Jake Shannon: Scientificwrestling.com the BUSHIDO Training Ethic

In the States, fighters with the greatest results move up the ladder the quickest. In Japan, the fighters who have been with the organization the longest have seniority.
2) The UWFI followed the “old school” methods of training. Spiritual training and building up mental/psychological strength and endurance took precedence.
3) Training began with the basics, learning respect and making people appreciate the status they earned with humility. Washing clothes, cooking, cleaning the dojo and other chores are how the new comers were introduced to their world.
Basically “green boys” (new comers) were “step and fetch its” for the high ranked members of the organization who gave them the chance to enter their world and help train and develop them into what they eventually hoped to become.
4) Tough and “old fashioned” training methods, which have been passed down for generations, was the rule. The actual lifestyle was a lot tougher. One had to pass a physical test in order to be let in. Those who could swing it got in, those who could not were shown the door. Everyone accepted could basically push themselves to handle the physical aspect.
Most quit for emotional reasons. Putting up with the “mental training” was too tough for many.
5) Being “old school” means that “more is better”. Athletes from other cultures have found this to be unscientific and many times detrimental. For example in the West it is usually considered wise to cancel a match due to injury in order to prevent something which may be potentially career-ending. In Japan, those who participate despite injury are considered to be true “Bushi” or warriors.
If one could not mentally and emotionally handle it, they dropped out or were pushed out.
Here is an account from Gene Lydick who actually lived and trained in Japan with the UWFI:
“I remember the first night that I flew in to Tokyo. Takayama picked me up and took me to the house that I was going to stay in with 7 wrestlers and 1 kick boxing coach. For people in the US to put 8 people in a 3 bedroom apartment in Japan is like stuffing 26 people in a VW Bug. NOT COMFORTABLE!!!
I shared a room with the Thai boxing coach and another wrestler Takayama, the largest wrestler in the company. It was like being at a junior high summer camp, no room and living out of a duffle bag, one whole bathroom in the place.