CONNECT
APRIL 2018
YC&AC HOOPS MEN AND WOMEN OF YESTERYEAR DARTS: 150! OVER 35S WIN SIGNATURE RUGBY EVENT TENNIS TEAM TOUR TO BANGKOK NEWS • REVIEWS • EVENTS
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YOKOHAMA COUNTRY & ATHLETIC CLUB GENERAL MANAGER Erol Miftahittin
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Finance Keisuke Satoh Sport Yusuke Tomiogi Marketing Coordinator Tamara Balyaba
6 YC&AC Hoops Men and Women of Yesteryear 12 Darts: 150!
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14 Over 35s Win Signature Rugby Event
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Yokohama Country & Athletic Club 11-1 Yaguchi-dai, Naka-ku, Yokohama, 231-8684, Japan (T) 045-623-8121 (E) concierge@ycac.jp www.ycac.jp
On the cover: The ladies basketball teams at the 1937 YC&AC v KR&AC Interport
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President Richard Gustafson Vice President Bill Baker Secretary Tom Tyrrell Treasurer Shinya Fujiwara Directors Ishu Chugani, Dan Coughlin, George Fu, Alex Hendy, Sadao Hosogai, Julia-Sophie Selig-Sonderhoff Auditors Onno Jalink, Marcel Niederhauser
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ME SS AGES
A word from the General Manager
Erol Miftahittin General Manager
Dear YC&AC Members, As I write this column, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom and Spring has officially come. April is a busy month with many activities planned and it is also the month to see summer sports like baseball and cricket start. Our 150th Anniversary Events were a huge success for the first three months of the year. In April, we will celebrate Table Tennis on Sunday April 15th and Basketball on Saturday April 21st as our sporting events, and hold a Cinco de Mayo Party on Saturday April 28th. All Members are welcome to participate in our events. Please review our bulletin board, Facebook, General Manager’s Message and Sports Roundup Message for further information. The Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday April 22nd. Members will learn how we managed your Club for the past year and what is planned for the future. This is a great opportunity for members to ask valuable questions that set the tone for the remainder of the year. Please
SIG N U P F O R SU MMER S PORT S Dear Members, With the YC&AC Japan Rugby Sevens Tournament having been played on April 1st, the cherry blossoms now bloomed and the weather exceedingly pleasant, it’s now time to celebrate the passing of another winter and look forward to another summer of fun at YC&AC! YC&AC offers a myriad of sports and activities throughout the year, but in Summer we look forward in particular to swimming, cricket, baseball, lawn bowls and much more. Now is the time when cobwebs are dusted away, cricket bats are rediscovered, baseball gloves and YC&AC summer sports teams welcome new recruits. If you’re interested in taking part in any of the aforementioned sports we encourage you to contact the following Captains or YC&AC Coaches for more information: Baseball: Yachi Altinbay yaltinbay@hotmail.com Cricket: Anthony Winston antonw1nst0n@gmail.com Lawn Bowls: Hans Pauli paulih_a@yha.att.ne.jp YC&AC Coaches: c.kelly@ycac.jp & y.tomiogi@ycac.jp APRIL
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mark your calendar to attend the meeting. It gives me much regret to announce the departure of Adam Bunting. Adam was our Sales Manager for the past eight months and played a key role in the relaunch of Connect magazine. Our membership increased from 632 to 690 in his time at the Club, and Adam also led the team to complete the Historic Walk in the clubhouse. Adam has chosen to return to New Zealand and we will definitely miss his presence at the club. Please welcome Tamara Balyaba, who has recently joined YC&AC as our Sales and PR Coordinator. Tamara is originally from Ukraine and has lived in Japan for ten years. Tamara will lead publishing of Connect magazine from the May 2018 issue. We look forward to your continued support and a fantastic year of celebration! Sincerely, Erol Miftahittin General Manager
history
YC&AC’s Hoops Men and Women of Yesteryear As the Club continues its 150th anniversary celebrations in 2018, this month’s sports in the spotlight for current players are table tennis and basketball. In a related article, Club historian Mike Galbraith throws light on the Club’s basketball past, promising to return with a little history of table tennis next month. Readers will recognize a number of players’ names in this article, their descendants being active members of the Club today. It appears from the Club’s photo archives that the heyday of basketball at YC&AC was in the 1930s, until WW2 caused the sport to stop in 1941, and in the 1950s. Nearly all the photos from those periods feature Interport teams — both men’s and ladies’ — and luckily in most the ball has the year written on it so that we know which year the games were played. However, while there are a few photos with notes listing the names of the players, the Club has no other real records. In case readers are unaware of the origins of the sport, MARCH
basketball was invented by the YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1891 after Dr. Luther Gulick, the director of the Physical Education Department of the YMCA Training School, the main training school of the YMCA, challenged his students to try to invent a new sport and at the same time assigned one of his instructors, James Naismith, to a class of boys who showed little interest in exercise or sports. After experimenting, Naismith “invented” basketball, and the first recognized game of the sport was played on December 21, 1891. |
