The goal is to win. To pay. Yet, too many people obsess over the means.

The match between Mikuru Asakura and Kleber Koike ended in a split decision.

The internet and the fans were buzzing for a while.

"In my judgment, it was a victory for Kleber!"

"That decision is wrong!"

That was the buzz.

Mikuru Asakura vs. Kleber Koike.

I think everyone who watched that match wanted to say something.

Since I am a fan of Mikuru Asakura, I was simply happy about the win.

But, looking at it calmly, I can understand Kleber's argument as well.

He attempted takedowns many times and created highlights.

However--------

He couldn't do anything from there.

He couldn't finish the fight, nor could he inflict damage.

In contrast, Asakura turned everything around, countered with ground and pound, and thoroughly neutralized Kleber's strengths.

After watching this match, the comments from fighter Shinya Aoki stuck with me.

"Kleber's goal had become just to get the takedown."

"But the goal of martial arts is 'to win,' and inflicting damage or finishing with a technique is the essence of it."

--------I see.

I thought it was incredibly easy to understand when framed as the means becoming the end.

This isn't just a story about martial arts.

The reason is that just the other day, I also ran into some frustration regarding "means and ends."

The place was the tax office.

It happened when I went to consult about paying my consumption tax in installments.

Since I had the experience of paying in installments about ten years ago,

I thought, "Well, I'll just get the payment slips this time too and pay them off bit by bit,"

and asked, "Could I have the payment slips?"

Then the person in charge looked apologetic, furrowing their brows, and said,

"We are currently trying to avoid using paper as much as possible."

Huh?

Honestly, I don't care whether it's paper or electronic.

I'm telling you I'm going to pay as quickly and as fully as I can, so isn't that good enough?

A giant question mark spread its wings and flew around inside my head.

When I asked, "Um, so what should I do?"

They replied, "Please use automatic withdrawal from your bank account."

...You could have told me that from the start.

What was all that about asking if I have a computer or using e-Tax?

Whether it's payment slips or automatic withdrawal, those are just "means."

The goal is only one thing: "to pay the consumption tax."

Kleber was the same.

A takedown is, after all, nothing more than a "means."

Even though the goal is to "win," if you become too obsessed with the means, you lose sight of what you truly need to do.

In any world, what matters is,

not losing sight of "what you are doing this for."

To win, to pay--------

We are fighting.

Today, as always, it's yakitori.

Thank you as always.