BOSTON STRONG: TATEKI MATSUDA
Manifest destiny
“The experience I am having right now in the U.S. is very much going to be my treasure.” — Tateki Matsuda
Tateki Matsuda (12–7) — a professional mixed martial artist from Tokyo, Japan — is living the dream he never fully realized.
After moving to the U.S.A. for his academics — earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Salem State University in 2009 and a Master of Science degree from Northeastern University in 2013 — Matsuda displayed an unprecedented athleticism which quickly translated into a full-time career as a professional mixed martial artist.
With a slight grasp on the English language and few friends to lean on, Matsuda turned to Sityodtong in Somerville, Massachusetts to discover all vacancies in his life. Under the tutelage of legendary Muay Thai Kru Mark DellaGrotte, Matsuda lost his amateur debut in October 2007 before turning professional and recording consecutive victories in his first two professional fights — a first-round KO over Wayne Clark in July 2008 and a Unanimous Decision over three-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Cup winner Alvaro Bobadilla in March 2009.
After suffering his first professional loss — a Disqualification as the result of an illegal elbow against future Cage Titans and Cage FX Champion Bill Jones in June 2009 — Matsuda won six of his next eight matches. During that run, Matusa became the first Japanese fighter welcomed onto the cast of The Ultimate Fighter television series, laying the groundwork for his future career with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
After beginning his amateur career with Full Force Productions, Matsuda has now fought for twelve different organizations:
- Reality Fighting
- Watch Out Combat Show (WOCS)
- Global Fight League (GFL)
- Xtreme Championship Fight League (XCFL)
- Classic Entertainment and Sports (CES)
- Cage Titans FC
- Bellator MMA
- Gladiator
- Victory Combat Sports
- New England Fights (NEF)
- Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
- Legacy Fighting Championship
Scheduled to make his Pancrase debut at the Differ Ariake Arena in his native Tokyo, Japan on September 11th, 2016 against Tatsuya So (14–15–4), Matsuda plans on adding to his current two-fight win streak en route to his return to the UFC.
Ahead of training camp for his Pancrase bout, Matsuda took the time to speak about confidence, the future and visiting the grave of Andy Hug.
TATEKI MATSUDA
- Born in Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Thirty years old
- Bachelor of Science — Sports Movement Science (Salem State University)
- Master of Science — Applied Nutrition / Fitness (Northeastern University)
SELECTED ACCOLADES
- 12–7 professional mixed martial artist (Flyweight)
- Cage Titans FC Bantamweight Champion (April 2011)
- First Japanese competitor — The Ultimate Fighter: Season 14 (June 2011)
- NEF Bantamweight Championship contender (November 2013)
ON ANDY HUG
I took my boxing coach Eddie Alvarez to Japan. I needed to update my Visa status for the U.S., so I had to go back to Japan — I took him to Japan last year. He stayed at my house and I showed him around Tokyo. I took him to Kyoto, which is the old capital of Japan.
In Kyoto, there’s tons of traditional stuff. For examples: geishas, samurai’s — the things foreigners imagine about Japan. So I asked Eddie, “What do you want to do in Japan? What do you want to do in Kyoto?” Somehow he knows there is the Andy Hug cemetery in Kyoto. Andy Hug used to be the Heavyweight K-1 contender, and I think that he used to be the most well-known foreign K-1 fighter in Japan. He was called “Blue-Eyed Samurai”.
He came to Japan as a Kyokushin karate guy — he stayed in Japan for his karate career. And back in the 1990’s, the K-1 started. K-1’s concept was: “How strong is the karate guy if they put boxing gloves?” That was the concept. So it looks like kickboxing match, but it’s all about who’s the best guy on the feet; could be a kick-boxer, Tae Kwon Do guy, karate guy — anyone can be the champ from the K-1 rule.
Then Andy Hug — he’s the best, you know?
I remember when I was a kid, he beat all strong guys. He died of leukemia — but I didn’t know Andy Hug’s cemetery was in Kyoto. So I did research and Google — everything in Japanese and I found the place where the cemetery is.
I told Eddie, “Let’s visit Andy Hug’s cemetery in Kyoto.”
Day one, we tried to make it there. But the monk taking care of the cemetery: he said, “This is not for public.” And also the place is in a very complicated area. We knew where it was on the map, but we kind of got lost. Then finally we found the place and we visited, but the monk said no. After that, Eddie was so disappointed. I was like: I’ve got to do something for this guy.