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According to Japanese historians, basketball was introduced to Japan in 1908 by Hyozo Omori (1876–1913) after he returned to work as a physical education teacher at the YMCA in Japan having studied the “physical course” at the same Springfield College where the sport was invented. Before that he had studied at Stanford University from 1901 to 1905. Accordingly, Omori is called the “father of Japanese basketball.” The YMCA played a significant role in the introduction and promotion of western sports into Japan and many other non-western countries including Asian countries like China, Korea and the Philippines. In each country it established nationwide networks of YMCAs with the first YMCA in Tokyo, Japan dating back to 1880. One 1937 Japan Times article states that in the US basketball was the most popular spectator sport. It was clearly very popular in Japan too and commanded a lot of newspaper coverage. In the early 1930s, the YC&AC men’s team won the Japan Business Men’s Basketball Championship organized by the Tokyo YMCA several times in a row and also won the Kanagawa Championship, but I am sure that, as in other sports, for the players it was the Interports against the Kobe Regatta & Athletic Club (KR&AC) which were the most important matches, as the photographic evidence from the period seems to indicate. Unlike its arch-rival foreign sports club in Kobe, it appears that the YC&AC did not have a gymnasium until the present one was constructed after WW2, and this must have been quite a problem. The oldest photo
in the Club’s archive shows the 1933 Interport teams with a hoop outside on the sports ground which seems to indicate that the Interport that year was played outdoors. Newspaper reports suggest that the basketball Interports held in Yokohama were played at the St. Joseph College court or on a court in Negishi. Below are some reports that appeared in the Japan Times about Interport basketball. Such was the popularity of the sport, in advance of the big Interport games the newspaper sometimes ran quite long and interesting stories with more info on the players than the actual match reports—as the below story from 1935 shows. Kobe Basketball Teams Favored to Beat Y.C.A.C. (Japan Times, Saturday April 27, 1935) The K.R. and A.C. ladies and men’s basketball teams will arrive in Yokohama Saturday evening for their Interport matches against the Y.C. and A.C. on Sunday afternoon at the St. Joseph College court. The ladies game is scheduled to start at 2:30 and the men’s contest will commence immediately after the first game. The Kobe teams are the strong favorites to retain both titles for another year. In Kansai last year the Y.C. and A.C. ladies dropped a very low scoring contest to the Kobe team, while the men lost a heartbreaking game by one point, the score being 31 to 30. YCAC Team Crippled During the season the Y.C. and A.C. ladies quintet made an excellent record, but recently, due to a series of bad breaks, the original squad of twelve has been reduced to eight. The players who will be unable to play are Mrs. R. Ralfe, Mrs. H. Tresize, Miss Babs Heseltine, all of the first five, and Miss Wertheimber, No. 1 reserve player. A month ago the Yokohama team were favored to win, but the Opposite: The oldest basketball photograph in YC&AC’s possession shows the men’s Interport teams of 1933 on the field (!) at YC&AC. Left: The men’s basketball teams at the 1935 Interport, played on the St. Joseph College court in Yokohama (see match report)
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last month has changed the situation completely. The Kobe team consists of exactly the same team as last year, and with another year’s experience, the team may prove too strong for the crippled Yokohama squad. The K.R. and A.C. players will naturally be handicapped by playing on a strange floor, but as it is a neutral court, Yokohama will have little advantage over them in this respect.
The ladies representing Kobe are Miss Dorothy Graham, captain and Guard, one of the best players on the team, excellent at defence and dangerous with her long shots. Miss Ruth Cox, guard, who gives her team lots of fight, and is a hard guard for the opposition forwards to get away from. Miss Sylvia Clark, tall jumping center, who should have the advantage over Yokohama on the tip offs. A sure shot under the basket. Miss Mieko Jarmain, a fast forward that should The Y.C. and A.C. ladies will be represented by Miss Lucette Eymard, forward, an accurate shot, and a steady player. Always can be counted on for a number of baskets. Miss Irene Lord, captain. Forward, who is a constructive player, has a good eye for shooting, feels at home at any position. Miss Rosemary Heseltine, jumping center, youngest player on the team, who is playing her first Interport, is a good shot. Miss Mildred Laffin, guard, who has consented to play with only a few days notice to replace Miss H. Hesiltine who is ill. She has always played a hard game at guard, and the Kobe forwards should find her hard to get past. Miss Charlotte Eymard, guard, a hard worker and full of dash, who always puts up a good fight. The reserves are Miss Chips Moss, guard, a steady player who can successfully relieve either guard; Miss Eva Down, guard, and Miss Doreen Edward,
worry the Yokohama defence. Miss Alice Jungers, star of the team, who is fast and usually a high scorer for her side. The reserves are Miss G. Levedag, and Miss Kebbs. KRAC Men’s Squad In the men’s game, Kobe will be represented by Messrs. Zolotareff, center, captain, a fast man in excellent condition. Will probably lead his team in scoring or be a close second. F. Schirmer, not in top form at present, but on occasions such as Interports, usually shows some of his old brilliancy. Has always had a good eye. Lomaev, a fast forward, who has been putting in some excellent games. Cecil Arab, and R. Isaacson, both fast guards, who can play on the offensive and get back to play a stonewall defence.
