Professor Araki’s Mission to Bring Gymnastics to All

At 72, Professor Emeritus Araki Tatsuo from Nippon Sports Science University continues to live and breathe his lifelong passion for gymnastics. He is in Thimphu for a week working with Health and Physical Education teachers and school instructors to introduce Gymnastics for All, a program he has nurtured for more than fifty years.

I started teaching gymnastics when I was twenty-two, he says with a smile. Now, fifty years later, I still feel it is my mission to guide teachers and children. Gymnastics is not about medals or trophies. It is about health, happiness, energy, and focus. That is the real achievement.

Professor Araki’s approach is unlike the gymnastics people usually see on television. It is not about elite athletes performing complicated flips or routines. His philosophy welcomes children, the elderly, and even people with disabilities. Every exercise, even as short as twenty seconds, is designed to energize the body, refresh the mind, and sharpen focus. Move for fun, refresh your mind, and feel your body waking up. That is the reward, he explains.

During his week in Bhutan, he has been training fifteen teachers from across the country, giving them exercises, music, and instructional material. The goal is clear. When these teachers return to their schools, they will not only guide their students through exercises but also create awareness about the importance of movement, health, and lifestyle. This ripple effect could touch thousands of children and help them develop healthy habits from an early age.

Three years ago, I first came to Bhutan to support the formation of a Gymnastics Federation, he recalls. Back then, many people did not understand what gymnastics could be beyond competitions. Today, I see teachers adapting quickly and embracing these exercises. In just a few days, their confidence and skill have grown tremendously.

For Professor Araki, gymnastics is about more than just physical movement. It is about fun, fitness, fundamentals, and friendship, values that stay with people for life. The gold is not in winning medals, he says. The gold is in being healthy, energized, and happy. Friendship, fundamentals, and fun are forever. If students enjoy moving their bodies, everything else follows naturally.

He emphasizes simplicity and accessibility. These exercises cost nothing, can be done in classrooms or schoolyards, and require no special equipment. Small steps can lead to big changes. Even a twenty-second stretch or movement, repeated daily, can transform the energy of a classroom and the well-being of a student.

Reflecting on his own journey, Professor Araki shares, Gymnastics has taught me that life is about movement, joy, and balance. It has shown me that consistent practice, however small, can create lifelong habits. I want every child to grow up understanding that movement is not just exercise, it is happiness.

Even after retiring at sixty-six, he continues his global mission. Bhutan is just one of the countries where he works tirelessly to cultivate a culture of health and wellness. Through structured yet enjoyable exercises, he hopes to inspire teachers, students, and families alike. I want Bhutanese children to know that health is happiness, that energy comes from simple daily practices, and that everyone, regardless of age or ability, can benefit from gymnastics, he says.

As his visit comes to an end, his message is clear and powerful. Gymnastics is not an exclusive sport, but a way to create a healthier and happier society. By nurturing teachers, sharing knowledge, and encouraging small daily movements, Professor Araki is planting seeds that will grow far beyond his week in Bhutan, a legacy of wellness, energy, and lifelong joy.

In the end, he smiles and says, If you can make movement fun, if you can refresh the mind, if you can teach friendship and fundamentals, you have already won. The rest, talent, skills, even medals, can follow naturally. But health and happiness are the true treasures.