{"id":36935,"date":"2016-01-26T16:36:06","date_gmt":"2016-01-26T07:36:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/top\/en\/?p=36935"},"modified":"2016-06-06T13:40:32","modified_gmt":"2016-06-06T04:40:32","slug":"waseda-frontline-research-vol-7-part-3-can-science-win-medals-using-science-at-the-2020-tokyo-olympics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/top\/en\/news\/36935","title":{"rendered":"Waseda Frontline Research Vol. 7, Part 3 – Can science win medals? Using science at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Exercise physiology and biomechanics researcher
\nP<\/b>rofessor Yasuo Kawakami,\u00a0<\/b>Faculty of Sport Sciences<\/b><\/h3>\n

\u201cThe key to a top athlete\u2019s \u201cbest performance\u201d is how they use their power\u201d (Kawakami)<\/b><\/b><\/h2>\n

\"1\"<\/p>\n

When top athletes deliver incredible performances that excite people around the world at events such as the Olympics, their feats may not be the product of just the body and mind, but of the senses as well. Many athletes experience a type of supernatural experience upon victory often referred to as \u201cbeing in the zone.\u201d What relationship does \u201cbeing in the zone\u201d have with athletic ability? To discuss this topic, we spoke with former sports commentator and Kansai University Associate Professor Yukiko Shiki (Faculty of Health and Well-being) and Waseda Professor Yasuo Kawakami.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe key to a top athlete\u2019s \u201cbest performance\u201d is how they use their power\u201d (Kawakami)<\/b><\/b><\/h3>\n

Ms. Shiki: My research focuses on \u201cthe zone\u201d and the senses as they relate to various sports fields. Survey results of top athletes we have interviewed suggest that they are \u201cin the zone\u201d when performing at their best. For example, Olympic diver Ken Terauchi once said, \u201cWhen I was climbing the stairs before competing, I could see my own foot prints in front of me.\u201d (from Yukiko Shiki\u2019s book, \u201cWhat the Senses of Extraordinary People Tell Us About the Law of the Zone: 14 Articles on Obtaining the Ultimate High in Sports\u201d (Shodensha, 2012)). Many believe that when an athlete is \u201cin the zone,\u201d they attain a state of absolute selflessness, free of all constraints. Professor Kawakami, I know that your research focuses on the visualization and quantification of physical performance in various ways, but what do you think of the \u201czone\u201d that so many athletes experience?<\/p>\n

Mr. Kawakami: It is interesting. As the contraction of many muscles throughout the human body efficiently work with the tendons connected to bone, a powerful multi-joint combination movement occurs. An athlete\u2019s \u201cbest performance\u201d is the result of a combination of these structures, along with a skillfully timed process that switches between them. The amount of power exerted is not the only factor at play. Rather, the way in which power is used is the key to delivering such a performance. Science has helped us understand this.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"2\"

Figure 1: As the contraction of muscles throughout the human body efficiently coordinates with the tendons connected to bone, a powerful combination of multi-joint movement occurs (source: Yasuo Kawakami)<\/p><\/div>\n

For example, a golfer\u2019s swing involves a chain of movements including a wind-up, a swing, and a follow-through. The muscles and tendons used in this process change rapidly. The smallest error in timing will result in an insufficient exertion of power. Even for highly skilled golfers there is a \u201cwave\u201d of movement to their performances. \u201cThe zone\u201d is thought to be the result of a skillful utilization of this timing process.<\/p>\n

Ms. Shiki: It is believed that athlete\u2019s use their senses to process information as effectively as possible while in \u201cthe zone.\u201d However, some athletes say that in \u201cthe zone,\u201d some senses are dulled while others are enhanced. For example, some say they have seen the trajectory of a ball in the form of a white line or light but could not hear the sound of cheering spectators. Others say they would tune out booing but be able to recognize pitches of certain voices that would help them win. This is known as the \u201ccocktail party effect,\u201d or the ability to drown out unnecessary noise to focus on important matters at hand (taken from Yukiko Shiki\u2019s book, \u201cCoach Takeshi Okada\u2019s Thoughts on Sports and the Senses\u201d, Nikkei Publishing Inc., 2008).<\/p>\n