both hard workers who only lack experience. The Y.C. and A.C. men will be represented by Y.C.A.C. Quintet M. Fachtmann, center, captain, high scorer on the team, who is dangerous near the basket. Will have advantage over the Kobe center on the jumps. F. R. Harris, forward, utility man who feeds the other forwards. Fast and usually comes through with a few long shots. Down, forward, has not been playing much this season, but is the fighter on the team and should give Kobe plenty to worry about. G. Fachtmann, guard, plays a hard game and with his height is valuable on rebound shots. H. Schoone, guard. This player has been showing some good basketball of late. Should prove hard to get past. M. Zuber, guard, a bustling player, who usually gets his man. H. Fachtmann, guard, who has been away all season but who should bolster the team considerably.
Mr. F. Honda, who referees the All-Japan championship games, will be in charge of the game. The scorers are Mr. G. E. Beatty and Mr. M. L. Russell. The timers are Mr. W. Helm, and a Kobe representative. After the games a mixed Interport dinner will be held at the Club, followed by a moving picture to which the Kobe players will be invited. MARCH
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Yokohama and Kobe Split Honours in Interport Basketball Games (Japan Times, Tuesday March 26, 1940) The Kobe Regatta and Athletic Club men’s basketball team defeated the Yokohama Country and Athletic Club squad by 55 to 33 Saturday afternoon at Kobe in the annual Interport game, immediately after the K.R. and A.C. women players had taken a 34 to 18 beating from the Y.C. and A.C. quintet. Both contests were played in the K.R. and A.C. gymnasium after the hockey matches between the two clubs had been concluded on the Kobe Recreation Grounds. The Kansai men players took a commanding lead early in their game, and although the Kanto cagers threatened at one stage in the first half, the home team drew away to lead by 27 to 10 at the interval. In the second half, the K.R. and A.C. continued to add to its margin and there was little doubt as to the outcome from early in this period. CLOSE CONTEST
The women’s contest was closely fought in the first two quarters, the halfway mark finding the Y.C. and A.C. women leading 11 to 8. The Kobe girls weakened in the last half, their opponents outscoring them 23 to
10. Shortly after the start of the fourth quarter there was no doubt as to who would win, Yokohama leading by 29 to 12 at one time. The Kobe quintet drew first blood in the men’s game, da Costa sinking a free shot, but Yokohama took the lead, 2 to 1 on a basket by Fachtmann. However, Kawasjee, da Costa, and Austin found the hoop in succession, and the home team was ahead 7 to 2 after five minutes of play. Yokohama called a time out but the respite did not stem the Kobe attack. Austin sank another shot and this was followed by baskets by Isaacson, Kawasjee, and da Costa to put the K.R. & A.C. ahead by 15 to 2. It was then that Thompson scored for Yokohama on a nice passing play, and Harris sank a shot from the foul line to make the score 15 to 5. Da Costa’s basket, followed by two in succession by Austin, added another six points to Kobe’s total. Austin’s shooting was deadly, his long shots finding the basket consistently. Yokohama then staged a rally, started by Harris’ free toss, which he made good. Fachtmann scored his second basket soon after, followed by one by Holtom who netted off Thomson’s rebound. The latter player also scored the next basket, the score minutes of play
Below: The ladies basketball teams at the 1940 Interport in Kobe (see match report page 11). Back row, from left: J. Crane, V. Albeck, A. Grossman, H. Lord, M. Jarmain, D. Coolican, J. Christensen, B. Scott. Front row: C. da Costa, M. Crane, T. Krebs, T. Planas, L. Hudsen, I. Brigel, R. Cox, D. Coolican.
