Episode 86: How to Spend an Off-Day
June 9, 2026
Saturday, May 30th. New Japan Pro-Wrestling was holding an event in Takaoka, Toyama. The ongoing "BEST OF THE SUPER Jr." tournament is currently in its mid-stage.
What are the wrestlers feeling right now? Speaking from experience, right before a series kicks off, it’s usually: "Wait, what?! Is the tour already starting?" Then, during the mid-stage, it becomes: "Yes! We're halfway through!"
Once we enter the final stretch, the long bus rides combined with consecutive matches make the interior of the bus incredibly quiet. Fatigue accumulates in everyone (well, Tanahashi was always the exception).
However, as you hit that final stretch, there are times when your body fully adapts and your condition actually shoots up. It’s a strange phenomenon—what we call "Wrestler's High."
When you look into the mechanism behind this Wrestler's High, one major factor that comes to mind is 【1. The massive secretion of brain chemicals (endorphins)】.
The official name is 【ß-endorphin】, and it is said to have a pain-killing effect several times stronger than morphine. When the brain senses, "If we keep going like this, we're in danger," it blocks out the pain and secretes this chemical in droves to keep the body moving. This creates a state where you think, "I'm totally exhausted, but for some reason, I can keep moving and it actually feels great!"
This state usually kicks in during the climax at the end of a match—what we might call 【the other side of your limits】. In my case, I feel like I was constantly in this state during the latter half of singles title matches.
It’s that ultimate state of concentration referred to in sports psychology as the "Zone" or "Flow."
When you have matches day after day, your physical fatigue would normally put a brake on your body. But the moment the bell rings, a switch flips. Once you hit that point, you are unstoppable. The sensors that detect fatigue become completely paralyzed, allowing for performances that shatter your limitations.
However, just because your sensors are paralyzed doesn't mean the damage isn't there. The next morning, the impact from bumps and strikes absolutely leaves its mark. Looking back now, that very damage and fatigue were actually the keys to breaking through those limits.
And there is one more vital key required to push a wrestler into that "High" state... and that is... your cheers and support.
Give it a try and cheer for them. It might just make the match duration incredibly long, though!
How exactly do you enter this ultimate state of concentration known as the "Zone" or "Flow" in sports psychology?
Ultimately, it happens in the final stretch of a tournament. You lose the ability to overthink anything, and your brain focuses entirely on just one thing: wrestling the opponent right in front of you.
As a result, your opponent's movements might appear to be in slow motion (never experienced that one myself), or you intuitively flash onto the next move you need to execute (definitely experienced that).
During my active days, I experienced this "Wrestler's High" many times. You seriously feel like you can keep moving forever.
Ah, and all of that was truly thanks to the fans. Thank you so much.
In this way, the fans hold one of the keys to letting the wrestlers break through their limits. Please keep unlocking the doors to their hidden potential with your cheers from here on out!