”But you see, I was drunk at the time!” is an unusual way to justify kicking someone in the face.
karate
Compact stress-reliver easily fits on desks for when you need a high-impact break from work or study.
After using his martial art skills to survive a bear attack, Hiroto Miyagawa’s real nightmare has just begun.
Old man stares death right in the eyes and declares, “Not today!”
Read More
Let’s say you’re producing a music video. A tried-and-true method is to simply splice together some clips of the artist’s last concert tour. Or, if the song hasn’t been performed live yet, you could do a “behind-the-scenes” sort of thing with footage of the singer in the studio.
But here’s what happens when you take a third option: Making a music video starring Japan’s most amazing nine-year-old karate expert.
We at RocketNews24 previously told you about the awesome Wushu World Champion women fighters. While Japan has plenty of women who participate in Wushu (and have done rather well) more Japanese women have made names for themselves in karate, judo and taekwondo.
Japan leads the world in women’s judo and karate. Both are gendai budo martial arts, or modern Japanese martial arts that started from or after the Meiji Restoration (1866–1869). The ancient martial arts, such as jujitsu or naginatajutsu, predate the Meiji Restoration.
Women’s Judo, an Olympic sport, wasn’t instituted until the 1992 Barcelona Olympic games. While karate is not an Olympic sport, Japanese women have achieved top results in the Asian Games, the Karate World Championships, and the World Games. Japan also has a top woman in the traditional Korean martial art of taekwondo.
Let’s take a closer look at these leading Japanese martial arts practitioners who, even on a bad day could kick our collective arses.
“Aw, what an adorable little karate tot!” I thought to myself as I stumbled upon a video of seven-year-old Mahiro-chan about to do some adorable flailing. “It’s like someone put a karate gi on a Cabbage Patch Kid!”
Trembling in anticipation of some otherworldly cuteness, I clicked play and GAHHHHHHHH!!!! She’s TERRIFYING!!!!!
Karate has always been one of those martial arts forms that never really had much appeal to me. The idea of repeating the same kata routines – with names like “Black Dragon Karate Chops 20 Weasels at Midnight” or whatever – to commit the moves to muscle memory always seemed kind of boring and counter-intuitive to me.
And now, upon learning that at least one school has students train half naked, in freezing water, in the dead of winter, I’m even less inclined to try the sport. I’d rather go four rounds in the Octagon with Brock Lesnar.
Tokyo-born Rika Usami began her karate career at just 10 years old when she joined a local dojo. Progressing through a number of minor competitions during her teenage years, she soon began winning medals in tournaments in multiple countries, ultimately becoming one of the most well-known female karateka in the world and officially recognised as female kata world champion.
When it comes to kata – the performance of choreographed routines intended to demonstrate proficiency in the execution of learned movements – Rika is simply unmatched, and is admired the world over for her dazzling skills. As you can see in the following video taken during her performance at the 21st WKF World Karate Championships in France last year, her movements are fast, powerful and starlingly accurate.
Karate is a martial art which takes a high level of discipline and training to master. Those who make it to the highest ranks of the fighting technique deserve all of the respect and honor that comes along with such a position.
That being said, watching an official karate tournament on TV tends to rank somewhere around pro-bowling and bass fishing in terms of excitement. This is why seeing a video like the one on YouTube titled “Karate referee gets into the fight” is too good to be true!
00
MOST POPULAR
Now
The My Melody ♡ Kuromi Anniversary Party is in full kawaii swing at the Ikebukuro Parco store
New Sanrio Little Twin Stars Kiki and Lala McDonald’s Happy Meal items are adorable and practical
Sanrio pancakes celebrate My Melody’s birthday, and Cinnamoroll too, at Japanese cafes
Japanese beef bowl restaurant serves up a breakfast don that’s dividing customers
Japanese onsen hot spring comes with 99 types of soy sauce for visitors
Switch 2 announced by Nintendo, wisely switches up very little【Video】
Studio Ghibli retailer now sells Japanese anime curry with all the special utensils
Ghibli komonoire are little pockets of the anime world for storing your tiny treasures【Photos】
Pokémon and 158-year-old Kyoto sweets shop team up for Pokémon wagashi confectionery line【Pics】 
Haunted hospital near Mt Fuji re-opens after renovation at Fuji-Q Highland, and it’s terrifying
Weekly
Anime Industry Report shows overseas anime market is bigger than Japanese one, but is this a cultural tipping point?
“I overdid it.” – Man in Japan fired after ditching work 633 times to go to the gym- The My Melody ♡ Kuromi Anniversary Party is in full kawaii swing at the Ikebukuro Parco store
Super-detailed cherry blossom forecast maps for 2025 show warm winter doesn’t mean early sakura
Starbucks Japan reveals new Valentine’s Day goods for 2025
Tokyo governor wants to start study abroad grant system, includes monthly activity allowance
Overseas Uber driver and anime fan gets the Cowboy Bebop surprise of a lifetime【Video】
Kyoto reportedly planning to raise hotel guest taxes, create highest accommodation tax in Japan
What’s in the KFC Japan fukubukuro lucky bag?
Nintendo and Godiva team up for fancy fun chocolate line【Photos】
Monthly
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】- Anime Industry Report shows overseas anime market is bigger than Japanese one, but is this a cultural tipping point?
Bear breaks into house in Japan, quickly begins spending winter exactly like Japanese people do
Hayao Miyazaki says Happy New Year to Studio Ghibli fans with new art for Year of the Snake
This downtown Tokyo cafe is like a time machine that takes you back 50 years into the past
McDonald’s Japan has a fukubukuro lucky bag that everyone wants to get their hands on
What’s in Starbucks Japan’s fukubukuro lucky bag for 2025?
Station of despair: What to do if you get stuck at the end of Tokyo’s Chuo Rapid Line- “I overdid it.” – Man in Japan fired after ditching work 633 times to go to the gym
Yearly
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers
Possessing Harry Potter’s Sword of Godric Gryffindor is now illegal in Japan
[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018- Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Switch 2 announced by Nintendo, wisely switches up very little【Video】
Studio Ghibli retailer now sells Japanese anime curry with all the special utensils
Ghibli komonoire are little pockets of the anime world for storing your tiny treasures【Photos】
Pokémon and 158-year-old Kyoto sweets shop team up for Pokémon wagashi confectionery line【Pics】 
Haunted hospital near Mt Fuji re-opens after renovation at Fuji-Q Highland, and it’s terrifying
Young Japanese adults show lowest dating experience level yet in annual survey
Tokyo Disneyland is giving the Haunted Mansion an anime-style re-theme
Japan’s elementary school backpacks grow up with new high-class randoseru for adults
We predict 7-Eleven’s new Zero Cider Triple drink is gonna be the hit drink of 2022【Taste Test】
Dog-killing waves create spectacular views on this remote Japanese island
Time to vote for your favourite in Japan’s Sanrio Character Curry Election
Japan’s most beautiful idol singer faces, with AKB48 barely cracking the top 10【Survey】
We tried gua bao pork belly buns in a local Taipei night market that’s totally worth lining up for
Senkoji: The Japanese temple that’s more like a theme park to heaven and hell
-
