Physical Education at Keio University—Building a Deeper Understanding of Sports (1)

Yukichi Fukuzawa acknowledged the importance of physical education in a modern education and was one of the first to introduce it in Japan. In his book Seiyo Jijo (Things Western), through which he achieved fame overnight, Fukuzawa mentioned that in schools in the West, students maintain their physical health through exercising the limbs and working off the pent-up frustrations and distress from the struggles of studying.
To this day, Keio University has upheld this spirit and has continued to emphasize the importance of physical training. The university advocates the fostering of individuals to achieve excellence in both academia and sports, and there are numerous activities conducted at the Keio University Athletic Association sports clubs. Physical education, which is part of the regular curriculum, not only equips students with athletic skills and familiarizes them with related issues including health and hygiene, but is also, in comparison to other universities, offered at Keio through a wide range of diverse courses that focus on character building and improving physical health.
From the various physical education courses offered at Keio, this special feature article will focus on two, “Body Conditioning” and “Motor Driving,” and explore the long-standing history and tradition of physical education at Keio University. It will also introduce sports facilities at Keio that students can use for their own recreation outside the physical education courses.

The Body Conditioning course given by Associate Professor Etsuko Itagaki in the exercise studio inside the Kyosei-Kan (Collaboration Complex) on Hiyoshi Campus centers on Pilates and offers exercises that improve the overall condition of the body and relax the mind.

Itagaki explains: “Pilates was originally created by Joseph Pilates during WW1 as a method of rehabilitation and was later developed into an exercise system. Now it is practiced worldwide as a core-strengthening exercise targeting the deep muscles around the spine and pelvic floor. Pilates can be practiced anywhere as it requires only one mat, but unless it is performed properly, you won’t get the desired results and may even injure yourself. In class, I first demonstrate the poses and make sure that everyone learns the correct method by checking the movements of each and every student. The exercises are tougher than they appear, but each student has different muscle strength, so the key is to continue at your own pace.”

Making a habit of knowing your body and managing your physical condition will help students even after they graduate and when they reach an older age. People tend to see Pilates as being for women, but it is also highly recommended for men who want to strengthen their inner muscles.

“I started taking the Pilates course to strengthen my upper body so that it will help my rugby performance. I really believe that I experience less injuries now thanks to Pilates.” (Daisuke Hashimoto, third-year student, Faculty of Business and Commerce)

“During class I try and listen to my body. I belong to a “dance circle” at Keio, and I feel that Pilates has really strengthened my core and improved my dance movements.”(Mai Torii, second-year student, Faculty of Economics)

Motor Driving at Keio University has a long history that goes back 65 years. The beginner’s class is targeted for students without a driver’s license and teaches them about safe driving and practical driving skills, but there are also a lot of students who already have licenses but seldom have the chance to drive.
Tomohiro Ikeda, who lectures the course, commented: “It is often said that you can tell a person’s personality through their driving, so in that sense, sound personality traits are required of drivers. In line with the university’s philosophy of achieving excellence in both academia and sports, I instruct the students on how to drive in the spirit of true sportsmanship by integrating the concepts of fair play, kindness, and consideration of others, rather than just teaching them the basic skills of driving.”

At the beginning of each class, there are some warm-up exercises as well as a short-distance run, just like any other physical education course. Actual training takes place in a designated driving area on Hiyoshi Campus instead of public roads, and students without licenses can drive there as they are supervised by Ikeda or a member of the Keio University Automobile Club from the passenger seat, which is equipped with an instructor’s brake. The vehicles use manual transmission that requires the driver to select and change gear themselves. Manual cars are used instead of the more popular automatic option because, by challenging students to take on more difficult tasks, it will allow them to grasp the subtle mechanisms of the driving system and to understand the importance of controlling the vehicle in low gear such as when parking, as well as to learn how to drive with good judgment and clarity of mind.

“It’s a really fun class with only around 20 students per class, and the instructors from the Keio University Automobile Club are kind and very thorough. The classes have prepared me well for getting my driver’s license at driving school.”(Azusa Oyama, second-year student, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Law)

“I have a driver’s license, but as I don’t have many opportunities to drive, I took the course to get used to driving. The driving schools are more oriented toward techniques, so this course allows me to practice safe driving from a broader perspective.”(Yoichi Kawana, third-year student, Department of Administration Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology)