We’ve all participated in sports activities. Some sports might not be as demeaning as others; however, they all consist of dedication, persistence, and teamwork.
Watching synchronized walking from a Western perspective might seem odd, but the teamwork and precision almost look like an illusion. So yes, it’s strange AND impressive!
Shuudan Koudou is both a sport and a performance, invented approximately 50 years ago at Tokyo's Nippon Sports Science Japanese University. They took synchronized walking to its core.
“Shuudan Koudou,” means “collective action” or “group movement.” However, it's more precisely described as “synchronized walking.”
Students that participate in the annual Shuudan Koudou attend training sessions which include exercises to get them in shape. The sport was only open to men at first, but it became finally open to women in 2011.
“People say Japanese youngsters these days lack the ability to work collectively in a group, but we just proved that we don’t,” said Keiko Suzuki, a former team captain. “We all mastered this highly disciplined training and made it our habit to stick to strict rules. I believe this experience will be an asset as we enter into the job market.”
Thanks to Takeshi Yoshikawa for this fantastic video:
COMMENTS