Licis searched excessive and low for native legends.
Final up to date on January twenty third, 2025
2019 World’s Strongman Man (WSM) champion Martins Licis traveled throughout Japan on his first solo journey with out his cameraman, Romark Weiss. Regardless of his absence, Weiss challenged Licis to talk Japanese to find the nation’s most fascinating energy athletes.
Early in his quest, Licis met a energy group often known as “The Rooster Legs,” throughout their preparation for an Official Strongman Video games (OSG) qualifier in Osaka and Kobe in February 2025. It fueled Licis’s ardour for empowering the game strongman in Asia.
“I wish to develop my favourite sport of strongman all over the place. Asian nations have a number of untapped potential, particularly in lighter weight lessons,” Licis shared.
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Assembly the Ninja Warrior Legend
Via Rooster Legs, Licis was launched to 59-year-old Ninja Warrior icon Katsumi Yamada, who’s been competing in Japan’s televised Ninja Warrior tournaments because the inaugural contest in 1997, incomes the nickname “Mr. Sasuke.” Yamada constructed his personal yard ninja-inspired impediment course, reminding Licis of a “Steampunk Rube Goldberg Machine.”
When requested about his methods for energy, Mr. Yamada replied, “I merely had Ninja Warrior on my thoughts from the minute I woke as much as the time I went to sleep day by day.” Yamada doesn’t imagine the obstacles are tough on their very own. He feels “the toughest half is the psychological facet.”
Like a child in a sweet retailer, Licis took a shot on the salmon ladder, the place he hung from a bar, and jumped to greater notches on the equipment utilizing pull-up momentum. Although he missed the primary few, Licis ultimately conquered the primary stage, incomes reward for his energy. “I’m shocked he can try this at his weight. It’s superb,” Licis overheard of his feat.
Encounters With Hidden Power
After some enjoyable on the energy playground, Licis continued his travels to Sapporo, north of Hokkaido. He discovered the journey extra fulfilling than the task that impressed his journey. Licis met Yuki, Japan’s prime bench presser and left-handed arm wrestler.
They began with a number of tips about the arm wrestling desk, of which Licis obtained the higher of exchanges along with his proper arm. Licis suffered defeat along with his left arm, marveling at his sparring companion’s “pace demon” method. “I’m glad he’s deloading as a result of it might have been a special end result if he was recent,” Licis confessed.
To conclude his voyage, Licis joined Yuki for a bench press session. Having by no means pressed with a bench press swimsuit (a.ok.a. equipped), which restricts motion for inflexible type, Licis couldn’t decrease the bar to his chest, admitting, “It was a surreal feeling.”
By the top of his voyage, Licis mirrored on the common language of energy. “Our financial forex and spoken language might differ, however our iron and energy forex is all the time the identical.”
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Featured picture: @martinslicis on Instagram