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Above: The men’s basketball teams at the 1941 Interport. Serge Bielous (seated left) and F.R. Harris (short player five from the right) are mentioned in the 1940 match report.
left. Yokohama then scored four points on two free throws by Holtom and a basket by Planas. Jungers garnered two makers for Kobe, and just before the game ended Bielous scored the final basket for Yokohama. WOMEN’S GAME
The women’s Interport clash was packed with excitement in the first half, with play being even. Kobe took the lead for a few minutes, being ahead 5 to 2, but when the quarter ended, Yokohama lead 6 to 5, and from this time on were never headed. The Y.C. and A.C. outscored the home squad by 5 to 3 in the second quarter to increase their lead to three points at the halfway mark. In the third quarter the visitors’ attack began to function with precision, and demoralized the home team’s defence. The Yokohama shooting was accurate but the home team could not make many of their shots count. This period ended with the Y.C. and A.C. leading 19 to 12. In the final stanza Yokohama added 10 points in succession to their score before Kobe replied. A APRIL
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belated rally saw Kobe sink two baskets in succession, but the visitors’ defense tightened to retain their big margin from this stage until the end of the game. The line-ups and individual scores were a follows: K. R. & A.C. Men: Da Costa (15), Rodriguez (8), Austin (10), MacDonald (0), Millstein (0) captain, Lopes (0), Arab (2), Kawasjee (7), Isaacson (3), Jungers (2), Amrans (0). Y.C. & A.C. Men: Planas (8), Harris (8) captain, Holtom (2), Thompson (11), Crane (0), Fachtmann (4), Bielous (2), Shalfieff (0). K. R. & A.C. Women: Miss Krebs (7), Miss Jungers (6) captain, Miss Jarmain (2), Mrs Davison (2), Mrs. Christensen (1), Miss Cox (0), Miss J. Crane (0), Miss Oxford (0), Miss da Costa (0). Y.C. & A.C. Women: Miss Doris Coolican (8), Miss I. Lord (14), ), Miss H. Lord (0), Miss Daphne Coolican (0), Miss Planas (7) captain, Miss M. Crane (0), Miss Albeck (5). Words: Mike Galbraith, YC&AC Historian
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the captain’s report
YOKOHAMA COUNTRY & ATHLETIC CLUB
150!
darts Words: No. 17
Darts has been a feature of sporting life at YC&AC for as long as the turkey has had feathers. Club legends have been made on the Members Bar boards and in darting taverns across the city. To this day the names Les Carter, Willi Holzer and Phil Eymard send shivers down the spines of Yokohama’s best players. The present-day Darts Section naturally wanted to celebrate the Club’s 150th anniversary in style and was able to draw on GM Erol’s personal connections with the Japan Darts Association to get things rolling (see box article). Sarasa and others behind the scenes at the Club eventually brought in a humbling fifteen teams from bars in Yokohama and beyond to join the three teams assembled by YC&AC. The first vials of wine and beer had long been drained
before play started at 10:00 am. The atmosphere was relaxed and boozy but nevertheless focused, and the games that unfolded were all of a very high standard indeed. YC&AC’s three teams were never allowed to hit their stride and together won just a single leg in the many best-of-three leg, 701-down matches in the qualifying rounds. The final matches were played on the stage with a video camera and large screen enabling the big crowd that stayed behind to watch to properly appreciate the action and cheer on their favorites. The sporting entertainment was enhanced by the comedic bilingual commentary of MC Yachi Altinbay. The final itself, between Aladdin and Yokosuka Ah!, was a tight affair, Aladdin eventually prevailing in the fifth and final leg. Three of the four players on the Yokosuka Ah! team had recently represented Japan, which is a measure of the young Aladdin team’s achievement. YC&AC’s MVP was unquestionably James Hegarty (Lucky Jim), who stepped in at the last moment to support the Club and played with the evident handicap of a heavily bandaged broken right thumb. Jim’s blunderbuss style, in which darts were flung seemingly at random in the approximate direction of the bullseye, may well have scored him the highest average of anyone on the YC&AC teams. On behalf of all the YC&AC players, big thanks to the Japan Darts Association and all on the YC&AC staff who helped to make this such a memorable occasion. Crushed but inspired, we very much hope to repeat this fantastic event next year. Left: The YC&AC Darts 150th Anniversary Darts Tournament and Party.
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Hus & Wife Return! GM Erol counts among his cousins Nobuo and Aoi Okada. One day back in the 1970s, Nobuo and Aoi were invited to YC&AC by Erol’s parents. The young couple enjoyed a game of darts in the Members Bar, where they were inspired to take up the sport in earnest. Nobuo would become the first Japanese to participate in the Darts World Cup, while Aoi would become Japan’s first ever medalist in the same tournament. The couple run the well-known Hus & Wife Darts Bar in Shibuya and over forty years after their first engagement with the Club, it was wonderful to see Nobuo and Aoi back at YC&AC throwing darts. Left: Nobuo and Aoi Okada with cousin GM Erol.
