Inspiration
Kansei Matsuzawa—The Tokyo Toe—failed his Japanese college entrance exams two years in a row. Instead of going to college, his father sent him to explore the United States. That trip included attending an NFL game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Oakland Raiders, an experience that sparked an idea: to become an NFL player.
At age 20, having never played football, Matsuzawa set out to pursue what many would call an “impossible” goal. With unparalleled self-belief, he taught himself how to kick by turning to YouTube for lessons on kicking (especially Seahawks kicker Jason Myers) and on learning English (through NFL games and American comedy). The nearest football field with goalposts was an hour from his home, and he convinced the owners to let him practice there in exchange for running errands.
It took Matsuzawa two years to learn how to kick. He then sent videos of himself kicking to colleges across America, eventually receiving an opportunity at Hocking College in Ohio. He kicked there for two years while continuing to improve his English, and in 2023 he arrived in Hawai‘i as a walk-on. After tying an FBS record by making 25 consecutive field goals, he has now been recognized as a consensus First-Team All-American and a Lou Groza Award finalist.
Matsuzawa says, “Mindset comes first, followed by technique.” To that end, he worked with a sport psychologist twice a week this fall. Prior to his game-winning kick against Stanford, he relied on cue words and positive affirmations to help him execute, using phrases such as, “I am elite… focus on myself.” He also relied heavily on visualization to prepare for the kick. He simplifies his approach by saying, “I want to win. Execute the process.”
A true student of his craft, Matsuzawa's preparation is the source of his confidence. He seeks progress, not perfection, with a goal of being 1% better every day. Believing that kicking is an art, he works to create a masterpiece. At the same time, he maintains humble gratitude, recognizing the family sacrifices that enabled him to walk on at both Hocking and Hawai‘i before earning a scholarship.
Matsuzawa is a great example of what happens when clear goals, unshakeable belief, and a well-developed mental game are combined. Keep an eye on him when the NFL draft rolls around.
