1) In the States, fighters with the greatest results move up the ladder the quickest. In Japan, the fighters who have been with the organization the longest have seniority.
2) The UWFI followed the "old school" methods of training. Spiritual training and building up mental/psychological strength and endurance took precedence.
3) Training began with the basics,
learning respect and making people appreciate the status they earned with humility. Washing clothes, cooking, cleaning the dojo, and other chores are how the new comers were introduced to their world.
Basically "green boys" (new comers) were "step and fetch its" for the high ranked members of the organization who gave them the chance to enter their world and help train and develop them into what they eventually hoped to become.
4) Tough and "old fashioned" training methods, which have been passed down for generations, was the rule. The actual lifestyle was a lot tougher. One had to pass a physical test in order to be let in. Those who could swing it got in, those who could not were shown the door. Everyone accepted could basically push themselves to handle the physical aspect.
Most quit for emotional reasons. Putting up with the "mental training" was too tough for many.
5) Being "old school" means that "more is better". Athletes from other cultures have found this to be unscientific and many times detrimental. For example in the West it is usually considered wise to cancel a match due to injury in order to prevent something which may be potentially career-ending. In Japan, those who participate despite injury are considered to be true "Bushi" or warriors.
If one could not mentally and emotionally handle it, they dropped out or were pushed out.
Here is an account from Gene Lydick who actually lived and trained in Japan with the UWFI:
"I remember the first night that I flew in to Tokyo. Takayama picked me up and took me to the house that I was going to stay in with 7 wrestlers and 1 kick boxing coach. For people in the US to put 8 people in a 3 bedroom apartment in Japan is like stuffing 26 people in a VW Bug. NOT COMFORTABLE!!!
I shared a room with the Thai boxing coach and another wrestler Takayama, the largest wrestler in the company. It was like being at a junior high summer camp, no room and living out of a duffle bag, one whole bathroom in the place.
The other thing that was odd was they ate dinner very late, like 9 pm, going to bed around 12 pm because they liked to sit up and talk, they wanted me to join in but I was so tired the first two weeks I was there that it was brutal. They would actually open my door, wake me up so we could talk about god knows what... I DON'T SPEAK JAPANESE!!! Crazy.
Eating was a challenge at first because you are introduced to a diet that is much different than what you are used to in the USA. I don't think I have eaten tofu since I have come back at least knowingly. Thanks to Ted Pelc I was able to find some food that was edible.
The training was the toughest that I have ever seen or been a part of. I know they made it hard on me on purpose to see if I would quit. I never wanted to quit but I was in serious pain for the first month I was there. I couldn't walk the first two weeks because I had blisters the size of quarters. It felt like I was walking on a bed of nails like those Hindu witch doctors do in the movies.
I think the Japanese were surprised that I stuck it out and did what I did. I would like to believe that I gained a certain amount of respect. I think I remember that the press started to refer to me as the Japanese wrestler born in America or something on that line.
Basically highlighting the fact that I had done something not a lot of people do or can't do because they don't have the guts. I did it because secretly it was always my dream to train in Japan. In the States a lot of people were jealous.
Girls... being a young athlete I didn't like being isolated from the girls and believe me I was. It took me 3 months before I could get out and go on a date. When I finally was able to go out I went with an office guy as a kind of chaperon.
I remember the first day that I went to the DOJO and the green boy (a wrestler in training or slave, take your pick) gave me the wrong directions to get home. I was lost for 3 hours and the guys at the house were worried sick, so when I finally got there they asked me what happened and I told them I got directions from the green boy. They were pissed and beat the crap out of him. I remember the green boy told me he was in big trouble and it would bad for him.
I thought for a minute I was stuck in the middle of an episode of Willy Wonka. It was really crazy at times.
The wrestling recruiting process for new Japanese wrestlers is something from the days of Genghis Kahn. The beating they put them through is insane. I remember the wrestlers kicking them, punching them and more. The exercises they had to do were just torture. I have seen nothing like it in my life. I still can't believe what I saw in that dojo. All I know is 10 kids came in and only one was left at the end of the day. All I have to say is WOW!!! I am sorry I don't know how to put more detail in it.
Maybe this? Try the top 10 fighters in the world kicking the crap out of you while you are trying to workout and you might get the picture.
Thanks to Gene Pelc for giving me this opportunity.
Sincerely, Gene Lydicko (They couldn't pronouce Lydick.)"
The best is yet to come...
