JATO Japanese ATC Interview Series Vol.9

 

Even though we cannot leave coat yet with this cold weather, how is everyone going? A symposium will be held this weekend, so I would like you to come and visit us. By the way, we are introducing JATO members who are active in various countries around the world on the 15th of every month in the relay format introduction project on Facebook and Homepage (Blog column). Last month I got to hear stories from Mr. Oki who support strong Rugby team, but this month we were able to hear stories from Mr. Nishimura who is the well rounded athletic trainer. Please read through! ! JATO Public Relations Committee

 

 --- Why did you decide to become an ATC? - -

 From the experience of going to the chiropractic clinic in my neighborhood every time I injured in club activities in junior high school or high school, I thought that in the future I would like to take a profession able to support athletes in the sports scene.

 

--- Do you have any events left in the impression during the student and social worker days? - -

 (Events during he was a student trainer) My taping was not too bad when English was still a problem at Western Michigan University (WMU) student trainer for the first year. Sometimes I was told to be a little tight, but two of my first-grade gymnastics girls liked the taping of the ankle very much, and jokingly told to an assistant athletic trainer that "I want you to become our trainer when I become the 4th grade.". Three years later, the assistant trainer remembered the story, I was able to work two semesters in fall and winter, through one season, and travel alongside the expedition as an athletic training student although students are originally experienced in different sports on a semester-by-semester basis. It was a great pleasure everyone sang and gave me birthday cakes with secrets to surprise at away game. 

 

(Event before WMU graduation) In the town where I lived there was a semi-professional American football team called Kalamazoo Tornadoes. Since I had experience as a player during college years, I received a trial and passed successfully. When I participated in the first practice after passing, there was a player who was a good friend of mine at the American football club of WMU. Since he did not know that I have passed as a player, he thought that he said: "Trainer came!" The coach registered me as a "playing trainer". On the day of the game, as soon as I got to the game venue, I got ready to tape up the players, I changed clothes and started warming up as soon as I finished taping. I was already tired before the match, but it was a precious experience I could never forget that international student fellows came and cheered at home game

 

--- Please tell us about the current job ---

 In April 2018, I will be in the 9th year as Associate Professor of Toyo University School of Business Administration. There are three main tasks, education, research, and campus work. Education is I am in charge of lectures, exercises, and practical skills of sports health science subjects, which are general education courses. Because the subject in charge is an elective subject rather than a compulsory course and because it is not a specific major subject but a liberal arts subject, I focus on having enjoyable classes including three principles of health, things related to diet, training method, etc. Regarding the research, we report the results of the research on academic presentations and papers on the mechanisms of injuries caused during American football competition (primarily ankle ligament injury, concussion, burner syndrome etc) and preventive measures. After deciding to host the Tokyo Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2020, I began to be interested in research areas related to sports and marketing, and recently I am studying by participating in research societies and academic societies in those fields. Campus work is a big part involving participating in various committees and meetings sorted within the majors as representatives and reporting to the faculties, engaging in entrance examinations as exam supervisor such as recommended entrance exams and general entrance examinations. In addition, I am on the ground as a manager and head coach of the athletic association American football club on weekends. Because there is no sports recommendation entrance frame, I provide teach techniques from the beginning to the members who are the majority of American football inexperienced people and aiming for the promotion of part of the team as a whole.

 

---Please tell us the process from returning to Japan to the current position ---

When learning in the master's program of WMU, I was having a very enjoyable lesson from Professor Moss who was a supervisor and I started wanting to work at the educational site than sports scene. I had a teacher's license (Health and Physical Education) but I wanted to teach contents on sports injury and training theory with high specialty. After returning to Japan I went to the doctoral course of Nihomon Sports College which is my old school and aimed for a university faculty member. And in March 2005 I got a Ph.D. (Physical Education Science) from my doctoral dissertation "A Study of Ankle Ligamentous Injuries in College Football Players". In addition, at the same time as entering school, I worked as an American football trainer, as an assistant trainer and offensive line coach for 1 year at my old school, and played for 3 years as head trainer and player at Tokyo Gas Creators who belongs to X league. As a head trainer of the U-19 Japan representative team, I got to travel all over the world. As a researcher, I worked as an assistant professor /research assistant for five years from April 2004 at Keio University Physical Education Research Institute. During this period,  I worked not only education and researchers, but also I have experienced at the sports scene of 4 years for the sports association American Football Club, 3 years and 6 months for the Women's Football Club Conditioning Advisor, 3 years for the End Hunting Conditioning Advisor. However, as my personal opinion, from this experience, in Japan I felt a limit to acting on a sports scene as ATC, and in March 2010 I got a Judo therapist License.

 

- What is JATO for Mr. Nishimura? - -

I think that it is a place to meet many Japanese ATCs and also a place where you can get various information and opportunities. ATCs who get along with went through the same kind of circumstances in the United States and has reached it now. Therefore, I feel that it is a place where fellows who can talk about anything regardless of age and sex gather

 

--- Please tell us the merits of joining JATO ---

I think it is very difficult to acquire 50 CEU in 2 years to maintain qualification as an ATC while establishing the foundation of life in Japan. By participating in JATO, you can learn not only the opportunity to learn information about the latest sports medicine but also CEU by participating in general meetings and various workshops. I think there is no doubt that JATO is helping me to maintain the ATC certification acquired as a proof that I have studied abroad. 

 

--- Please give a message to students who are aiming for ATC  now ---

Education is not preparation for life, education is life itself. This word is the word I met when I was studying abroad. Currently, I am not working as ATC, but by learning athletic training to be ATC and through various experience I was able to find a goal that I would like to work at current work. By challenging everything, meeting various people who can meet once in a life, I think that you can find the things you really want. I think it is important to be people would like to know more about being interested and continuous learning will surely be utilized for future learning.

 

Mr. Nishimura, Thank you for your precious time while you are busy!! You are challenging everything with all of your energy and the story touched my heart. Next month, I introduced an intellectual woman, so please look forward to it