Mr. Kawakami: This is only conjecture, but perhaps while in \u201cthe zone,\u201d an athlete is entering a preparatory state in order to replicate a past best performance. In order to replicate the movement program of that past performance, perhaps it is necessary to regenerate the various sensory conditions of the body at any given time, from vision, hearing, and muscles. It may be possible that the athlete is shutting out all unnecessary information at this time. When a professional golfer is in \u201cthe zone,\u201d the hole looks abnormally large. By training various senses, athletes may have developed a way of recalling their best movement programs.<\/p>\n

Ms. Shiki: It is believed that this includes subconscious actions and everyday routines. Many athletes fall into the trap of searching for a way of \u201centering the zone,\u201d but it is more important to define one type of aesthetic foundation for their movements. If we can establish common traits among senses of top athletes in the zone, it will greatly benefit the sports world and society as a whole.<\/p>\n

Mr. Kawakami: The concept of finding a way to recall one\u2019s best performances sounds like an interesting research topic. If it can actually be worked into a methodology, perhaps a training program could be formulated for getting athletes into \u201cthe zone.\u201d I am conducting research that I like to call \u201cwinning medals with science,\u201d and I hope we will both be able to contribute something positive at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\u5148\u751f\u5199\u771f\"

Yasuo Kawakami, Professor at Waseda University \u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000Yukiko Shiki, Associate Professor at Kansai University<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThe fight-or-flight response is triggered by shutting down the brain\u2019s limiter\u201d (Kawakami)<\/b><\/h3>\n

Ms. Shiki: I hope so too. By the way, I believe you have been researching the \u201cfight-or-flight response\u201d and how it can be applied to the Tokyo Olympics. Some people refer to the abilities triggered while in the zone\u201d as the \u201cfight-or-flight response,\u201d but looking through the lens of your research, how would you describe \u201cthe zone\u201d?<\/p>\n

Mr. Kawakami: We do not have an accurate understanding of its relationship with \u201cthe zone,\u201d but the \u201cfight-or-flight response\u201d teaches us that humans have a reserve of power, even when they are trying to exert all of their strength.<\/p>\n

Nerves control muscles, with dozens or even hundreds of cells responsible for a single muscle in some cases. Humans are able to increase the number of working nerve cells to adjust the level of power exerted, so if we are able to excite all of these nerve cells, we would theoretically be able to use 100% of our strength. Do you know about the \u201cshouting effect\u201d?<\/p>\n

Ms. Shiki: Yes, track and field athletes that throw events often shout loudly during their performance to produce as much power as possible.<\/p>\n

Mr. Kawakami: Precisely. Humans can consciously increase their excitement levels. This increases the number of working nerve cells, which enables them to exert a significant amount of strength. Even so, it is still not possible to excite 100% of them. Sleeping nerve cells are in the body as well.This is why that when we used electrical stimulation to excite sleeping nerve cells in an experiment, we found that more strength was exerted that normal. This extra strength is the same that we see during a \u201cfight-or-flight response.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms. Shiki: So that means one way of getting into \u201cthe zone\u201d is to find a method that can excite sleeping nerve cells. Am I correct to say that normal brain control shuts down during a \u201cfight-or-flight response\u201d?<\/p>\n

Mr. Kawakami: That is correct. Control is not completely shut down but the brain\u2019s \u201cmotor area\u201d used for motion control has increased excitement levels that activate sleeping nerve cells. As a result, people are able to exert an incredible amount of strength to lift cars and other such feats. However, the brain usually has a limiting function to protect the body from damaging itself with such tremendous strength.<\/p>\n