Clockwise from below right: YCAC GOD SAVE THE QUEEN- Russell Brown (“Archimedes”), Alex Hendy (“No. 17”), Russ Hannah (“The Ninja”) and James Hegarty (“Lucky Jim”). Tournament winners Team Aladdin from Tokyo. YCAC OLD SKOOL- Erol Miftahittin (“The General”), Samja Dunkel (“Blondie”), Yusuke Watanabe (“The Riddler”) and Yachi Altinbay (“The Tornado”). YCAC BLACK SHIPS- Mark Kane (“The Commodore”), Justin Liu (“The Consul”), Hirofumi Nakajima (“The Shogun”) and Chris Templeton (“Potus”).
rugby
Over 35s Win Signature Rugby Event
Words: Simon “Rhino” Ryan YC&AC Rugby Chairman
Well, it’s over for another year. A thrilling festival of running rugby and close matches. The tournament glory went to a team, superbly coached by a cunning kiwi, outwitting a mouthy robotic opposition. But in the end, who could possibly begrudge Ireland and Joe Schmidt the six nations title and a grand slam dunk over the English on their sacred turf. Apart from the coaching and opposition, it was a similar story just eight hours later at the YCAC Over 35s tournament. On a sunny day on the hill, YCAC stuttered to a first up win over over Kanagawa Fuwaku (21-10). Then accounted for Doshisha University (33-0) in smoother fashion the Silver Shadow was beginning to purr. With IBM comfortably taking maximum points from their first two matches, the cup final was to be a repeat of last year’s, with YCAC seeking revenge for a 2017 last minute loss. Unfortunately for YCAC, several underthe-thumb key players were hooked from the club by their sweet and considerate wives before the 3:45pm kickoff. This left us with a creaky boned 15 and a fully fossilized bench of two (Sizemore and Tross Youle). The Rolls now looked destined for the crusher, but still murmured with a good engine and plenty of character. On the other hand IBM boasted a full squad of 23, with many still playing regular company rugby. The host club did however still possess a few secret weapons - Bill “The Pie” Baker, Nike “the Lilo”, Ian “Hillbilly” Miller, Mike “solo parent” King, Ryosuke “Japan’s most eligible bachelor” Okawara and Taku “me in bed” - to name a few. Surprisingly, I could not add referee Satoshi “this match shouldn’t count against my record as this is a tournament” Otsuka to this list, as apparently he was not looking for his 27th straight YCAC win in control.
Top: Ryosuke “Japan’s most eligible bachelor” Okawara running circles around the competition. Above left: Ian “Hillbilly” Miller blasting through the defense. Above: Tournament hero Bill Baker with another rollicking run up the middle. MARCH
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Despite Referee Satoshi’s attempt to end his record run with a string of initial penalties in favor of IBM, the YCAC defence did not wilt. The Baker grabbed himself the first meat pie of the match, the oppo soon replied and it was locked at 7-7 with four minutes to play. The Pieman then got hungry again and grabbed another savory to make it 14-7. IBM botched a sure try with a forward pass. Then with 30 seconds to go and the game seemingly in the bag the YCAC backs decided it was time for a suicidal scissors move. Naturally the ball was knocked on and the resulting scrum saw possession handed to IBM. With a break and a clear path to the line for the IBM speed merchant, only a heroic Jermaine tackle saved the day. Final score YCAC 14, IBM 7 A pulsating match and an upset cup victory for the ages.
Later, at the tournament party, the man who gobbled up all the meat pies was crowned the Tournament MVP. Satoshi (wearing an Ireland polo), celebrating his 27th win on the trot and a grand slam, sang a fitting and rousing rendition of “The Fields of Anthenry”.
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Above: Bill Baker, this time steaming through a gap. Below: YC&AC’s Bill Baker, Alan Iwata, Ian Miller and Mike King mingle with the IBM oppo after the final before heading to the tournament party in true rugby spirit tradition.
