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A series in which SGI members discuss their approach to their profession

Coaches: Teaching the Undefeatable Spirit

Manola Fiorini was born in Florence, Italy, in 1959 and started fencing in 1968. She teaches fencing with foil, épée and saber. Manola won the Italian national championship in 2006, and represented Italy at the European veterans championship at St. Gallen, Switzerland, in 2007.

Takeo Hasegawa, 47, teaches the Japanese art of kendo to schoolchildren in Chiba, Japan. He has been coaching kendo for 24 years at a junior high school where he also teaches social sciences, and has led his team to victory in several tournaments at prefectural and regional levels.

How do you measure success as a coach?

photo Manola Fiorini

Manola: I have taught children in schools for a long time. Children are wonderful because they always approach fencing with a lot of confidence. Fencing brings out their desire to develop strategies and win. I measure success as a coach according to whether or not they are having fun. Winning or losing doesn't really matter. The most important thing is to always encourage people.

Takeo: I would consider myself a successful coach if I could convey to children, through the discipline of learning kendo, the value of winning over oneself, being consistently sincere, striving to the end and being considerate. I also hope I can help the children develop the strength to not be defeated by circumstances, no matter what.

What have you learned from the athletes you coach?

photo Takeo Hasegawa

Manola: Every time a child comes up on stage to have lessons with me, I think of how many sacrifices his family made for him to come to the gym: the money, the time--usually the parents have given up something in order for him to come. Also the child himself--he usually comes out of school tired, but he wants to come to the gym, and he deserves as much attention as possible. In our gym there are also many adults, some of whom are in their 30s and 40s, and it is the same for them. So, from athletes, I have learned never to undervalue the effort they are putting in. Athletes urge you to get better and better. Teachers without students have no reason to exist, and students without a teacher are not sure which is the right direction; students and teacher are inseparable, just as Buddhism says.

Takeo: Students are the mirror of teachers. Without personal development, teachers cannot influence the students. I want to do everything I can to help my students as long as they are exerting themselves. When they continue to strive, there comes a moment when they suddenly become stronger or faster. It is really thrilling to witness that moment; as a teacher, you can see the moment when children change. I used to think that winning was most important, but now I am encouraged by seeing children change.

How does your perspective as a Buddhist influence your approach to your work?

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[©Grant Faint/Getty Images]

Manola: Buddhism is common sense. Work is an aspect of life which requires much time and energy, so you need to face the day with a high life state. My main aim as a teacher is to encourage and give confidence to athletes, whether they are young or old. I try to put into practice the teachings of SGI President Ikeda. In his guidance, Mr. Ikeda encourages us with his huge heart; to make each person feel their uniqueness and importance.

I would like every athlete to develop their capabilities. Whether or not I succeed is another question.

Takeo: What I feel keenly in the course of coaching is that every athlete is different and has his or her own strength. Buddhism teaches that cherry, plum, peach and damson blossoms each have their own qualities, and what matters most is for each individual to blossom in his or her own unique way.

Students have different good qualities, shortcomings and personalities, and they clash with one another at times. But they each have their own beauty. From that standpoint, you can broaden your horizons as a coach and come up with a variety of ways to inspire. Now I can see all this as a great opportunity to challenge myself. This is what I have come to live for.

Does your work as a coach extend beyond the practicalities of teaching your discipline, into areas of everyday life?

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[©Michael Kelley/Getty Images]

Manola: Fencing is a very special kind of sport--it is very formal. We jump onto the stage before and after a contest, we salute the public and the jury and, most importantly, our opponent. And once we've set the masks on our faces, we have to try to fight as earnestly as possible, while also respecting the strict rules. I can say that fencing has taught me to appreciate sincerity and honesty toward others, in fencing as in life. So fencing and being dependable go hand in hand.

Takeo: Kendo begins and ends with courtesy. Without manners, it can be reduced to violence since it involves vigorous physical contact. That is why utmost respect is shown to the opponent. Ultimately, it boils down to the fact that you can only practice and polish your skills because you have an opponent. After a match, you find you naturally appreciate your opponent. It is considered disrespectful to express pleasure at your own success in front of your opponent, who has sincerely fought a match with you.

Therefore, I try to set a good example to help the students cultivate pleasant and courteous manners such as greetings and demeanor.

Another thing I try to instill in them is to not be defeated by oneself. Kendo is a serious win-or-lose competition. But I strongly emphasize that the most formidable opponent is oneself. It is crucially important to strengthen the mind and discipline the spirit through the way of the sword, and realize that the true enemy is not your opponent, but yourself.

When you were young, did you have a coach who made a particular impact on you, and what lessons do you remember most vividly today?

Manola: I have had a teacher called Alfonso Gentile since I was a child. He is very important to me and is still my trainer. In fact, he's an army officer--he's physically imposing, tall, and he has a lovely strong voice. He was very strict in training us as young athletes of all ages. When I train with him, even though I am now 50 years old, he yells at me, but I know that behind his severity is a big heart, which actually propels me to become even better. I have seen that if I put into practice his teachings, I will always win because, through his expertise, he always manages to see beyond the obvious. If you want to win, you must listen to your mentor and rely completely on him with confidence as he is the master. I find the same concept in Buddhism, it's the same thing.

Takeo: I was blessed with incredible coaches at Soka Junior High School, Soka High School and Soka University. What the three coaches had in common was that they were extremely good at kendo themselves; they were strict with themselves, setting a good example for the students. Their warmth could be felt from behind their strictness. Encountering teachers who were willing to recognize my hard work showed me the great value of encouragement, and it still continues to benefit me. In order to repay them for what they taught me, I am determined to continue practicing kendo with utmost sincerity.

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