Have you ever played a tennis match where every point seemed to slip through your fingers?
Those days when even the simplest shots go wrong and everything feels off?
Most likely, yes — because it happens to everyone.
If it’s ever happened to you, pause for a moment, take a deep breath, and let me share a special word with you: NANKURUNAISA.

Sure, it’s not easy to pronounce at first, but it’s worth learning, because it holds immense power.
It comes from ancient Japan, specifically from the island of Okinawa, and it means much more than a simple “everything will be fine.”
This word carries a true philosophy of life. It’s like a silent embrace, a gentle whisper of encouragement that says:

“Never forget who you are. Live for today and look to tomorrow with trust. Always smile, even in the hard times, because the sun will shine again soon.”

How many times have you let negative emotions take over on the court?
Anger, fear, frustration, doubt…
NANKURUNAISA is an anchor you can use in those moments. It reminds you that no difficulty lasts forever.
Even when everything seems lost, you still have something essential: yourself.
Your inner strength. Your identity as an athlete and as a person.

It’s not about denying reality or pretending everything is fine.
On the contrary — NANKURUNAISA teaches you to face difficulties with courage and determination,
but with the unshakable belief that this too shall pass, that there’s always a solution,
and that every challenge can be overcome.

How can you apply NANKURUNAISA on the court?

Start with the small things:
when a match gets tough, when you miss an easy shot, when things feel out of control —
pause for a moment and silently repeat the word like a mantra: Nankurunaisa.

Remind yourself that you’re doing your best, and every point played with effort is still a step forward.
Accept the emotions, even the hard ones — but don’t let them take over your game.
Use them instead to grow, to learn something new about yourself.

And above all, smile.
Not to hide the tension or disappointment, but to remind yourself that you’re still here,
still fighting, still present in every point.
That smile is your promise to yourself:
you’ve got this,
you’re strong enough to get through any moment.

NANKURUNAISA isn’t just a word.
It’s a way of life.
Every day, every training session, every match, you can choose to believe that something good is coming.
Even if you don’t know what it is yet.

As the great master Ikki once said:
“Welcome everything with a big smile. You should always do that.”

So next time you’re on the court and the pressure starts building,
remember to smile and think: Nankurunaisa.
Because yes — in the end, everything will be okay.

by Federico Coppini
https://www.coppinifedericoacademy.com/