t enni s Words: Phil Armstrong - Tennis Captain
On Saturday March 10, a team of 6 men (Wataru Ikeda, Hiroyuki Nozaki, Ippei Iwasaki, Koji Osawa, Kentaro Tanizumi, Phil Armstrong) and 6 ladies (Makiko Ueshima, Mariko Nozaki, Miki Watanabe, Ingrid Meibergen-Tashiro, Shizuko Saito, Mika Osawa), played a friendly match against the RBSC in Bangkok. The RBSC is a very large and beautiful club, with a golf course situated inside a horse racing track right in the middle of the city, not to mention many tennis courts, including 10 grass courts, which are usually playable all year round. Unfortunately though, due to very heavy rain the day before the match, the grass courts, which were spectacular (looked like the YCAC lawn bowls green!) were still too wet for play so we played on six covered hard courts. Coming from the unusually cold winter in Japan, we were worried that the Bangkok heat might be a bit too much but luckily it was a “cool” day (barely 30°C!) and the high roof kept the sun off so conditions were very good for tennis. The team received a very warm and hospitable welcome from the RBSC team, who kindly adjusted their pairings to make most of the games very competitive. The official result after 2 men’s doubles, 2 ladies’ doubles and 2 mixed doubles was a draw, but play carried on for a long time after that with everyone having a lot of fun and good tennis. After almost 3 hours of continuous play using 6 courts,
Tennis Trip to Royal Bangkok Sports Club
the teams showered and changed and reconvened for drinks, dinner and karaoke. It was a wonderful party with delicious Thai food, beer, wine, and music, and everyone had a great time. At the party there was an exchange of gifts, and the YCAC ladies served a selection of Japanese sweets to the RBSC players. Phil Armstrong extended an invitation to the RBSC Tennis chairman to bring a team to YCAC and this was accepted with enthusiasm, so we hope to host a visiting RBSC team at YCAC next year. Many thanks to Ippei-san and Mariko-san for their hard work organizing a very successful trip, where apart from the tennis, everyone got to sample some of the sights and flavors of Bangkok. Next time we hope to extend the tour to include the British Club, who also seem keen to host visiting teams, and make a trip to Thailand a regular fixture on the YCAC tennis calendar. Above: YC&AC’s Ippei Iwasaki (left) and Phil Armstrong (third left) exchange gifts and pennants with players from the Royal Bangkok Sports Club tennis team. Left: The YC&AC tennis team at the entrance to RBSC.
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in their own words
YOKOHAMA COUNTRY & ATHLETIC CLUB
Dulce- Zumba Instructor Interview: YC&AC
What is your zumba and fitness Background? I am a Zumba Instructor Network member, I took my Zumba levels 1 & 2 and have been a Zumba instructor professionally since 2013. What made you interested in Zumba/ fitness? I became interested in Zumba mainly because of the music. Classes feel more like a dance party than a workout! Zumba emphasizes moving to the music and having a good time - while getting a good cardio workout and getting a fitter body! Why should people do Zumba? Zumba dance moves are targeted towards a high calorie burn. In a Zumba class, you’ll hear great rhythms of Latin music; mixed with hip-hop and r&b grooves. The music really pumps you up! Many people when they hear good music generally start to dance without even realizing it, and there are no mistakes or wrong moves! I feel this is one of the best methods for relieving stress. What to expect in your class? This is a fun class that involves mainly dancing/ grooving and a good workout. It’s a great stress reliever that clears you up mentally and physically makes you feel great!
Above: The energy at Dulce’s zumba class is infectious! Left: Dulce is originally from the Philippines. Below: Zumba is an excellent workout which is great for all ages.
Zumba with Dulce Dance Studio Monday 11:30am FREE For more information please contact: y.tomiogi@ycac.jp
English: 045-681-3359 Japanese: 045-664-4618
health with captain chris YOKOHAMA COUNTRY & ATHLETIC CLUB
BODY TALK: THE BODY HURTS PART ONE: THE INFLAMMATORY CYCLE
Let’s talk about what happens after you get injured. Whether it be an ankle sprain; jamming your finger; tearing your ACL; or even stubbing your toe, your body reacts the same way in varying degrees relevant to the severity of the injury. When there is trauma, there is direct damage to cells in the immediate area of injury, causing bleeding (internal mainly) and a series of further events to promote injury healing. How well you deal with the injury during the different phases of recovery determines the success of healing. Let’s take a look at those phases below: Phase 1: Inflammatory Response
Healing of acute (new) injuries begins with an immediate increase in blood flow to the injured area. This is to transport cells to the area to initiate healing and lay down collagen, while also removing damaged cells. The increased blood flow causes swelling in the area, which acts like a splint to immobilize the area. This phase starts immediately after injury and lasts 3-5 days. There will be pain, warmth, swelling, tenderness, and a limitation in joint or muscle range of motion during this time. The focus for treatment should be to: Decrease pain and swelling (antiinflammatory medication/icing), maintain mobility and strength in other areas while resting the injured area. Passive movements that do not cause pain, nor extend the gap between torn tissues (in the case of strains/ sprains) can be helpful. Phase 2: Repair and Regeneration
