Post by 円相! TV on Aug 12, 2024 21:44:53 GMT
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LIGHTNING NEWS!!
We at ENSOU! TV had the honor of sitting down with J1 Training Camp Head Coach Mike Musket to have a literal fireside chat as he took a break from training the many fighters that have decided to attend the camp in preparation for the 2024 J1 SUMMIT.
Please enjoy the transcript of our interview.
ENSOU! TV: We're here today with the one and only Mike Musket, a legend in pro-wrestling, the first-ever winner of the J1 SUMMIT nearly seven years ago, a former MAX-J Heavyweight Champion, and the head coach of the training camp for the upcoming J1 SUMMIT. Thanks for taking the time to speak with us, Mike-san.
MIKE MUSKET: Well, shucks, it’s a pleasure. Always good to jaw with folks who got a love for the grapplin’ game. Now, let’s get to talkin’ ‘bout what really matters: the J1 SUMMIT and the fine folks tryin’ to win it.
ENSOU! TV: Absolutely, Mike-san. The J1 SUMMIT is fast approaching, and you've been tasked with getting these fighters ready. What can you tell us about the camp you've been running up here in the mountains?
MIKE MUSKET: Lemme tell ya, partner, this camp is a whole lot more than just a place to get some sweat rollin’ down yer brow. Out here me and my two partner coaches are takin’ these boys back to basics. Ain’t no fancy gyms, no plushy weight rooms—just nature, a solid ring, and a whole lotta determination. We got these folks climbin’ rocks, sparrin’ under the sun, and hittin’ the mat hard. It’s like I always say: you can’t beat the grit outta a man who’s trained his bones in the great outdoors.
ENSOU! TV: That sounds intense. Can you share a bit about who’s impressed you the most so far?
MIKE MUSKET: Well now, every one of these kids has got sumthin’ special. But if I had to pick one that’s really caught my eye, it’d be a fella I like to call "Big Kat" [Katsuhiko Himura, we confirmed later]. That boy’s got a fire in him that don’t quit, no matter how many times the sun sets on another day of trainin’. He’s out there every mornin’ before the rooster crows, workin’ his throws, gettin’ that technique just right. He’s takin’ to my style of mixin’ the old-school judo with a bit of rough-and-tumble, and I tell ya, it’s somethin’ to behold.
ENSOU! TV: "Genius" Himura is known for his technical prowess, but what’s it like seeing him in action under your watch?
MIKE MUSKET: Well, shucks, it’s a pleasure. Always good to jaw with folks who got a love for the grapplin’ game. Now, let’s get to talkin’ ‘bout what really matters: the J1 SUMMIT and the fine folks tryin’ to win it.
ENSOU! TV: Absolutely, Mike-san. The J1 SUMMIT is fast approaching, and you've been tasked with getting these fighters ready. What can you tell us about the camp you've been running up here in the mountains?
MIKE MUSKET: Lemme tell ya, partner, this camp is a whole lot more than just a place to get some sweat rollin’ down yer brow. Out here me and my two partner coaches are takin’ these boys back to basics. Ain’t no fancy gyms, no plushy weight rooms—just nature, a solid ring, and a whole lotta determination. We got these folks climbin’ rocks, sparrin’ under the sun, and hittin’ the mat hard. It’s like I always say: you can’t beat the grit outta a man who’s trained his bones in the great outdoors.
ENSOU! TV: That sounds intense. Can you share a bit about who’s impressed you the most so far?
MIKE MUSKET: Well now, every one of these kids has got sumthin’ special. But if I had to pick one that’s really caught my eye, it’d be a fella I like to call "Big Kat" [Katsuhiko Himura, we confirmed later]. That boy’s got a fire in him that don’t quit, no matter how many times the sun sets on another day of trainin’. He’s out there every mornin’ before the rooster crows, workin’ his throws, gettin’ that technique just right. He’s takin’ to my style of mixin’ the old-school judo with a bit of rough-and-tumble, and I tell ya, it’s somethin’ to behold.
ENSOU! TV: "Genius" Himura is known for his technical prowess, but what’s it like seeing him in action under your watch?
MIKE MUSKET: Boy’s got them hips like a swivel, and he can turn ya on a dime. But what’s really somethin’ is his heart. He don’t give up. I’ve seen him take a slam that’d put most men down for a week, and he’s back on his feet like nothin’ happened. Big Kat's got that quiet determination—kinda like a river carvin’ through a mountain. Might not see it all at once, but you give it time, and he’s gonna carve out his place in that ring.
ENSOU! TV: That’s high praise. How do you think he’ll fare in the J1 SUMMIT?
MIKE MUSKET: I ain’t one for throwin’ predictions like a gambler with a loose hand, but I’ll say this: Big Kat's got the tools, and he’s buildin’ a mighty fine house with ‘em. If he keeps his head on straight and don’t let them nerves get to him, he could surprise a lotta folks. But this here’s a marathon, not a sprint. We got some real tough hombres in this year’s Summit, and they ain’t gonna let no one waltz in and take it easy.
ENSOU! TV: Speaking of tough competition, what do you think of ZENKI, who, notably, isn't participating in this camp?
MIKE MUSKET: Ah, ZENKI... that fella’s a different breed, I tell ya. He’s like a mad owl that’s been up all night thinkin’ of ways to mess with ya. ZENKI don’t need this camp—he’s been doin’ his own brand of crazy trainin’ out somewhere the Good Lord only knows, I reckon. But here’s the thing about ZENKI: he’s got the raw power, the instincts of a predator, and them eyes... Well, they’ve seen some things, and it makes him dangerous. Now, would he benefit from a bit of what we got up here? Yeah buddy! But ZENKI ain’t never played by nobody’s rules but his own, and I think that’s what makes him such a wild card.