Also I was very interested in the Andy Hug cemetery.
That night, I called the temple. I told the monk, “Please let us in, because we are visiting from U.S. I am a professional fighter in Boston and my boxing coach is a huge fan of Andy Hug. So please let us in.” And he said, “OK, for that reason. Just for only you guys.” And I was like, “Thank you so much!”
Next day, we visited there. When we walked in the cemetery the monk says, “This is his grave.” So we pray, bow, show him respect. And right after that — it was very shiny weather. And then suddenly, we have snowflake. It was very spiritual moment. There was an empty Starbucks cup on the Andy Hug grave. The monk told us actually Peter Aerts had came a couple days before; Eddie and I said, “This must be from him!”
We walk away from the cemetery, and suddenly we felt a strong wind on our back.
Very, very strong wind. And Eddie is talking, like Andy is saying goodbye to us. And then after that, we stop by the small eatery place for coffee. We were having tea and coffee and saying, “That was a very spiritual moment!” After we walk in that place, maybe five or ten minutes later, the shine goes away. All the cloudy weather comes and the snowflakes becomes like — not like strong like Boston — but I and Eddie were like, “Wow!”
Because what happened: the day before, we were kind of lazy. We wanted to visit Andy Hug’s cemetery, but we took a cab there — show them the address. “Where is it? Where is it?” We were not straight for visiting; we didn’t show the real respect for him. But that night, I physically made a phone call — I was even bowing over the phone — “Please! Please!” Then the next day, we scheduled everything, planned everything; well-prepared.
We visited there, and he just welcomed us. And we had such a spiritual moment.
But for Eddie: he said, “He might recognize you as a samurai.” And I said, “What do you mean?” Eddie said, “You fight, compete as a professional overseas like he was doing. So be confident, just like him. Andy Hug is always with us.” And I was like, “Yeah…” I don’t think I’m that level compared to what Andy Hug has done in the K-1 history, but…
That moment, Andy Hug becomes true hero in my heart. That was a very spiritual experience in Kyoto.
After that, there is a Path of Philosophy — that is the name of the road in Kyoto. So I and Eddie were just quiet; we took a walk almost without saying anything. After we finished the walking on the road and I talk to Eddie like, “What was in your mind?” — he said, “What was in your mind?” I said, “The experience with Andy Hug.”
He said, “Me, too.”
ON MARTIAL ARTS BEGINNINGS
I used to play baseball for my life, when I was a kid. Then after the end of the baseball season of my senior year in high school, I started preparation for studying abroad, such as studying English and stuff. I used to play baseball for all day; I lived in the dorms.
So my field was completely changed from baseball grind to the library and studying English all day. I was so bored. I needed the grade note in English to submit. So I asked my teacher and he said, “OK, we’re going to get you the grade note in English.” And he said, “Oh, by the way: the other kid in a different class was asking the same thing.” And I said, “Oh, really? What’s his name? Let me see him.”
I visited his classroom and, “Are you going to the U.S.?” And, “Yeah, yeah.” He was doing karate in the school classroom. That was my first day to experience the martial arts. Since then, I train with him — that was like for six months before I took off to the U.S.
I had an amateur fight and did well; that kind of motivated me to continue. After I came to the U.S., I met Kru Mark DellaGrotte. And I didn’t really hang out with the college kids, I didn’t really go and party. Pretty much I grew up in the basement of Somerville — Sityodtong. I couldn’t speak English well, so I’d just be quiet and hit the bag; jump roping. Watch the Food Network — learn the English from Rachel Ray; she’s cooking.
That’s how I learned how to cook, English.
That was pretty much my college life. And I was training with UFC fighters: Kenny Florian, Patrick Côté, Stephan Bonnar, Marcus Davis. They’re pretty big, you know? I was a poor, small Japanese kid. I was like a sandbag for them.
But those days much bettered me.
ON CAREER
The experience I am having right now in the U.S. is very much going to be my treasure, you know? I might have a good job with my education and the ability of speaking English, but I knew I was going to regret. So I tried to stay in the U.S. Fortunately, I made my way to stay in the U.S. as a professional athlete. So finally I got an athlete Visa and I was picked as the first Japanese The Ultimate Fighter — Season 14.
