led me to jiu-jitsu.。
You currently live in Tokyo, right?
Murakami:The person who taught me in Tokushima decided to go abroad, and I also wanted to do other things, so I moved to Tokyo. It's 2016, so this will be my fourth year here.
-Is that something other than judo?
Murakami:Yes. I wanted to work in the IT industry. There were only a few IT jobs in Tokushima. There are more in Tokyo.
I didn't know much about computers, and I didn't even know how to open a folder at the time. But I wanted to work in the IT industry, so I searched through job magazines and websites for places that said "No experience necessary" and applied.
At first, I could only do simple programs, but with the help of my seniors, I can now do it.
-You also work as a YouTuber, but you go by the name "Michune and Family" rather than your real name.
Murakami:People involved in jiu-jitsu followed me on Twitter and Instagram, so I changed my name so they wouldn't find me and acted as a YouTuber.
-Why is that?
Murakami:At first, I was embarrassed. Then, a famous jiu-jitsu athlete retweeted my YouTube video and I was discovered all at once. (laughs) I used the name "Michune and Family" to avoid being found out.
Do you also edit the videos yourself?
Murakami:Yes. Once you learn how to do it, you can do it right away (laughs).
- The editing was done well, and the videos were of high quality and easy to watch. You've uploaded a lot of interesting videos, such as your hobby of cosplay, "The fastest way to become a black belt in jiu-jitsu," and "The story of how I became a programmer without any work experience."
Murakami:I've loved visual kei and gothic lolita fashion since I was in high school, and when I was 18 I started cosplaying.
Recently, I enjoy going to events in cosplay. I get bored easily, so I like to do a variety of things.
- People who get bored easily don't get black belts (laughs). It usually takes more than 10 years to get a black belt, but you only got there in 6 years.That's incredibly fast, isn't it?
Murakami:I know only one person who got a black belt in six years. It may be presumptuous of me to say it, but I think six years is pretty fast (laughs). I worked hard to get my black belt, so...
-Comparing Tokushima and Tokyo, are there any differences in the environment for practicing jiu-jitsu?
Murakami:The size of the dojos is not that different, but in Tokyo there are more classes held and dozens of people attend.
Also, it's easier to go to games in Tokyo. When I'm in Tokushima, I have to travel, but in Tokyo, I can get there in about an hour by train.
Recently, I have had more opportunities to compete and there are more people competing.
-In 2018, you won the 2018 All Japan Jiu-Jitsu Championships Brown Belt Rooster Weight Class and the 2018 Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championships Brown Belt Light Featherweight Class.
This year you participated in the amateur women's mixed martial arts tournament "DEEP JEWELS". "DEEP JEWELS" is a stepping stone for athletes who are active in RIZIN and other events, including Saori Ishioka. How did you come to participate in the tournament? ？
Murakami:A friend of mine who is a jiu-jitsu athlete was competing in a tournament, and he asked me if I wanted to try out, so I decided to enter.
--Because "DEEP JEWELS" is MMA, you need not only jiu-jitsu but also striking, so I imagine that has a bearing on your training content. Is there anything you pay particular attention to?
Murakami:According to the rules, you have to wear gloves during the match, but that confused me.
Also, unlike Jiu-Jitsu matches, there is no points system, so I had to be careful going into the match.Before the match, I was careful not to get injured. During the MMA match, I was a bit impatient and practiced my striking too much. (laughs)
Just because you suddenly start practicing a month before a match doesn't mean you'll suddenly become much stronger. I think the important thing is to keep practicing day by day.
Actually, last year at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, my arm was pinned and I heard a cracking sound. I was treated immediately by the medical team, but I hurt myself and had to put my arm in a sling.
The All Japan Championships were scheduled for a week later, but because I heal quickly from injuries, I recovered and was able to compete in the All Japan Championships.
- That's an incredible recovery. How long does it usually take to heal?
Murakami:I think it will take about two weeks if you just do nothing and be quiet. I have naturally flexible joints, so it's hard for my joints to be locked in matches, and most importantly, injuries heal quickly.
-Are you aiming to compete in professional tournaments rather than just amateur tournaments in the future?
Murakami:Yes, if I can find the courage (laughs).
-Since you have won amateur jiu-jitsu tournaments, have you received any offers from professionals?
Murakami:I hear people say things like that, but I'd like to gain more striking experience as an amateur.
-Do you have any goals for the future?
Murakami:I would like to compete in more MMA.
Q: When people who have trained in jiu-jitsu or judo take on MMA, some may hesitate to use striking techniques. Is that a problem?？
Murakami:Striking practice is scary, but when I get to a match, the adrenaline kicks in and I don't feel scared anymore.
However, I am scared when things don't go in my favor. I try to stay calm during the match and get used to being in a favorable position. I'm not the type to make a strategy in advance, but rather to respond to each moment.
--What all of Murakami's actions have in common is that once he thinks about something, he acts immediately.
Murakami:That's right. I'm a person who relies on my senses (laughs). When I think about something, I move my body first. That's something we have in common.
When I feel like doing something, if I don't act, the "desire to do it" fades away. So I act while I still have the desire to do it. Right now, we are in a state of emergency and I am keeping to myself, but I want to practice at the dojo as soon as possible.
<information>
Aya Murakami Instagram
Aya Murakami Twitter
Aya Murakami Youtube (game scene)
Murakami Aya YouTube "Michune and Family"
Murakami:I've always loved Jackie Chan and wanted to become stronger. The movie that influenced me was "Rush Hour." I'm originally from Tokushima, and I visited local dojos for karate and aikido, which led me to jiu-jitsu.。
You currently live in Tokyo, right?
