university thesis on dribbling

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How Kaoru Mitoma got his university thesis in dribbling

By grey whitebloom | jun 7, 2023, 11:16 pm gmt+1.

40 Premier League players have attempted more dribbles than Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma this season. 21 have completed more. Yet, no one in England's top tier can claim to have spent more time agonising over the intricate details of the devilish art of dribbling.

The raw totals of Mitoma's take-ons can be misleading given his gradual introduction into Brighton's first team. Among individuals with more than a smattering of minutes, only two Premier League players average more successful dribbles per 90 than Brighton's chief weaver.

Chelsea 's Trevoh Chalobah, Arsenal 's Ben White and Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold are just some on the ever-growing list of defenders to have been bamboozled by Mitoma's fancy footwork which he honed in university study halls. Here's everything you need to know about a graduation thesis the Premier League's full backs may fancy glancing at.

Table Of Contents

Where did kaoru mitoma get his university thesis, what were the findings from kaoru mitoma's thesis, how has kaoru mitoma put his thesis into practice, kaoru mitoma's 2022/23 season so far.

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Aged 19, Mitoma turned down a professional contract from J1 League side Kawasaki Frontale after eight years in the club’s academy. Mitoma deemed that he “wasn’t ready physically” and so enrolled at the University of Tsukuba, an hour and a half south, to learn even more about his own body with a degree in physical education.

While playing for the university side - which is a higher standard in Japan compared to its equivalent in much of Europe - Mitoma set about analysing his dribbling and what made a good dribbler.

“It was the easiest subject for me to choose because I love football and dribbling is what I love to do,” he explained to The Athletic . “I put cameras on the heads of my teammates to study where and what they were looking at and how their opponents were looking at them.”

In his continuing search for improvement, Mitoma pulled upon all of the expertise he could find. According to the Japanese outlet NumberWeb , Mitoma was fascinated by diet practices and even sought out Tsukuba’s associate professor Satoru Tanigawa, a 110m hurdler for Japan at the Sydney and Athens Olympics, to give him tips on his running style.

“I learned that the good players weren’t looking at the ball," Mitoma revealed. "They would look ahead, trap the ball without looking down at their feet. That was the difference. I was one of the better dribblers at that time, but not exceptional.”

Putting aside the limited sample size of his study, Mitoma went on to explain: “I am conscious of shifting the opponent's centre of gravity. If I can move the opponent's body, I win."

By the end of his research, Mitoma concluded: “The power of my characteristic dribbling has doubled."

In his first season after leaving university, Mitoma rattled in 13 goals for his boyhood side Kawasaki Frontale. This was a significant shock for all involved considering that Mitoma had mustered just seven goals in the Kanto University Division 1 League the previous year. The then-22-year-old became just the fifth rookie to hit double digits in J-League history - on top of a league-high 12 assists.

18 months after handing in his thesis, Mitoma penned a contract with Brighton for just €3m.

Mitoma isn’t mentally parsing through his findings amid the fury of a Premier League match. As he explained after finding the net against Everton in January following a weaving run: “It was instinct, rather than a thought process.”

However, after all that study, Mitoma's instinct is influenced by his thesis - much to the detriment of the Premier League's defenders.

Mitoma's profile grew thanks to some super sub appearances at the winter World Cup as Japan pulled off upsets against Spain and Germany.

He has enjoyed a much more prominent role in Roberto De Zerbi's starting XI since the Premier League's resumption, scoring against both Arsenal and Everton before running the show in Brighton's 3-0 victory over Liverpool.

Mitoma then scored a belter from distance against Leicester before netting the winner in the FA Cup clash with Liverpool.

It just gets better every time you watch it 😮‍💨 @OfficialBHAFC #EmiratesFACup 3 pic.twitter.com/QYyDc2OiVu — Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 29, 2023

Kaoru Mitoma and how Brighton benefit from his university thesis on dribbling

Strapping cameras to the heads of your team-mates might feel an unusual way to master the art of dribbling.

Yet that eagerness to think outside the box has played a part in making Brighton and Hove Albion’s Japanese winger Kaoru Mitoma such a unique and exciting addition to the Premier League .

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool — and their England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold — become the latest opponents to try to find a way of checking the weaving forward’s glorious blend of speed, balance and elusive running at the Amex Stadium today.

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That particular style is born of the blistering pace he possessed as a child, and developed as a football-obsessed student in his late teens back in his homeland.

Mitoma had been in the academy for eight years at Kawasaki Frontale, the four-time champions of Japan’s top-flight J1 League, when, as he approached the age of 19, he turned down a professional contract to study physical education at the University of Tsukuba.

