Shu Hirata Talks The Desperate Need For Japanese MMA Evolution

↵So what needs to change about Japanese MMA to allow more Japanese fighters to survive in the West?
The skill level of fighters, the training environment and even the respect MMA fighters get from the general public right now in North America is way ahead of Japan. I think overall effort is lacking. The promoter is not putting enough effort to promote shows. For example, there is not enough emphasis on getting sponsors and TV deals from overseas.
I think fighters and gyms are not putting in enough effort to learn new training methods. There should be more fighters going to the states for training, and more trainers should be coming to the States to see and learn what the other MMA fighters and trainers are doing. Also, Japanese fighters should also put in a little more effort to learn about training, dieting, nutrition and everything else necessary for MMA. I think fighters and gyms should be more keen on bringing in their own sponsors. All of these things would ultimately bring more business to the world of the Japanese MMA but I don’t see that happening. It has been the same for the last ten years or so.

↵↵- Via an interview at MMA Fighting (ht: Head Kick Legend)

↵This is all very true. There just aren’t gyms in Japan that are revolutionizing training, nor are any gyms turning out fighter after fighter at a high level. In fact, we get most excited about Japanese fighters when we hear that they are coming to America to train with a high level camp.

↵Until we see that kind of evolution in training in Japan there will continue to be the same kind of limited stars coming out of the country that we do now.