This time, we spoke with Shinichi Fukukawa, who runs the posture improvement studio "Be-Style" in Moriyama City, Shiga Prefecture and Honmachi, Chuo Ward, Osaka City, and is also the representative director of Globale Ism Inc. Although he is now active as a "professional at adjusting the body," he himself once suffered from physical ailments.
Mr. Fukukawa, who has stoically faced his own body and continued to care for his feet for about 15 years, shared with us the importance of self-conditioning and the appeal of knitido, a partner that supports the feet.
Breaking Free from Three Weekly Acupuncture Sessions: The Life-Changing Idea of "Condition First, Then Move"
In the past, Mr. Fukukawa suffered from serious physical ailments. He particularly noticed pain and stiffness from his neck to his back, and he said he went to acupuncture three times a week.
The turning point came 15 years ago when he encountered the concept of conditioning, which means "conditioning muscles before exercising." Conditioning refers to preparing the body to consistently perform at its best in daily life and athletic competitions. Mr. Fukukawa himself says that his ailments improved after he incorporated conditioning into his routine.
"I realized the importance of resting overused muscles first, rather than just moving recklessly. Conversely, I consciously tried to move muscles that weren't being used. By doing so, my posture improved, and I personally experienced an improvement in my ailments," says Mr. Fukukawa.
As he continued with conditioning based on this realization, he was freed from the ailments that had forced him to go to acupuncture three times a week. He says that being able to adjust his body himself also freed him from the looming anxiety he had faced.
Utilizing his own experience, he tried conditioning lessons with close clients, and he witnessed their posture visibly changing and their long-standing pains and ailments improving. As he interacted with clients who were delighted by the resolution of their issues, he decided that he wanted to convey the importance of posture improvement and conditioning to more people, leading him to open the posture improvement studio "Be-Style" in 2014.
With the motto "Conditioning from Moriyama to the World," he dedicates himself daily to helping those who, like his former self, work hard at exercise but see no results or suffer from ailments.
Focus on sole sensation and ankle position
The reason Mr. Fukukawa continues self-conditioning is that he wants to experience the comfort of stiff muscles loosening up. Self-conditioning is routinely done using rollers and massage balls. He says that the moment his stiff muscles loosen up feels good and relaxes his mind.
He particularly focuses on the arch of his foot and the position of his ankle. For example, when he feels fatigued after prolonged walking, instead of simply feeling "tired," Mr. Fukukawa asks himself, "How is my arch collapsing now? How can I move to alleviate this fatigue?"
"When the arch is properly formed, the toes naturally grip the ground (without floating toes or hammertoes), impacts are absorbed, and weight distribution becomes stable. This results in a body that is less prone to fatigue."
This episode clearly shows how ingrained self-conditioning is for him.
Relieving physical discomfort with knitido's five-toe socks
The reason Mr. Fukukawa highly praises knitido is its "functionality," which is convincing even from a professional perspective. He particularly likes the non-slip sole and air cushion. He says, "I like knitido's grip, cushioning, and high quality."
If the grip is firm, the foot won't slide around inside the shoe. The cushioning also protects the foot from impact upon landing. In addition to their ease of wear, he also feels a sense of security from the meticulous craftsmanship unique to domestic production.
Mr. Fukukawa's favorite five-toe socks: "FIVE Marble Ankle"
FIVE Marble Ankle
Summary
Mr. Fukukawa's future goal is to "increase the number of people who can condition their own bodies." He is driven by the conviction to spread the importance of conditioning to the world, and he works tirelessly every day. Currently, his activities extend beyond Japan, having expanded internationally with an entry into Indonesia (Jakarta) in 2023.
Mr. Fukukawa surrounded by his Indonesian colleagues (center of the second row)
The future Mr. Fukukawa envisions is a society where everyone can listen to their body's voice and continue to walk healthily. We hope knitido's five-toe socks, with their functionality and ease of wear, can be a good companion for Mr. Fukukawa.
>>Click here for Be-Style, the posture improvement studio led by Mr. Fukukawa!
Be-Style is a posture improvement studio with the concept of "a studio that brings out your beauty in just 60 minutes, twice a month." We help you achieve good posture and teach you how to use your body in a way that prevents discomfort. We also support the habit of self-conditioning, helping you transform your body without overexertion.
For more details, please visit our official website or Instagram.>Be-Style Official Website>Be-Style Instagram