Although I am not sure of the connection, perhaps the \u201cfight-or-flight response\u201d has some sort of secondary relationship to being in \u201cthe zone.\u201d The motor area\u2019s excitement levels are related to movements within the brain and increases accordingly. For example, when nerve cells of the brain\u2019s prefrontal area are active, a motivation mechanism increases activity in the motor area. Ultimately, activity in the motor area is what moves the body, but other parts of the brain are influential as well. This could be \u201cthe zone\u201d that some athletes experience, and that is stored in the prefrontal area, the cerebellum, or the area that controls the memory.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe zone gives us a glimpse into unknown human potential and the greatness it brings.\u201d (Ms. Shiki)<\/b><\/b><\/h3>\n

Ms. Shiki: Every time I hear a story from someone that has experienced the zone, it enhances the mystical aspect of an unseen world. Does your research incorporate this mysteriousness?<\/p>\n

Mr. Kawakami: All of it is mysterious. For example, an ultrasonic device can only measure one muscle. I do not even know what is happening with other muscles. This measurement method has its limits. To tell you the truth, with complex sports movements, and even something as simple as walking, we know very little about the muscles related to those movements, including how they are triggered.If we are unable to simplify those movements and measurement targets to perform experiments, we will not be able to acquire the data needed to formulate scientific papers. The scientific community has always suffered with the dilemma created between the mystery of the human body and scientific proof. As an organism, humanity is generously redundant, but we still struggle to grasp it. This is the mystery we need to unravel. How about you Professor Shiki?<\/p>\n

Ms. Shiki: I have been working to illustrate the sensory mechanisms involved when getting into \u201cthe zone,\u201d and attempting to quantify human senses. However, these senses cannot be quantified or or given true meaning with words, so I tend to lose a grasp of the essential points through quantification, and lose out on the true senses. This is the sort of contradiction I run into. When researching senses and \u201cthe zone,\u201d the deeper I investigate, the more I learn about the personal, deep inner world of humans, which most people do not think about on a regular basis. Yet at the same time, I feel that I am beginning to understand a part of the outer world, namely the mechanisms and laws of our vast universe. When I feel the potential of the research in this way, I find it easier to understand depending on its visualization.<\/p>\n

Mr. Kawakami: It is hard for us humans to perceive information other than what we see with our eyes, and hear with our ears. Perhaps there is a lot of information out there that cannot be detected with our sensory organs.<\/p>\n

Ms. Shiki: I agree but I believe we can perceive and utilize the innate senses within all of us.<\/p>\n

The next and last article in this volume is \u201cCreating a healthy society through research in biomechanics,\u201d in which Professor Kawakami uses his research to discuss Japan\u2019s aging society and future prospects.<\/p>\n

\"5\u5dee\u3057\u66ff\u3048\"

Associate Professor Shiki and Professor Kawakami stroll through Waseda University\u2019s Tokorozawa Campus. It is Ms. Shiki\u2019s former school, and where Mr. Kawakami currently conducts research<\/p><\/div>\n

Part 1<\/a>
\nPart 2<\/a>
\nPart 4<\/a><\/p>\n

Profile<\/h5>\n

\"\u30d7\u30ed\u30d5\u30a3\u30fc\u30eb\"<\/p>\n

Yasuo Kawakami graduated from the University of Tokyo with a degree from the Faculty of Education\u2019s Division of Physical and Health Education (Physical Education Course) in 1988. In 1990, he acquired a Master’s Degree from the University of Tokyo\u2019s Graduate School of Education and withdrew from the doctoral program in 1991. In 1991, he worked as an assistant at the University of Tokyo\u2019s College of Arts and Sciences, in the Department of Health and Physical Education. In 1996, he worked as an assistant at the University of Tokyo\u2019s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in Multi-Disciplinary Sciences, and was promoted to assistant professor in 1999. In 2003, he became an assistant professor at Waseda University\u2019s School of Sport Sciences. He became a professor at Waseda University\u2019s Faculty of Sport Sciences in 2005.<\/p>\n

Accomplishments and research<\/b><\/h5>\n