Bushido is turning out to be more and more interesting.

[Mr. Heel Hook]

Pay attention to what to Yoshida says. I hope a rematch happens between Royce and Yoshida. Who knows, it might just be happening as we read this...


Off http://www.pridefc.com/


A press conference was held at Yoshida Dojo to announce the appointment of Hidehiko Yoshida as the director of Team Japan for BUSHIDO. Yoshida obviously has a deep connection to the Gracie team's director, Royce Gracie. Though the two won't be going head to head again in the ring at BUSHIDO, whose team will come out on top?

"I was asked to become the director and I want to do my best, alongside the fighters", Yoshida said. "There's nothing technical that I can really teach these 5 fighters. I think they will all have great fights if we can just bring out their individual strengths. I just want to give them psychological support. I want to take the Gracies down together with the fighters."

After Team Japan members Kazuhiro Hamanaka, Daijiro Takase, Kazuhiro Nakamura and Dokonjonosuke Mishima did some sparring, they gathered together for the press conference.

Pride Fighting Championships: What do you want to learn from Yoshida?

Hamanaka: His mental toughness and heart.
Takase: The same.
Nakamura: I learn from him everyday (laughing).
Mishima: Everything.

PRIDE: What will you have to be careful of in your fights?

Hamanaka: Not to get too excited.
Takase: Not to stall out.
Nakamura: I want to win, no matter what so that's what I have to focus on.
Mishima: To fight without getting punched or submitted.

PRIDE: Mr. Yoshida, what are your thoughts on competing against Team Gracie?

Hidehiko Yoshida: I think that the Gracies are also coming to win. This will be a group effort and I think everyone will fight with the intent to win. However, it's important to get more wins than the other guys, even if it's just by one match. I have to prepare everyone mentally so they won't lose."

Yoshida's match last year with the director of the Gracie team, Royce Gracie has been the subject of much controversy, especially over whether Gracie was choked out or not. Yoshida, however, seems confident, "Tell him let's do it again. Taken at face value, this could mean if you're going to keep running your mouth, let's fight again or it could be that the outcome of the Japan VS Gracie matches should settle it."

Team matches have long been a part of judo competitions. Yoshida, as the team director, led the Meiji University team to victory in the 2001 All Japan Student Judo Tournament. "The most important thing for team matches is the first guy that fights. When I was doing judo, we thought of the first guy out as the leader. If you win the first one, you can keep the momentum going. That's why the first guy has to be careful"

The leader of the Japan team will be a foreigner with samurai spirit, Carlos Newton. Newton holds the key that may determine the success or the failure of the entire team.

"We're aiming for 5 wins, of course", explained Yoshida, "Martial arts is an individual competition and the fighters will surely be concentrated on their own fights. However, they also have to focus on the team-win idea."

There's another important member in the team, the final fighter. Hamanaka, who has been chosen to fill the position, is not revealing much, "I'll do what I have to."

Yoshida says that there are no plans for the fighters to train together. They will each train at their respective gyms and "if I can give them some motivational advice that helps them win, that's what I'll do. If we train together, it'll probably just turn into my style of training."

Even if they don't train together, Yoshida will play the pivotal role of support for the Japan team. All of the Japan members are aiming to take the Gracies out.

Additionally, according to DSE representatives, there were more than 100 calls to the DSE office during the first day following General Director Takada's call for possible opponents for Mirko. Unfortunately, most of them turned out to be guys who just thought they are tough and weren't really qualified to get into the ring with Mirko.

[cakegirl]

Does anybody know if this is going to be shown on pay TV in Australia? If not, where can I get a video? Or does anybody out there feel like flying me to Japan to watch?!!?

Cakegirl

[MrPoopy]

Does anybody know if this is going to be shown on pay TV in Australia? If not, where can I get a video? Or does anybody out there feel like flying me to Japan to watch?!!?

Without looking at the nick or the avatar, it was painfully obvious it could have only been written by Cakegirl.

[JaredExtreme]

I think once she heard Royce was coaching the team she couldn't resist !