Gymnastics, Architecture, and UMich Anonymous

“Hiza magatende!”

Translated into English, this phrase is, “your knees are bent!” These words were what I listened to on a daily basis while I was training gymnastics in Japan. Because I heard these words every day, I realized the values of gymnastics in Japan and America are vastly different. Japanese gymnastics revolves around discipline and aesthetics while American gymnastics revolves around enjoyment and execution of difficult skills. In Japan, I would have to perfect a certain skill, while in the United States I could move on to a harder progression even though the previous skill wasn’t perfect. These differences in values opened my eyes to perceive gymnastics differently as I began to value small details that would go the extra mile to create aesthetic gymnastics. My gymnastics, like me, has become a combination of two cultures.

As I pursue my gymnastics career to be a Division 1 NCAA male gymnast, I also plan to pursue a quality education. I grew up with gymnastics, which emphasizes the same characteristics that architecture demands: aesthetics and innovation. Training in Japan has opened my eyes to value minute details that are crucial to the success of a gymnast and of an architect. Thus, gymnastics goes hand in hand...