That is a well-trodden route for Japanese players, given the standard of college football is much higher than in Europe.

“I just felt I wasn’t ready physically and that I wouldn’t be in the first team immediately,” Mitoma says. “I thought the best step was to get more playing time and get better.”

As part of his studies, he wrote a thesis on dribbling. “It was the easiest subject for me to choose because I love football and dribbling is what I love to do,” he explains. “There were no rules on how much to write, but I progressed with it by analysing my team-mates that were good and not-so-good dribblers and trying to find out why that was.

“I put cameras on the heads of my team-mates to study where and what they were looking at and how their opponents were looking at them.

“I learned that the good players weren’t looking at the ball. They would look ahead, trap the ball without looking down at their feet. That was the difference.

“I was one of the better dribblers at that time, but not exceptional.”

Even now, Mitoma, who is modest by nature, still regards himself as anything but a dribbling genius. Indeed, he is reluctant to attach too much significance to his university studies when explaining the positive impact he has made in the Premier League with Brighton .

Something stuck, though.

A glance at his goal in the 4-1 win at Liverpool’s neighbours Everton earlier this month, a strike that showcased his dribbling talent and directness, reveals that he kept his head up throughout. The 25-year-old seized his chance after Everton full-back Nathan Patterson failed to cut out a cross-field pass from Moises Caicedo .

Mitoma deliberately pushes the ball ahead of him with his left foot and into space behind the stranded Patterson inside the penalty area, instead of opting for close control.

A body swerve, which sends defender Conor Coady the wrong way, opens up more room as he transfers the ball onto his right foot.

He finishes calmly, placing the ball beyond Jordan Pickford ’s attempt to smother and through the legs of the covering James Tarkowski .

The whole movement is conducted with electric speed, balance and poise. Just four seconds elapse between the Brighton forward receiving possession and the ball finding the back of the Everton net.

Mitoma, speaking via a translator as he learns to cope with the nuances of the English language, says: “I could see the space, so I wanted to kick the ball further to create the space behind with my first touch. Then, (on) the second touch, I was just going right to attack with the shot.

“It was instinct, rather than a thought process.”

Enjoy EVERY angle of Kaoru's third #PL goal… 🤤 @Kaoru_Mitoma ✨ pic.twitter.com/IsMk9ZAcu1 — Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) January 5, 2023

Mitoma’s performances owe much to preparation and self-analysis.

On top of all the detailed information the club provides to players, his representatives supply feedback before and after games in the form of touch maps and videos. Armed with that dossier of data, Mitoma can see his own movements and assess the strengths and weaknesses of upcoming opponents.

He is reaping the rewards.

Mitoma scored a very different type of goal when Brighton won 3-1 at Arsenal in the Carabao Cup in November. The forward began in the same area of the pitch (see below), advancing towards the left-hand edge of the penalty area, as Jeremy Sarmiento ran with the ball through the centre, attracting the attention of the Arsenal defenders.

This time, when he received possession from Sarmiento inside the box, Mitoma went for close control, cutting back by shifting the ball inside from his left foot to his right in one fluid movement.

That created just enough room to squeeze a shot between Cedric Soares and William Saliba and swing the tie in Brighton’s favour, giving them a 2-1 lead early in the second half.

Mitoma has been blessed with rapid pace since he was a child. He’s made a point of exploiting that attribute, tailoring his training to strengthen his legs and make his movements even more explosive.

He had been used as an impact substitute this season by Graham Potter and Roberto De Zerbi until breaking into the Italian’s team with a full Premier League debut in the 4-1 trouncing of Potter’s Chelsea at the Amex Stadium at the end of October.

“Chelsea was big for me,” says Mitoma. “I didn’t want to let my place go.”

Mitoma has maximised his opportunities at club level ever since. He has scored three goals and provided two assists in six starts for Brighton either side of an eventful World Cup with Japan .

He was involved in one of the most controversial moments of the tournament in Qatar. The ball appeared to be out of play when his cut-back was converted by Ao Tanaka in the 2-1 win over Spain — a result which served to knock Germany out at the group stage. The goal stood after a lengthy VAR check.

The technology worked against Mitoma when he had a second goal disallowed for a tight offside decision in the 4-2 home defeat by Arsenal on New Year’s Eve. Had his effort stood, then Brighton would have reduced the arrears to 4-3 and ensured a nervy finish for the Premier League leaders.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the scientific edge to his university studies, he has no issue with leaning on technology when it comes to critical on-field decision-making.

