#Japan #Kyoto #Next Generation Meeting #JPPF #Para Powerlifting

Monthly Report (May): Implementing Next Generation Meeting Insights

Overview

The Japan Para Powerlifting Federation (JPPF) is dedicated to empowering all individuals through the inspirational performances of its athletes, who bring courage and hope to society. This initiative furthers the sport's appeal as we share monthly updates on our activities, including efforts to shape the future, glimpses into our athletes' lives, and trending topics on social media.

May Highlights

Topic 1: Next Generation Meeting

1. Implementation of Proposals
In April, we convened the first Next Generation Meeting where strategies were discussed to enhance communication among athletes, coaches, and staff. This collaborative approach resulted in implementing engaging training sessions during our May training camp.

• - Goal: Create a lively training environment!
• - Actions:

- Focus on the main set and encourage everyone to cheer for participating athletes.
- Ensure that new athletes experience the joy of powerlifting and camaraderie during camp.

The arrangement of the training benches was modified to foster visibility and communication, allowing athletes to communicate effectively during workouts. Post-camp feedback from the head coach praised the energetic atmosphere, validating the success of the initiatives proposed during the meeting.

2. May Next Generation Meeting
On May 27th, we held our second online Next Generation Meeting. We reflected on the previous camp's endeavors, discussed enhancements for future camps, and brainstormed ideas for social media engagement. Our next camp in July will feature international coaches, and we are excited about exploring new methods to connect and energize our training sessions.

Topic 2: Listening to Athletes’ Voices - Individual Interviews

To gain deeper insights from our athletes, we conducted individual interviews with two remarkable athletes:

• - Tomohiro Mitsuise (Men's 59kg, Executive Protection Inc.)

Mitsuise provided invaluable ideas during his interview, contributing to the depth of discussions in the May meeting. His enthusiasm for the sport was contagious, and we plan to incorporate his innovative ideas into future video content. He emphasized the importance of his friendly demeanor, highlighting the contrast between his competitive intensity and approachable nature.

• - Hideki Oudo (Men’s 80kg, SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.)

With an impressive 29-year competitive history, Oudo shared numerous memorable quotes during our interview. Notably, a profound statement about his love for powerlifting resonated strongly on May 23rd, coinciding with Love Letter Day, garnering significant engagement on Instagram and showcasing his commitment to the sport.

Topic 3: May on Social Media

In May, we increased our use of Instagram reels, focusing on both the training camp highlights and personal aspects of our athletes. Our follower growth and engagement rates reflected the popularity of our content:

• - Instagram:

- Followers increased from 1,051 to 1,063 (up by 12).

• - X platform:

- Followers grew from 1,678 to 1,685 (up by 7).
The most liked post featured highlights from the training camp, achieving 53 likes and 1,602 views, emphasizing our efforts to connect with the community.

Additionally, athlete Yuki Hino from Simplex Holdings, who serves as an external coach for Aichi Gakuin University's weight training club, proposed an online joint training initiative aimed at fostering collaboration and growth within the community.

Conclusion

May's activities represented a significant step forward in our pursuit of a more empowered and engaged team environment. We remain committed to capturing the exceptional stories of our athletes and supporting their journeys in powerlifting.

For those interested, we invite inquiries for narrative features or individual interviews with our athletes. We will publicly share our upcoming events, including training sessions and the 8th Challenge Cup in Kyoto on June 28-29.

Contact

For inquiries, please contact Yoshida from the Japan Para Powerlifting Federation:
TEL: 090-6650-2645
Email: 596yoshida@gmail.com

Join us as we continue to build a vibrant community around para powerlifting, where each athlete's journey inspires many!