As I build my career and exposed to the media — like from TUF and stuff — sometimes I had a hard time to find a fight; up and down going on. I’m not the type of fighter to keep winning, build my career well, good management and then made it to the UFC. I’m not that type of fighter. I was in the middle of the politics; different coaches.
My jiu-jitsu coach has been changing I would say four or five times, you know? Because I didn’t go anywhere, and Sityodtong was originally a Muay Thai school; we didn’t have the solid BJJ professor. But I’ve been doing BJJ and no-gi grappling since Day One at Sityodtong.
After I made a pro debut in the U.S. and I couldn’t find my opponent from local, so my second fight was in Brazil. I got a Blue Belt in Brazil and after I came back, a different professor… “No, affiliation has changed…” Different guy to different guy. And now my management has changed: Tyson Charter taking care of me very well.
Now I finally got full fight team. Not only my Master Kru Mark DellaGrotte but Eddie Alvarez: my boxing coach; he’s always with me. Last two years I’d say are more important and more solid to me compared to other eight years of my professional career.
I can’t wait to see myself and what’s coming up this year, next year. I just do my best for the moment.
ON CONFIDENCE / LEGACY FC 51
It wasn’t just a state of how I felt — as a fighter, I recognized how I’m supposed to feel the confidence. I truly understand what the confidence means to me. That was my impression from my last fight.
I don’t want to compare — like I was confident more in that fight than in the past — no, no, no. Not like that. Yes, I was confident — every fight, I feel confident and ready to go. But the last fight: my mental preparation, the way I feel the confidence… In the past, confidence was not supported by something strong. But my last fight was a true confidence.
From the lesson: my preparation for the next fight is different from the ways I used to do in the past.
ON STUDYING MARTIAL ARTS
Japan is a huge country of the martial arts history. Back then — right after I had an opportunity to do the martial arts — the K-1 was huge; that was like UFC right now. I actually wanted to be a K-1 fighter, not MMA — even though there was the PRIDE in Japan.
When I was playing baseball, I was not a regular member — I was on the bench. My high school was really strong team. It’s not supposed to be like this, but sometimes I was thinking, “If that guy gets injured, I can play.” In the baseball, you’re supposed to learn teamwork. But I was so selfish when I was a high school kid.
After the baseball season and I started martial arts, I was so young and stupid — I just did the paperwork and jumped in an amateur fight. My friends came to my fight and they said, “I’m so motivated by you! You have such a good fight!” My dream came true like this!
I was a regular member, which I couldn’t make it during the baseball. And now, I have people and fans to see my performance — that moment, I was like… wow. I used to think martial arts — boxing, kickboxing, whatever — is an individual sport. But actually it’s not.
If you have a fight and you don’t have anyone who’s supporting you, good luck on your training.
So that was a huge experience, and obviously those fighters fighting in the K-1 or UFC: they have tons of spotlight and that made me think, “I wish I could be there.” That was the changing when I was seventeen-eighteen.
ON GOALS
Obviously as a professional, I’m going to get back to the UFC and then make my career. The one big lesson from the past is: I want to be a UFC fighter — period. So what happened was — that was it. I became a UFC fighter and I didn’t stay there.
But now, I believe in myself.
So after I get back there, I’m going to defeat all my division and just go up to the top; that’s all I think about. As a professional fighter, it’s just: live in the moment, represent the team… Even I’m from Tokyo, Japan — I’ve been fighting out of Boston.
I’m still speaking “Engrish”; my “Engrish” is not wicked good, yet. But I’ve been dedicating myself for this city, and I love this city.
One day, with other people or anyone — local guys, MMA or even just fans or regular people — I want to help them say, “Oh, that Japanese kid is my favorite!” That’s my long-term goal as I keep fighting out of Boston.
And my ultimate goal is I want to share what I’ve learned from professional experience as MMA fighter and my academic knowledge from the school with Japanese athletes and people in the future. So I don’t know what’s going to happen to me in the next ten years — I may go back to Japan or stay in the U.S. — it all depends on my career.
But eventually, I want to make the big contribution to the Japanese sports society and in the field — especially in 2020, we have the Tokyo Olympics.
Somehow I want to make a contribution to my country.
Written By: Matteo Urella / September 2016
Original Photography By: Nick Cosky
- Special appreciation for Kru Mark DellaGrotte, Sityodtong USA and the entire Sityodtong USA team
- Special appreciation for Nick Cosky and his brilliant photography
