All-Japan Breaking Championships 2024: Issin stuns Shigekix on way to first national title
Teenager Issin knocked out the three-time reigning champion in the men's semi-finals en route to victory. Ayumi captured the women's crown for the third successive year.
Throughout his career, Issin has had to play second fiddle to Shigekix who has dominated Japanese men's breaking.
Not anymore.
Issin dethroned the three-time champion in the All-Japan Breaking Championships semi-finals on the way to his maiden national title on Sunday (18 February).
“Ever since I took up dancing, Shige has been a legend, a massive star on YouTube and what not,” Issin said at Tokyo’s NHK Hall where he defeated his good friend Hiro10 in the final for the last laugh.
“He is someone I always looked up to but as I got more and more into breaking, I started to want to beat the man I idolised. And I can’t begin to say how happy I am now that I’ve actually done it.”
On the women’s side, veteran Ayumi beat Shigekix’s sister Ayane in the final for a third consecutive triumph.
Shigekix able to relax as Issin gears up for Olympic Qualifier Series
Issin, 18, had his first career victory over world number two Shigekix whose Asian Games triumph last year clinched a quota spot* for Japan at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Shigekix had to settle for bronze on the night, but did not appear overly disappointed with the outcome as he sets his sights on Paris.
“He did what he had to do and I did what I had to do,” Shigekix said. “We were both pretty close to our best today. It was that kind of a battle.
“These All-Japans, just one more learning experience for the Paris Olympics in the summer. I was hoping to take something away from this competition regardless of result, and I like to think I have.”
With Shigekix almost certain to go to the French capital, Issin and Hiro10 will seek to obtain second quota berths for Japan at the Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) taking place in May in Shanghai and June in Budapest.
And Issin admitted he could not afford to exhale just yet.
“I’m absolutely thrilled about winning the championship but being completely honest, I feel stressed because OQS is just around the corner,” he said.
“There’s not a whole lot of time. I’ll take it easy for today but I want to get back to practice as soon as possible and work on some new moves.”
Japan is yet to obtain a quota in the women's event in Paris.
They will have three athletes at the OQS: Ayumi, Riko - who placed fourth here - and World Games champion Ami who missed these All-Japans with a shoulder injury.
*As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
Click here to see the official qualification system for each sport.