The Freedom Of The Ring

“For me the most painful thing about playing soccer was that I couldn’t do what I really wanted to do. Even after I became a pro, agents’ opinions decided teams I played for. I actually wanted be closer to my family but (agent said) Japan has its own hierarchical relation so I have to be patient. I was a player with speed, you know. But a player who passes me the ball has his own pace and spacing and it was different from what I think we should be doing. So we couldn’t move the ball well. Then manager told me, ‘Your job is to just run and move the ball!’ So I just didn’t like it and didn’t like it and these frustrations accumulated, I think. When I started martial arts, I thought, finally, I am free, I can do whatever I want!’ It really was about that.”

Michael Yano did indeed change teams more frequently than he should have during his brief pro career. But thanks to a series of misunderstandings and emotional differences—which in time turned out to be minor—the end result meant he could never really settle in with one team to build his career.

Starting with his first team, S-Pulse Youth, - Michael somehow could never quite blend in, despite his formidable talent and speed. After his debut season he quickly left the team due to contractual issues.

The Japanese media was all over Michael Yano from the moment he stepped into the world of Martial Arts.

Michael then joined Vissel Kobe, largely because Baxter—their General Manager at the time—took a liking to Michael. He was immediately starting for them, but once Baxter departed, the problems began anew. Michael didn’t get along with Baxter’s successor, and during his third season the team announced that he was not going to be part of the team’s future.

Four years into his pro career, Michael was already working on his third team.

He took a year off, and then came back in the J-2 league, playing for Mito Holy Hock, then Sagan Tosu. But the minor league salary wasn’t enough for him to make ends meet, and he was forced to begin working at Karaoke Box as a waiter.

In soccer parlance, Michael was considered a “runner,” a player who was adept at running and moving the ball—not scoring. Instead of accumulating goals, he was just getting more and more frustrated.

Looking for a fresh start, Michael explored his options overseas, finally landing with Perugia in the Serie A League. But for some reason his agent insisted on Japan’s J League. Trying desperately to find a spot with a Japanese J League team, there were no takers.
At age 23, Michael had decided to retire.

“At the end, I thought, ‘I am through with soccer.’ When I was with the team all we did was practice. I never had a time to be with my friend, so when I took a year off, I began having my life. I started to play music then I was thinking maybe I can make living from this.”

Listening to his words, it’s easy to see that this is a man searching for a place to fit in, a way to express himself. He thought he’d find it in soccer, but the sport let him down. But still, the desire remained. But in the win-or-go-home world of competitive sports, sometimes desire just isn’t enough. You’ve got to produce. And Michael wasn’t able to accomplish that.Even So, He is in the Consolation Match. What’s His Reason Behind This?

IKUSA matched a tough fighter from Shoot Boxing named Koichi Kikuchi (right) for Michael's pro debut. But this one never happened.

Now Michael is competing in a completely different arena. He now leads a rap group called the “Double Dogz Crew.” They’ve won a few rap battles, and seem to be finding an audience, slowly but surely.
The world of music is just as competitive as the world of sports. Only the winners and losers are decided on the charts, not on the field or the ring.
Michael’s pattern of rapid-career-changes begs the question: Why did he think he would find success in the world of Kickboxing? Becoming an Kickboxing Champion does not happen overnight—it takes years and years of training, fighting, and dedication. What made him think he could just go in and conquer? With Michael, it seems to be all about recapturing something that was lost long ago.

“I just want to prove my pride in there. In front of everybody. I always had this desire to show people that I can do something great. In soccer, no matter how much I tried, I could lose the game even though it is not my fault. So even when a team lost, there was another person inside of me who was not sad about losing, you know. But in martial arts, I am the only one who feels the pain, and when I get beat up in front of everyone, then my pride gets destroyed so the level of mortification I feel from losing is not even in comparison with soccer. When I was in junior high school, I was so mad at myself for losing one game. I felt like I was reunited with myself from long time ago.”

I like this spirit.
As the old saying goes, “It’s not whether you win or lose. It’s how you play the game.” Although it takes more than just playing the game to be an Kickboxing Champion, true winners are always prepared to dust themselves off and try again. As long as you never quit, you are always a participant in the gamble called life. And nobody can ever call you a loser.

After Michael’s defeat at the Fujiwara Cup, Mr. Yamaguchi and Michael once again decided to roll the dice. Michael applied for the “Get the Future” segment of the IKUSA (a kickboxing event designed to expose new talent) show on July 10, 2004. On paper, this seemed a perfect fit—IKUSA was looking for new talent, and Shingo Ozawa, the producer at the time, contacted Michael immediately after receiving his application and arranged a sit-down meeting.

Michael is now fighting in the world of rap music.

A few days later, IKUSA announced that Michael’s opponent would be Koichi Kikuchi from Shoot Boxing. Kikuchi had just defeated one of IKUSA ace fighters Yuki. IKUSA is a show known for sending fighters like Takayuki Kohiruimaki and HAYATAO to K-1 MAX. So having Michael make a pro debut in IKUSA was the smart first step. But questions emerged. Kikuchi was a tough fighter, 6-0 with 6 KOs. Shouldn’t Michael start his career with an easier opponent? What kind of debut fight would this be?

Mr. Yamaguchi realized what was at stake:
“I think this is a big opportunity. But we don’t think we will have too many chances like this one. The challenge of our team, DIA-DORA ISHIN, would be over if Michael loses the fight. I understand that.”
Mr. Yamaguchi has decided to place Michael under a grueling conditioning program to get him in shape for this challenge.

Honestly, I am not sure if Michael can clear this hurdle. But I am willing to gamble with Michael and Mr. Yamaguchi on this. And I’m willing to face the scorn of people who laugh at me—a journalist who has made a big fuss over an athlete with such unknown qualities.

Why am I betting on Michael? There’s no rational reason. Just a gut feeling. If forced to explain, I would say it had something to do with the darkness Michael went through for 25 years. The pain he felt from being betrayed, the coldness he developed through so many years of loneliness. For most people, the dark experiences that constituted Michael’s life would be too much to bear. But my money is on the man with the courage to step up once more to the battlefield, win or lose.
Besides, it’s always more fun to bet on the fighter with the more interesting history. And when you’re on the bottom, it’s easier to take a chance and leap for what you want.

The End

Postscript:

On November 3rd, 2004, at the IKUSA press conference, Michael Yano’s
retirement from kickboxing was announced. Michael Yano was diagnosed of
Hepatitis B in June. Since it is difficult for him to acquire a professional license for medical reasons, Michael Yano has decided to retire from kickboxing and is concentrating on career in music.

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