Murakami:The person who taught me in Tokushima decided to go abroad, and I also wanted to do other things, so I moved to Tokyo. It's 2016, so this will be my fourth year here.
-Is that something other than judo?
Murakami:Yes. I wanted to work in the IT industry. There were only a few IT jobs in Tokushima. There are more in Tokyo.
I didn't know much about computers, and I didn't even know how to open a folder at the time. But I wanted to work in the IT industry, so I searched through job magazines and websites for places that said "No experience necessary" and applied.
At first, I could only do simple programs, but with the help of my seniors, I can now do it.
-You also work as a YouTuber, but you go by the name "Michune and Family" rather than your real name.
Murakami:People involved in jiu-jitsu followed me on Twitter and Instagram, so I changed my name so they wouldn't find me and acted as a YouTuber.
-Why is that?
Murakami:At first, I was embarrassed. Then, a famous jiu-jitsu athlete retweeted my YouTube video and I was discovered all at once. (laughs) I used the name "Michune and Family" to avoid being found out.
Do you also edit the videos yourself?
Murakami:Yes. Once you learn how to do it, you can do it right away (laughs).
- The editing was done well, and the videos were of high quality and easy to watch. You've uploaded a lot of interesting videos, such as your hobby of cosplay, "The fastest way to become a black belt in jiu-jitsu," and "The story of how I became a programmer without any work experience."
Murakami:I've loved visual kei and gothic lolita fashion since I was in high school, and when I was 18 I started cosplaying.
Recently, I enjoy going to events in cosplay. I get bored easily, so I like to do a variety of things.
- People who get bored easily don't get black belts (laughs). It usually takes more than 10 years to get a black belt, but you only got there in 6 years.That's incredibly fast, isn't it?
Murakami:I know only one person who got a black belt in six years. It may be presumptuous of me to say it, but I think six years is pretty fast (laughs). I worked hard to get my black belt, so...
-Comparing Tokushima and Tokyo, are there any differences in the environment for practicing jiu-jitsu?
Murakami:The size of the dojos is not that different, but in Tokyo there are more classes held and dozens of people attend.
Also, it's easier to go to games in Tokyo. When I'm in Tokushima, I have to travel, but in Tokyo, I can get there in about an hour by train.
Recently, I have had more opportunities to compete and there are more people competing.
-In 2018, you won the 2018 All Japan Jiu-Jitsu Championships Brown Belt Rooster Weight Class and the 2018 Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championships Brown Belt Light Featherweight Class.
This year you participated in the amateur women's mixed martial arts tournament "DEEP JEWELS". "DEEP JEWELS" is a stepping stone for athletes who are active in RIZIN and other events, including Saori Ishioka. How did you come to participate in the tournament? ？
Murakami:A friend of mine who is a jiu-jitsu athlete was competing in a tournament, and he asked me if I wanted to try out, so I decided to enter.
--Because "DEEP JEWELS" is MMA, you need not only jiu-jitsu but also striking, so I imagine that has a bearing on your training content. Is there anything you pay particular attention to?
Murakami:According to the rules, you have to wear gloves during the match, but that confused me.
Also, unlike Jiu-Jitsu matches, there is no points system, so I had to be careful going into the match.Before the match, I was careful not to get injured. During the MMA match, I was a bit impatient and practiced my striking too much. (laughs)
Just because you suddenly start practicing a month before a match doesn't mean you'll suddenly become much stronger. I think the important thing is to keep practicing day by day.
Actually, last year at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, my arm was pinned and I heard a cracking sound. I was treated immediately by the medical team, but I hurt myself and had to put my arm in a sling.
The All Japan Championships were scheduled for a week later, but because I heal quickly from injuries, I recovered and was able to compete in the All Japan Championships.
- That's an incredible recovery. How long does it usually take to heal?
Murakami:I think it will take about two weeks if you just do nothing and be quiet. I have naturally flexible joints, so it's hard for my joints to be locked in matches, and most importantly, injuries heal quickly.
-Are you aiming to compete in professional tournaments rather than just amateur tournaments in the future?
Murakami:Yes, if I can find the courage (laughs).
-Since you have won amateur jiu-jitsu tournaments, have you received any offers from professionals?
Murakami:I hear people say things like that, but I'd like to gain more striking experience as an amateur.
-Do you have any goals for the future?
Murakami:I would like to compete in more MMA.
Q: When people who have trained in jiu-jitsu or judo take on MMA, some may hesitate to use striking techniques. Is that a problem?？
Murakami:Striking practice is scary, but when I get to a match, the adrenaline kicks in and I don't feel scared anymore.
However, I am scared when things don't go in my favor. I try to stay calm during the match and get used to being in a favorable position. I'm not the type to make a strategy in advance, but rather to respond to each moment.
--What all of Murakami's actions have in common is that once he thinks about something, he acts immediately.
Murakami:That's right. I'm a person who relies on my senses (laughs). When I think about something, I move my body first. That's something we have in common.
When I feel like doing something, if I don't act, the "desire to do it" fades away. So I act while I still have the desire to do it. Right now, we are in a state of emergency and I am keeping to myself, but I want to practice at the dojo as soon as possible.
<information>
Aya Murakami Instagram
Aya Murakami Twitter
Aya Murakami Youtube (game scene)
Murakami Aya YouTube "Michune and Family"
