After the Paris Olympics, there is no space for doubt about Japanese wrestlers. They came, they saw, and boy, oh boy, did they conquer! When the 2024 Olympics ended, Japan’s wrestling medal tally stood at 11, of which eight were gold. The world saw some of the greatest matches in both Greco-Roman and freestyle events go down this year. For starters, there was Daichi Takatani, who went on to take down Kyle Dake in the 74 kg freestyle finals.

Then there is also Rei Higuchi, who took down an American legend. Rei went up against Spencer Lee, and to the world’s surprise, Lee lost. Rei went on to win 4-2. While the men’s wrestling was huge, the women were just as formidable. Akari Fujinami went on to continue her 130-0 streak and win the 53 kg freestyle gold. All of it left a very simple message to the world. Japan is here to stay and to stay right on top! But what is the secret to their medal sweep?

Nao Kusaka tells his story, giving a glimpse into Japanese training!

One of the Japanese wrestlers who won answers this for the world. Nao Kusaka was the man who took the Olympic gold in the 77 kg event. But his winning moment was perhaps one of the most iconic ones. He stood at Champ-de-Mars Arena, flag in hand, and dropped to his knees. It was an emotional moment, but at the moment of victory, they wondered about the secrets of Japanese training!

Well, wonder no more! Nao Kusaka’s story and how it began give us a glimpse into the Japanese world of wrestling. Kusaka’s journey, however, began when he was just three years old. As a child, he was a “crybaby” who clung to his mother’s side. But amidst the loud cries, one man saw potential in him. It was Takeshi Takeshita, who later went on to become his coach. Takeshi has a very interesting equation for the results that Japan gets.

Takeshi has a mix of wrestling and sumo in his training. As Takeshi himself puts it, “30% wrestling and 70% sumo.” So why sumo? Well, the sumo sessions are intended to build Kusaka’s lower body strength and aggression in wrestlers. But that’s not all it does! When Nao Kusaka had an awful period during high school, he did not give up. An attitude his training had given him. Instead, he doubled down.

From that loss on, Nao Kusaka doubled down on his squats, strengthening his legs and perfecting his balance. Today, whenever he feels out of sync, he returns to sumo stomping, a simple but powerful move that grounds him. As his coach puts it, “While most kids would compromise and give up, he never does. He’s a genius that can also put in the hard work.” Now, that’s the kind of training and attitude that gives you a clean sweep at the Olympics. While it was great for Japan, America saw some of its biggest names in wrestling fall.

The fall of American legends like Spencer Lee and Mitchell Mesenbrink!

For America, the wrestling mat turned into a battlefield that they couldn’t conquer. Let’s take Spencer Lee, for example! Lee is a Penn State legend with three NCAA titles and U20 championship wins, but even he fell short at the Olympics. He made it all the way to the finals, where he was set to go head-to-head against Japan’s Rei Higuchi. The match ended with Lee’s fall. While the Olympics have been big for Japan, the U23 World Championships were equally great!

The U23 World Championships unfortunately saw the fall of another American wrestler. America’s beloved and Nittany Lion’s favorite, Mitchell Mesenbrink, had a fate quite like Lee’s. Mitchell, during the championships, had to face Japan’s Kota Takahashi. The match ended with Mitchell’s loss. It is evident that Japan has managed to adopt a style that is quick, agile, and makes every move count. Another American wrestler had something to say about this style!

Serbian-American wrestler Stevan Micic, impressed yet taken aback, went on to talk about Japan’s techniques. “I think that Japan just having a very outside style, very quick athletic, you know, it’s really difficult to kind of get your hands on them,” said Stevan. It’s a unique blend of speed, precision, and surprise that has even American wrestlers reconsidering their strategies. While some reconsider, there are others who have lived with the Japanese influence for a long time now! Remember Bo Nickal?

Bo Nickal, over the years, has gone on record many times to talk about how Japan has influenced his wrestling. Bo is also a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has, over the years, infused the same into his techniques. While Japan’s wrestlers continue to break new ground and reimagine the wrestling mat as their own, it’s clear that their rivals are taking notes. The world might just be on the cusp of a Japanese wrestling revolution, and we just might have to scramble to even keep up!