In the early stages of judo, what guided your research?

The pleasure of successfully executing a movement. Also, the pleasure of achieving maximum efficiency. But often, I thought I understood, only to realise during practice that it wasn’t quite right. I had to keep searching. For example, I worked on hane-goshi for years. I could perform it occasionally but not well. It wasn’t satisfactory.

What wasn’t satisfactory?

There was a constant struggle: sometimes I attacked too late, sometimes too early. I made movements that weren’t effective. I knew it wasn’t the best way to do it, and there had to be other methods. I kept working on hane-goshi until I could truly perform it, until I felt that it was the correct technique.

What was that sensation like? What made you feel that it was the correct technique?

It was the spontaneity of being able to throw my partner effectively with hane-goshi without making much effort. Either I saw the opportunity to do it, or I created the opportunity, but in every case, I executed hane-goshi immediately. I didn’t succeed every time, but at least seven or eight times out of ten. Then I was satisfied.

How were the techniques you discovered different from those you were taught?

They weren’t different; the general idea was sound. For a throwing technique or groundwork technique, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of ways to execute them, but there’s always one that is better than the others. My research, my work, was to find that one. To do this, you must consciously and unconsciously understand the entire process needed to complete a throw. And for that, there are no shortcuts—only hours and hours of work. Not just work, but research. It took me ten years to master hane-goshi.

Ten years for one technique?

Ten years to be able to do it the way I wanted, the way it should be done.

What was your mindset during training?

I trained a lot at the Collège des Ceintures Noires. I went on Wednesdays and Saturdays; it was an opportunity to practice with many people. Particularly, whenever a Japanese judoka arrived, I made sure to greet them immediately so I could train with them. I was able to progress in this way.

How did you conduct yourself in competitions or matches?

When I competed, in randori or matches, I was completely sincere in what I was doing. There’s no way I would have done anything that wasn’t in line with the idea of defeating someone with a correct technique, without causing injury. I had a deep desire to avoid anything that would be dishonest in practice.