New collagen fibers lay down in a disorganized manner and form a scar, creating a weak link between the torn fibers. This phase lasts from 2 days to 8 weeks. Overly aggressive activities can disrupt this new tissue, creating a loop in the healing cycle that could lead to chronic inflammation/pain/injury. Signs and Symptoms to look for during this stage: less warmth and swelling; tenderness decreases; pain felt with lifting, exercising or stretching. During this stage, the treatment focus should involve: Range of motion exercises, joint & scar mobilization, light loads (exercise with weight/resistance) to promote tissue remodeling in line with the stress lines it would experience normally. At this point, your collagen is essentially sitting like a glob of glue at the APRIL
injury site and will need to be re-aligned along stress lines. Phase 3: Remodeling and Maturation
As healing progresses, the tissue continues to remodel, strengthen and improve its cellular organization & bonds between them. Applying tension becomes important because new collagen must be remodeled so it can orient along the lines of stress to best accommodate the loads required for function. This remodeling may take months to years for completion, although you could be cleared to return to activity well before then. To sum this all up, when you are young and injuryfree, your connective tissues are more elastic and oriented along the lines in which they should move. As injuries and age catch up, tissues are less elastic and injured tissues may not had remodeled efficiently (especially if you did not properly rehabilitate) so you are more prone to injury and re-injury and you will not be able to exert as much force (strength/power) prior to the injury. Injuries can happen to all of us, so if we do not take care, the effects can stay with us for years and years (or a few weeks if properly cared for). Take care and seek appropriate care/advice when needed. Chris Kelly- YC&AC Assistant Sports Manager B.A. Hons. Sp. Kinesiology & Health Science Grad. Sport Therapy Certificate Program (York Uni.) c.kelly@ycac.jp
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review
YOKOHAMA COUNTRY & ATHLETIC CLUB
Japan Night Delights Words: YC&AC
For many years at YC&AC a grand event was held to celebrate everything we know and love about living in Japan. It became known as Japan Night, and on Saturday the 24th of February after a long hiatus, the fabulous tradition of Japan Night at YC&AC was brought back and in spectacular fashion. With over 130 people attending, the atmosphere was electric as everyone filed into the gym dressed to the nines and saw the stunning pink crane carved from ice and heard the music being played on a koto in the background. A succession of colourful and lively performances began including Shishimai (lion dance), Ohayashi (Japanese festival music), a samurai performance and many more. General Manager Erol’s estimation of six large bottles of sake being sufficient for the night proved not quite right as they were gone inside 30 minutes! Luckily Yusuke was on hand to save the day and more sake was delivered shortly after for all to enjoy with Chef Sugiyama’s exquisite Japanese menu. Chef Sugiyama also deserves extra credit for his solo nigiri sushi station that was so popular that it was nearly the end of him! The night ended on a superb high with Team Kisakuren performing an Awaodori style dance which led to young and old converging near the stage to join in the dancing. All in all the return of Japan Night was an absolute triumph. What a way to celebrate everything we love about Japan!
Clockwise from top: Team Kisakuren performers in front of the magnificent crane ice sculpture. Fujimaryu Japanese traditonal dance. Shishimai (lion dance). Chef Sugiyama’s wildly popular nigiri sushi. Tam Kisakuren with a rousing performance. Opposite page (left): Chef Sugiyama in action. Opposite page (right): The gym decoration and Japanese buffet looked spectacular.
One Night in Istanbul Words: No. 17
More than 100 diners enjoyed another brilliant night at YC&AC on Saturday March 17, gorging on authentic Turkish food, sinking raki like the natives, and feasting our eyes on the belly dancers and other Mediterranean entertainments. By the time tanoura performer Said Abdelhady appeared our heads were already spinning. Hard-supping Table 8 timed Spinning Said’s first whirl at 16 minutes uninterrupted, while his second — partly achieved while Right: The finale of Turkish night drew members out of their seats and into the action to join the five performers. APRIL
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circumnavigating the tables — may have been even longer. Truly an awe-inspiring sight. Congratulations and thanks to all on the team for pulling off yet another hugely successful event, in particular to Chef Umit, whose shawarma kebabs may just be the best in town, and Chef Emi, whose sweets were once again to die for.
Clockwise from top left: Belly Dancer Nabila. Said Abdelhady, master of Tanoura- a turning dance performed in many Islamic countries alongside lively folk music. Umit’s Turkish menu had the guests raving. If you see Umit near a kebab machine, don’t think just go- legendary. Belly Dancer Kana. Belly Dancer Tsuru.
april schedule
YOKOHAMA COUNTRY & ATHLETIC CLUB ALLEY BOWLING- BOWLING ALLEY Mon/Wed/Thurs 8:00pm- Spring Bowling League (03/26 - 05/28) Sat 1:00pm- Youth Bowling League- Please enquire at the Alley
LAWN BOWLS- BOWLING GREEN FREE Sunday League Start Starts May 15th- Sign-up and Practice Now! RUGBY- MAIN FIELD FREE NEW Sat 10:00am- YC&AC Kids Rugby (7-12yrs.)-until April 21
BALLET- WITH EMMA IN THE STUDIO Mon/Thurs 3:30pm- Kids Ballet (3-4yrs.)- ¥750/lesson Mon/Thurs 4:20pm- Kids Ballet (5-6yrs.)- ¥750/lesson Thurs 5:15pm- Kids Ballet (Advanced)- ¥750/lesson Fri 12:00pm- Adult Ballet Basics & Stretch- ¥1200/lesson Sun 1:00pm- Adult Ballet- ¥1200/lesson
SOCCER- MAIN FIELD FREE Sun 9:00am- YC&AC Kids Soccer (5-12yrs.) Sun 10:15am- YC&AC Youth Soccer (13-17yrs.) Sat 6:00pm- YC&AC Over 40’s Soccer League
BASKETBALL- GYM FREE Mon 6:30pm- YC&AC Youth Basketball (13-16yrs.) Thurs 7:30pm- YC&AC Recreational Basketball (Teens & Adults) Sun 10:30am- YC&AC Kids Basketball (7-12yrs.)
