IDP Power Lunch "Break Through! How to Leave Your Comfort Zone" Event Report
Identity Partners held the 4th "IDP Power Lunch" online study session. Karateka Junna Tsuki was invited to speak on "How to Leave Your Comfort Zone," offering tips for business professionals based on her experience of overcoming adversity to reach the top of the world.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 21:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 12:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 13:42 (1h 10m after Collected)
Identity Partners Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kosuke Nakano) held the 4th "Break Through! How to Leave Your Comfort Zone" IDP Power Lunch (online study session) on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
IDP Power Lunch is an online study session designed to provide business professionals with direct exposure to "essential ways of thinking" based on global standards.
Each session invites a specialist to discuss challenges faced daily in business (human capital, human resource development, transformation promotion, mental health, career, etc.) according to the theme.
The 4th session welcomed karateka Junna Tsuki, who spoke on "How to Leave Your Comfort Zone."
She started karate at age 7, conquering all Japan in elementary, junior high, high school, and corporate leagues. After excelling as a Japanese national team member, she moved to the Philippines alone and won a gold medal at the 2022 World Games. She has now transitioned to mixed martial arts.
This report introduces tips for business professionals to take a step forward tomorrow, drawing from the words of Ms. Tsuki, who overcame adversity to reach the top of the world.
"No dojo, no job"
The first turning point in Ms. Tsuki's career came around the time karate was adopted as an Olympic sport. One day, Filipino children had the opportunity to come to Japan to compete, and Ms. Tsuki was surprised by their skill. However, upon hearing their stories, she learned that there was no system in the Philippines to aim for the world stage.
"In Japan, if you become the best in Japan, you can naturally aim for Asia and then the world. But I realized that someone had created that environment. I was lucky enough to learn karate in Japan, and I also have Filipino blood from my mother's homeland. I wanted to contribute, so I chose to represent the Philippines."
However, when she actually moved to the Philippines, the reality was far from what she imagined.
"There was no dojo, no place to practice, and of course, no job, so I started with job hunting like anyone else."
While competitors worldwide were undergoing cutting-edge training, she spent her days looking for a job, practicing footwork alone, and doing image training. Naturally, she says she felt anxious.
"I wondered if I could compete globally in this state. I told my parents, 'I might return to Japan by the end of the year, it might be too difficult. But returning is always an option, so I'll try my best first.'"
Think after giving 120%
Even in such a situation, the reason Ms. Tsuki could look forward was her unique philosophy of "giving up." It was an attitude of doing everything she could while going with the flow.
"If you give 120% and it doesn't work out, you won't have regrets, right? You can't tell if something is delicious or not by just taking one bite. There might be really delicious cream inside, and you won't know until you eat it all. Everyone dies eventually, so if I'm going to die someday, I might as well do what I can now."
Her first goal was to win a medal at the Asian Games. She knew that if she won a medal at this competition, the country would provide a budget.
Even without a training partner, she competed by "practicing footwork and image training" and miraculously won a medal. This led to opportunities to speak at the embassy and gain sponsors, allowing her to seriously aim for the Olympics.
The path to starting over from a white belt
After winning a gold medal at the 2022 World Games, Ms. Tsuki returned to Japan and became a respected "teacher" of karate. However, she began to feel uncomfortable in that position.
"Sometimes, I feel like if I stay like this, I'll become useless. I might think, 'Why can't white belts do it?' This also happens in society, doesn't it? I'm aiming to be a cool adult, but I'm afraid of becoming a cold or slightly unpleasant person."
So, she chose to transition to mixed martial arts (MMA). Ms. Tsuki, who had been a top karateka for over 15 years, chose the path of starting over from a white belt.
"When you start over from a white belt, you remember. The difficulty of being a beginner, the frustration of not being able to do things well. Then, when I teach, my choice of words and teaching methods broaden, which is hitting two birds with one stone. I feel that as a teacher, I am also improving within myself."
What is the first step to leaving your comfort zone?
