Other than his name and a few other facts like him being a rookie linebacker with the Seagulls this year and a former stand out player at Ritsumeikan University and the Japanese Nataional team, I don't know much about this guy... I'm talking about Tsukada Masayoshi.

From the little I've seem of Tsukada he seems to be a very quiet and introverted person. We work out together sometimes at Gyotoku's Golds Gym, and we usually ride in Shack's car to and from practice... Everytime I see him he doesn't say much. In the gym, he likes to work out by himself; And in Shack's car he is usually playing with his cell phone, or admiring the scenery through the window. He would describe himself as a guy who likes to keep to himself and not say much.....

Apparently the Tsukada that I have gotten to know over the past few months or so has been lying to everyone. According to the members of the Japanese National team the whole "Shy Boy" act is a bunch of BULL SHIT. I have yet to see him come out of his shell, but from what I hear he talks more than Nakamura coach(And if anyone knows Toshi, that is a whole lot of talking...).

Over these next few weeks I'll be trying to mess with him and get him to open up a little bit. I encourage everyone else who reads this blog to do the same. You can catch up with him at the Gyotoku Golds Gym or at Shack's house.... I'm not sure what number he's wearing this year, but be sure to keep an eye out for the Gyotoku "Fabulous Five's" rookie linebacker.

Shack...

 Nicknamed "Shack" by coach Ohashi because of his somewhat protruding jaw,

 he is a lovable and eccentric character. He is a second year player with the Seagulls. He's hoping that this year will be his break out year. Please keep an eye out for #93 come this fall season.

Shack is the guy who takes most of the jokes on the team..... But he is my boy and he is a member of the Gyotoku "Fabulous Five" ( Eda, Tsuka-chan, Shack, John, and KJ). We just wanna thank you Shack for all of the early morning rides and late night comedy. The meat that your pops sends down every once in a while is the shit!!!

 And who doesn't love that fresh smell that lingers in the taurus. Because of Shack, John has learned some very important Japanese words such as  "shabu-shabu"(this words that John uses daily..)

 Just to let everyone know, Shack is killin' the weights and he promises to hold it down at the tackle position this year.

Other tidbits about Shack: likes to surf in his free time, likes listening to reggae music, believe it or not his blood type is A, and he is currently single and looking for love...

Thank you Shack

Arnold Schwarzenegger on training and becoming a champion....

“The only way to be a champion is by going through these forced reps and
the torture and pain. That’s why I call it the torture routine. Because
it’s like forced torture. Torturing my body. What helps me is to think of
this pain as pleasure. Pain make me grow. Growing is what I want.
Therefore, for me pain is pleasure. And so when I am experiencing pain I’m
in heaven. It’s great. People suggest this is masochistic. But they’re
wrong. I like pain for a particular reason. I don’t like needle’s stuck
in my arm. But I do like the pain that is necessary to be a champion.”

“A beginner does eight repetitions of a certain exercise with his maximum
weight on the barbell. As soon as it hurts, he thinks about stopping. I
work beyond this point, which means I tell my mind that as soon as it
starts aching it is growing. Growing is something unusual for the body when
you are over eighteen. The body isn’t used to ten, eleven, or twelve reps
with a maximum weight. Then I do ten or fifteen sets of this in a row. No
human body was ever prepared for this and suddenly it is making itself grow
to handle this new challenge, growing through this pain area. Experiencing
this pain in my muscles and aching and going on is my challenge. The last
three or four reps is what makes the muscles grow. This area of pain
divides a champion from someone who is not a champion. That’s what most
people lack, having the guts to go on and just say they’ll go through the
pain no matter what happens. I have no fear of fainting. I do squats until
I fall over and pass out. So what? It’s not going to kill me. I wake up
five minutes later and I’m OK. A lot of other athletes are afraid of this.
So they don’t pass out. They don’t go on.”