SQUASH- SQUASH COURTS FREE Thurs from 6:30pm- YC&AC Squash Club Night Sat from 4:00pm- Squash Saturday, All Welcome Sun from 4:00pm- Squash Sunday, All Welcome
BASEBALL- MAIN FIELD FREE Sat 10:00am- Teens - Adults
TABLE TENNIS- GYM FREE Sun 3:30pm- Table Tennis, All Welcome
BILLIARDS- BILLIARDS ROOM FREE Weds 8:00pm- Pool & Snooker Night Sun 2:00pm- Snooker Sundays
TENNIS- TENNIS COURTS Tennis Academy- Please visit www.ycac.jp for times and info Weds 10:00am- YC&AC Ladies Tennis- FREE Sat 9:30am- Pee-wee Tennis with Coach Fong (3-4yrs.)¥2000/month Sat 10:15am- Tykes Tennis with Coach Fong (5-6yrs.)¥3200/month Sat 11:00am- Kids Tennis - Beginners with Coach Fong¥4800/month Sat 11:00am- Kids Tennis - Intermediate with Coach Milos¥4800/month Sun 10:00am- Sunday Social Tennis (12yrs. and older)- FREE
CARDS Friday 10:30am or 1pm- Bridge, All Welcome- (Card Room) FREE Second Friday of the Month- Tarot, All Welcome- ¥1300 CHESS- MOLLISON’S FREE Sun 2:00pm- Chess, All Welcome CRICKET- FIELD FREE Sat. 9am- Youth Cricket (12-15 yrs) Sun. 1:30pm- YC&AC Cricket (Enquire About Schedule)
VOLLEYBALL- GYM FREE Mon 7:30pm- YC&AC Volleyball
DANCE- STUDIO Sun 11:30am- Latin Dance with Billy- ¥6000/month Varies- Country Line Dancing- Please Enquire with Chris
YOGA- STUDIO FREE Mon 10:00am- Hatha Yoga with Pascale Tues 5:00pm- Yoga Basics with Ingrid Tues 6:15pm- Yoga Vinyasa Flow with Ingrid (Advanced) Fri 4:00pm- Hatha Yoga Basics with Ingrid- (Bay View Room) Sat 11:00am- Hatha Yoga with Aki- (Bay View Room)
DARTS- MEMBERS BAR FREE Fri 7:30pm- Friendly Darts Session, All Welcome FITNESS Tues 10:00am- Circuit Class with Tim- (Fitness Centre) FREE Thurs 7:45pm- Body Blast with Chris- (Studio) FREE Fri 10:00am- Circuit Class with Chris- (Fitness Centre) FREE Fri 2:00pm- Healthy Exercise with Yu Saiki- (Studio) ¥4300/month Sun 9:00am- Get Moving! with Mari Fujita- (Studio) FREE
ZUMBA- STUDIO FREE Mon 11:30am- Zumba with Dulce- (Studio)
Keep Fit, Keep Informed Most of the sports and activites listed here have member captains or organizers who maintain a mailing list enabling immediate and regular communication to interested members. If you would like to take part in any of the above activities, please contact Sports Manager Yusuke Tomiogi and he will forward your contact details to the relevant captain or organizer where appropriate. Please also read the Club’s weekly “This Week in Sports” email, which is sent to all members, for news of what’s happening at the Club. y.tomiogi@ycac.jp 045-623-8121 ext. 600
GYMNASTICS- STUDIO FREE Wed 4:30pm- Tiny Tots Gymnastics (2-4 yrs.-studio) Fri 5:00pm- Gymnastics (Gym) FIELD HOCKEY- MAIN FIELD FREE Sat 12:00pm- Field Hockey, All Welcome (end April 21) IKEBANA- BAY VIEW ROOM Tues 10:00am- Ikebana ¥1000/lesson JAPANESE- CARD ROOM WITH KURISAKA-SENSEI FREE Thurs 8:45am- Japanese Class (Beginner) Thurs 10:20am- Japanese Class (Intermediate) Thurs 11:30am- Japanese Class (Advanced) NEW Thurs 1:30pm- Japanese Class (Advanced II) *¥1000 yen annual fee MASSAGE- ANNEX ROOM Sunday- Available All Day Until 5pm- Please Enquire with Concierge
APRIL
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