When you hear "leave your comfort zone," you might think you have to take a bold step like Ms. Tsuki moving to the Philippines, but her answer was surprising.
"Change even just 5 or 3 minutes of what you can really do in front of you. Wake up 5 minutes earlier, or eat a proper breakfast. That's...
IDP Power Lunch is an online study session designed to provide business professionals with direct exposure to "essential ways of thinking" based on global standards.
Each session invites a specialist to discuss challenges faced daily in business (human capital, human resource development, transformation promotion, mental health, career, etc.) according to the theme.
The 4th session welcomed karateka Junna Tsuki, who spoke on "How to Leave Your Comfort Zone."
She started karate at age 7, conquering all Japan in elementary, junior high, high school, and corporate leagues. After excelling as a Japanese national team member, she moved to the Philippines alone and won a gold medal at the 2022 World Games. She has now transitioned to mixed martial arts.
This report introduces tips for business professionals to take a step forward tomorrow, drawing from the words of Ms. Tsuki, who overcame adversity to reach the top of the world.
"No dojo, no job"
The first turning point in Ms. Tsuki's career came around the time karate was adopted as an Olympic sport. One day, Filipino children had the opportunity to come to Japan to compete, and Ms. Tsuki was surprised by their skill. However, upon hearing their stories, she learned that there was no system in the Philippines to aim for the world stage.
"In Japan, if you become the best in Japan, you can naturally aim for Asia and then the world. But I realized that someone had created that environment. I was lucky enough to learn karate in Japan, and I also have Filipino blood from my mother's homeland. I wanted to contribute, so I chose to represent the Philippines."
However, when she actually moved to the Philippines, the reality was far from what she imagined.
"There was no dojo, no place to practice, and of course, no job, so I started with job hunting like anyone else."
While competitors worldwide were undergoing cutting-edge training, she spent her days looking for a job, practicing footwork alone, and doing image training. Naturally, she says she felt anxious.
"I wondered if I could compete globally in this state. I told my parents, 'I might return to Japan by the end of the year, it might be too difficult. But returning is always an option, so I'll try my best first.'"
Think after giving 120%
Even in such a situation, the reason Ms. Tsuki could look forward was her unique philosophy of "giving up." It was an attitude of doing everything she could while going with the flow.
"If you give 120% and it doesn't work out, you won't have regrets, right? You can't tell if something is delicious or not by just taking one bite. There might be really delicious cream inside, and you won't know until you eat it all. Everyone dies eventually, so if I'm going to die someday, I might as well do what I can now."
Her first goal was to win a medal at the Asian Games. She knew that if she won a medal at this competition, the country would provide a budget.
Even without a training partner, she competed by "practicing footwork and image training" and miraculously won a medal. This led to opportunities to speak at the embassy and gain sponsors, allowing her to seriously aim for the Olympics.
The path to starting over from a white belt
After winning a gold medal at the 2022 World Games, Ms. Tsuki returned to Japan and became a respected "teacher" of karate. However, she began to feel uncomfortable in that position.
"Sometimes, I feel like if I stay like this, I'll become useless. I might think, 'Why can't white belts do it?' This also happens in society, doesn't it? I'm aiming to be a cool adult, but I'm afraid of becoming a cold or slightly unpleasant person."
So, she chose to transition to mixed martial arts (MMA). Ms. Tsuki, who had been a top karateka for over 15 years, chose the path of starting over from a white belt.
"When you start over from a white belt, you remember. The difficulty of being a beginner, the frustration of not being able to do things well. Then, when I teach, my choice of words and teaching methods broaden, which is hitting two birds with one stone. I feel that as a teacher, I am also improving within myself."
What is the first step to leaving your comfort zone?
When you hear "leave your comfort zone," you might think you have to take a bold step like Ms. Tsuki moving to the Philippines, but her answer was surprising.
"Change even just 5 or 3 minutes of what you can really do in front of you. Wake up 5 minutes earlier, or eat a proper breakfast. That's...