44th All Japan Russian Fighters' interviews - Block A & B
- 2012-10-23
#8 Ivan Mezentsev
Q: Is this your first tournament in open weight category?
A: Yes, this is my first open weight category tournament.
Q: Many young fighters are participating in the 44th All Japan Tournament including a 17year old. You are just 18. Do you have any fears going into "the inferno"?
A: No, I'm not afraid but rather excited.
Q: What will young fighters like you have to do against experienced fighters?
A: My main advantages are my youth agility and speed.
Q: At what age did you start fighting and about how many bouts have you had until now?
A: I started when I was about 10. I have about had hundred fights.
Q: You might do "Tameshiwari" if you advanced to the Day 2. Have you done it before? How did you do?
A: The first "Tameshiwari" I did was at the Russian Championships. I broke 14 boards.
#20 Roman Semchenkov
Q: Is this your first tournament in open weight category?
A: No, my first open weight tournament was "10th Open Oyamas Cup".
Q: What do you think who will be the tough opponent(s) in Block A?
A: I am not paying any particular attention to anyone, but I want to fight if God is willing, with Tatsuya Murata in the second round.
Q:Where are you preparing for this tournament?
A: I am training in my home, Khabarovsk City under the directions of my Sensei and Shihan since June.
Q: Who is your mentor? Who helps you to get prepared?
A: My main instructors are Vsevolod Mokhirev and Artem Pukas. Also Nikita Balagov helps me too.
Q: Did you gain weight for this tournament?
A: No, my weight is the same as it was before 72~74 kg.
#32 Ilya Karpenko
Q: This is not your first All Japan Tournament, right?
A: This is my second All Japan. First time was in 2008, and I made it to the top 16.
Q: After the 10th World Tournament, was it hard to start training again for such an important tournament as this one?
A: After the 10th World, I had a long break due to minor injuries which were not from the tournament but fatigue that had built up. I took part in the Russian Championship in the Kata category in spring. This summer at the European Championships in Budapest I participated in Kumite.
Q: How do you see the Block A and who will be the main rivals?
A: My block is the same as the other blocks. Everyone will aim to claim the victory. I don't want to single out anyone, but I will try my best to be the top in this prestigious open tournament after the world tournament.
Q: Do Japanese fighters have some feature in common?
A: I cannot talk about a specific feature of Japanese fighters. Each fighter is unique, and the fact that they have strong spirit, determined to win and will not just give up easily - it's not a secret.
Q: When did you start preparing and on what did you focus on mainly?
A: I began my training in August in Perm, where I will complete my training. I don't want to speak too soon about what I am specifically focusing on - it's a secret.
Q: Who are your main sparring partners?
A: My sparring partners - good old friends from Perm with who I have been through a lot - Sergei Uvitsky, Igor Titkov, Darmen Sadvokasov and Evgeny Shevnin. I am preparing with my friends in fun atmosphere.
#33 Goderzi Kapanadze
Q: Where are you preparing for the All Japan Tournament?
A: I have been training at home in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in harsh environmental condition.
Q: You said in the interview after the Russian Championship that you found a care for your injury which disturbed you at final fights of the Russian Championship. How is your injury now?
A: Yes, I found a cure and I fee great now. I will show it in the All Japan.
Q: You are the most famous fighter in your hometown region now. Who helps you in training and sparring?
A: The entire team of Kamchatka is helping my preparation, under the guidance of Sensei Timofeev.
Q: Sensei Vasiliy Timofeev during in his career, surprised his opponents by his high kicks. Have you been kicked in your head in sparring?
A: Yes, I have but Sensei Timofeev controls his legs very well so they go pass my head!
Q: Where is the good place for you to prepare for the tournament?
A: For the 10th World Tournament, I did my preparation in Perm, a huge thanks to all the coaching staff, it was outstanding experience "there is no place like home."
Q: Your strong kicks and punches often take down your opponents to the ground. Your attacks look scary and may be seen as the strongest in Kyokushin today. Do you afraid to cause serious injury to opponent? Have you control your power in fight?
A: It's nice to hear such an assessment on my strikes, but I think my strength and speed can still improve. I never want to hurt my opponent, but a fight is a fight. My goal in a fight is a victory by knockout. That is what I look for.
#41 Lasha Gabaraev
Q: Is this your first open weight category tournament except for the 10th World Tournament in 2011?
A: I had participated in the 2010 All Russia Open Weigh and All America Open in 2011.
Q: Are you planning to participate in any tournament before all Japan this year?
A: Yes, I am going to fight in the Cup of Russia in Moscow, 20~21 October 2012.
Q: Who do you think is your main opponent in the Block B in view of making to the top 8?
A: I believe Goderzi Kapanadze but I also must be careful for the Japanese fighters in the first two rounds, because I do not know them. Anything can happen.
Q: The Draw was published a month before the tournament. Is it easier to see the draw just before the tournamnet or do you prefer to see it in advanced time?
A: It's easier to know my opponents just before, my fighting style does not change!
Q: Who do you like to match against?
A: Nobody in particular, but I have to "pay back" to Igor Titkov because I lost against him in the All Russian second round.
Q: Do you have any rituals or motto before the fight?
A: I pray to God and believe in myself! Up to the end!
#49 Igor Titkov
Q: After winning the last championship in Russia 2012, didn't you wish to take a break or even to retire?
A: Such thoughts did not cross my mind. I only thought that I had was to take care of myself for the next tournament.
Q: Who and what drives you to keep you on tatami?
A: I like the "athlete's life"- exhausting workout, all this still excites me very much.
Q: Your high kick has unique angle and great speed. You often gets your opponents down with it. Have you ever get knocked out by high kick?
A: Yes, I have many. But I also get punched on my head with "Ganmen Ouda" or illegal punch to my head which make me dizzy in almost every tournament.
Q: Who do you think have the most powerful low kick?
A: My partners in Perm have very strong low kicks, so during training I train my legs just enough. I have been lucky so far as I haven't faced any opponent with a brutal low-kick.
Q: Who is your sparring partner?
A: My sparring partners are Darmen Sadvokasov, Sergey Uvitsky and Evgeny Shevnin.
#57 Farukh Turgunboev
Q: Have you fought in open weight category tournaments before?
A: Yes, I fought in the last All Japan in 2011.
Q: Have you figured out how to fight against the Japanese fighters?
A: In fact, I found it is easier to fight against the Japanese fighters, their strikes are not strong. What I will do is to fight in my own way - start first and don't wait for my opponent.
Q: Who will be your major opponent in Block B to be the Top 8?
A: I'm very happy that I may have my chance go against Shohei Kamada. He beat me once before so I want to pay him back.
Q: Did you change anything in training after the All Japan Weight Category in Osaka?
A: Basically, nothing has really changed in my training.
Q: Now, you start teaching Karate to children. Do you expect your students to become champion in the future?
A: I just started to train children from September this year. It is too early to say whether they will be champions or not. Most important thing is that I teach them to like Kyokushin and willingness to train hard.