ENSOU! TV: Does that mean you think ZENKI has the edge going into the J1 SUMMIT?
MIKE MUSKET: Well, son, edge or no edge, ZENKI’s gonna do what ZENKI’s gonna do. You can’t prepare for him like you do the others. He’s like a storm—you don’t know when he’s gonna hit, but when he does, you better be ready to hunker down. I’ve seen him take out fellas twice his size, and I’ve seen him grin through a powerbomb that’d break a lesser man in two. So, yeah, he’s got the edge, but whether it’s sharp enough to take the whole thing? That’s where the fun's at, ain't it?
ENSOU! TV: You’ve got a unique perspective on this, Mike-san. Any other participants standing out to you?
MIKE MUSKET: Well, I tell ya we got a television up in here and I been watchin that AJ Knight out there the other night and that boy’s got smarts in that ring, and he’s always thinkin’ two, three steps ahead. He don’t got the size of some, but he’s got the heart and the brains, and that counts for a lot. And I also saw that ole Ryan Samuels—now there’s a man who’s been in more scraps than a junkyard dog. He’s got that seasoned edge, like a rusty blade that still cuts clean. These boys all got somethin’ different to bring, and it’s gonna be a hell of a sight to see how it all shakes out.
ENSOU! TV: With all this talent in one tournament, and given that you have succeeded in the tournament before, what do you think is going to be the key to victory?
MIKE MUSKET: I ain’t one for throwin’ predictions like a gambler with a loose hand, but I’ll say this: Big Kat's got the tools, and he’s buildin’ a mighty fine house with ‘em. If he keeps his head on straight and don’t let them nerves get to him, he could surprise a lotta folks. But this here’s a marathon, not a sprint. We got some real tough hombres in this year’s Summit, and they ain’t gonna let no one waltz in and take it easy.
ENSOU! TV: Speaking of tough competition, what do you think of ZENKI, who, notably, isn't participating in this camp?
MIKE MUSKET: Ah, ZENKI... that fella’s a different breed, I tell ya. He’s like a mad owl that’s been up all night thinkin’ of ways to mess with ya. ZENKI don’t need this camp—he’s been doin’ his own brand of crazy trainin’ out somewhere the Good Lord only knows, I reckon. But here’s the thing about ZENKI: he’s got the raw power, the instincts of a predator, and them eyes... Well, they’ve seen some things, and it makes him dangerous. Now, would he benefit from a bit of what we got up here? Yeah buddy! But ZENKI ain’t never played by nobody’s rules but his own, and I think that’s what makes him such a wild card.
ENSOU! TV: Does that mean you think ZENKI has the edge going into the J1 SUMMIT?
MIKE MUSKET: Well, son, edge or no edge, ZENKI’s gonna do what ZENKI’s gonna do. You can’t prepare for him like you do the others. He’s like a storm—you don’t know when he’s gonna hit, but when he does, you better be ready to hunker down. I’ve seen him take out fellas twice his size, and I’ve seen him grin through a powerbomb that’d break a lesser man in two. So, yeah, he’s got the edge, but whether it’s sharp enough to take the whole thing? That’s where the fun's at, ain't it?
ENSOU! TV: You’ve got a unique perspective on this, Mike-san. Any other participants standing out to you?
MIKE MUSKET: Well, I tell ya we got a television up in here and I been watchin that AJ Knight out there the other night and that boy’s got smarts in that ring, and he’s always thinkin’ two, three steps ahead. He don’t got the size of some, but he’s got the heart and the brains, and that counts for a lot. And I also saw that ole Ryan Samuels—now there’s a man who’s been in more scraps than a junkyard dog. He’s got that seasoned edge, like a rusty blade that still cuts clean. These boys all got somethin’ different to bring, and it’s gonna be a hell of a sight to see how it all shakes out.
ENSOU! TV: With all this talent in one tournament, and given that you have succeeded in the tournament before, what do you think is going to be the key to victory?
MIKE MUSKET: The key, partner, is endurance. Ain’t nobody gonna waltz in and take the J1 SUMMIT with just a couple lucky breaks. You gotta be ready to fight, to scrap, to dig your heels in when the goin’ gets tough. And most of all, you gotta have the guts to keep goin’ when your body’s screamin’ to stop. It’s a long walk up a hill, like I said, and the man who wins is the one who can stay on his feet when all the rest have dropped.
ENSOU! TV: Any final thoughts on what we can expect from this year’s J1 SUMMIT?
MIKE MUSKET: Expect the unexpected, that’s what I say. You got a field full of hungry fighters, each with their own fire burnin’ inside. This year’s Summit is gonna be one for the ages, I reckon. And as for me, I’ll be sittin’ back with the other coaches watchin’ them fellas take what they’ve learned here from alll of us and put it to the test. Some will rise, some will fall, but all of ‘em will leave it all in that ring. That’s what pro-rasslin's all about, and that’s why you can't help but keep coming back.
ENSOU! TV: Thank you, Mike. It’s been an honor to hear your thoughts.
ENSOU! TV: Any final thoughts on what we can expect from this year’s J1 SUMMIT?
MIKE MUSKET: Expect the unexpected, that’s what I say. You got a field full of hungry fighters, each with their own fire burnin’ inside. This year’s Summit is gonna be one for the ages, I reckon. And as for me, I’ll be sittin’ back with the other coaches watchin’ them fellas take what they’ve learned here from alll of us and put it to the test. Some will rise, some will fall, but all of ‘em will leave it all in that ring. That’s what pro-rasslin's all about, and that’s why you can't help but keep coming back.
ENSOU! TV: Thank you, Mike. It’s been an honor to hear your thoughts.
MIKE MUSKET: Anytime, partner. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I got some work to do—this mountain ain’t gonna climb itself.
**END TRANSCRIPT**