Salaryman to come out swinging in K-1

[smoothsake]

Yohei Takei / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer



Sales rep Hiroyuki Owatari is primed and ready for his upcoming K-1 debut.

Hiroyuki Owatari will go from fighting corporate battles as a sales rep to fighting of a much more physical nature when he makes his debut as a K-1 mixed martial arts fighter Monday.

Owatari, who works full-time for major ad agency Dentsu Inc., will step into the ring for "K-1 World Max 2008," a signature event of the sport that combines karate, taekwondo, kickboxing and several other martial arts at Nippon Budokan in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.

A former four-time national karate champion in the lightweight division, Owatari, 31, has to squeeze his training regime around his busy workload. He keeps a pair of boxing gloves in his locker at the office so he can spar with colleagues who know a thing or two about combat sports whenever he has a spare moment.

Owatari booked his ticket to the Budokan in March when he passed an open tryout for budding K-1 stars, a trial he thought could be his last chance to achieve his dream of appearing in a K-1 event. He fared well in the physical strength test and sparring and grabbed his opportunity.

Owatari has never skipped training despite the demands of being in charge of a major beverage company at Dentsu's sales department, where his workday includes meetings on the company's TV commercials, and usually ends at about 10 p.m.

After work, he visits a dojo in Shinjuku Ward where he started taking karate lessons as a university student and practices punching a sandbag until after midnight.

Once he starts training, he focuses so intensely that he becomes unaware of the sounds around him.

"When I practice, I become absorbed in moving my body. This blows away the stress of work and helps me sleep very well," Owatari said.

Owatari's aspirations have sometimes sparked lively conversations with clients who are fond of fighting sports.

"So it's a plus for my job, too," he laughed.

With the help of his bosses and colleagues, Owatari persuaded Dentsu to let him take part in the event.

"I can fight in the ring I've longed to stand in thanks to many people's support," Owatari said. "I mustn't forget that I owe these people, and I want to show a salaryman can fight with the best of them."

Daily Yomiuri Online
(Jul. 6, 2008)
Salaryman to come out swinging in K-1 : Sports : DAILY YOMIURI ONLINE (The Daily Yomiuri)

[vapor]

Originally Posted by smoothsake

Owatari has never skipped training despite the demands of being in charge of a major beverage company at Dentsu's sales department, where his workday includes meetings on the company's TV commercials, and usually ends at about 10 p.m.

If he is leaving at 10pm, he must only be a part time worker!!

I rarely left before midnight most nights...in the same industry!!

vapor

[Dent]

Osu! SmoothSake,

An interesting choice for K-1. I wonder how he'll do compared to the long time pros? (Especially if he's moving up from lightweight.)

Any idea of his first opponent?

Osu!

[Dent]

Osu!

Originally Posted by vapor

If he is leaving at 10pm, he must only be a part time worker!!

I rarely left before midnight most nights...in the same industry!!

vapor

It's hard to imagine being online at those late hours. Let me just check my watch...

Osu!

[vapor]

Oh, when I was working late at night, I was not online....I was hatching fabulous marketing ideas!!

I was glad to see in the picture that he is wearing a matching belt color for his shoes!!

vapor

[Bloke]

Your belt and shoes must match (your socks should also match your shoe colour too)

[Dent]

Osu!

Originally Posted by Bloke

Your belt and shoes must match (your socks should also match your shoe colour too)

I see that some of you haven't been following some of the fashion guides as set by certain individuals.

Heck, I'll bet you don't even wear white socks with your brown sandals either!

Osu!

[Kris]

what style does he train in?