“It’s fair, it’s technology, it’s hard to argue with it,” he says. “Obviously, there are emotions when decisions go for or against you, but I’m fine with it.”

Some Japanese observers felt Mitoma was under-used by head coach Hajime Moriyasu at the World Cup. All four of his appearances were from the bench, including in the group victory against Germany and the last-16 exit to Croatia on penalties.

His spot kick in the shoot-out was saved by Dominik Livakovic and he was not among Brighton’s seven penalty-takers when they lost at League One side Charlton last month in a shoot-out which extended to sudden death.

“There are some feelings from that World Cup experience, the confidence level isn’t 100 per cent there,” Mitoma concedes. “But also, it’s the manager’s call as well. He felt there were other guys more confident at that time. I’ll keep practising and working on penalties until I’m more comfortable.”

Mitoma aims to be “one of the leaders for Japan” at the next World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico in 2026.

His impact at Brighton is reflected by rising interest in his exploits back home. Two Japanese reporters now cover Brighton matches regularly, home and away.

Hideo Tamaru, of Japan’s main news agency Kyodo News, tells The Athletic : “The popularity of football in Japan, in general, had been declining recently compared to the peak years (around 2010-2016) when there were quite a few Japanese players in big European clubs, so the success of Mitoma feels like a breath of fresh air.

“Needless to say, the recent success in the World Cup was a massive boost as well. Another thing that Japanese fans like to see is how the players in Europe are being rated in the media in their respective countries. That in itself creates another headline.”

There have been plenty of headline performances in the Premier League for Brighton so far from Mitoma, who has now been joined in England by his wife after she secured a work permit.

There are no limits to what he might achieve under the guidance of De Zerbi.

“Continuing to produce results is what it will take to stay in the starting XI,” adds Mitoma. “The manager has the plans, the strategy, and I am doing all I can to stick with that.

“I love playing under him. There’s a lot of build-up for the ball to come to the wing (and) a lot of actions, which is fun. I want to continue to learn, playing in that style.

“The two main things are to help Brighton into the top rankings and to get more goals and assists.”

(Top photo: Robin Jones/Getty Images)

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Andy Naylor worked for 32.5 years on the sports desk of The Argus, Brighton’s daily newspaper. For the last 25 of those years he was chief sports reporter, primarily responsible for coverage of Brighton and Hove Albion FC. Follow Andy on Twitter @ AndyNaylorBHAFC

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Professor Mitoma

Published on:

Kaoru Mitoma has burst onto the scene this season. With the ball sticking his feet like he has glue on his feet, he has left defenders befuddled and tumbling over their own legs as he whizzes past them effortlessly. How did a player who not many saw flourishing to this extent take the Premier League by storm? The answer lies in Kaoru Mitoma’s thesis.

Yes, the Japanese, who is now the apple of the eye of Brighton fans and should soon be in demand, improved his game after studying the art of dribbling deeply as a part of his university thesis. Kaoru Mitoma’s thesis made sure he literally is a student of the game!

Here’s a look at the now iconic Kaoru Mitoma’s thesis story, and how it is helping him fly past dizzy defenders.

Kaoru Mitoma thesis- The background story

How many footballers get offered a professional deal by a club but reject it because they deem themselves to be physically not ready?

Kaoru Mitoma did. When offered a deal by J1 side Kawasaki Frontale, a 19-year-old Mitoma rejected it. Instead, he enrolled at the University of Tsukuba. He quickly realised that what he lacked in brawn at that age had to be overcome by training the brain. And what a training it was.

Insights of Kaoru Mitoma’s thesis on dribbling (from Japanese article/interview) pic.twitter.com/0ZldvFBnGI — ⚖️🇶🇦 (@WholeLottaEM) January 18, 2023

A pure footballer at heart, he quickly dove into the subject of dribbling headfirst. He turned out for his university’s football team and used that education to analyse his dribbling style. He studied what made a good dribbler through new and creative techniques.

In an interview with The Athletic , Mitoma explained,

“I put cameras on the heads of my teammates to study where and what they were looking at and how their opponents were looking at them.”

Not content with visual footage, he analysed all aspects of what made one a good dribbler. Close control is foremost, but running style also makes an efficient dribbler. He sought out the advice of Satoru Tanigawa, an associate professor at his university and a 110m Olympic hurdler on optimum running styles.

Findings of the Kaoru Mitoma Thesis

Such deep and analytical work was not going to go to waste. His main finding came through his technique of putting cameras on his teammates’ foreheads. In the same interview with the Athletic, he opened up on this finding-

“I learned that the good players weren’t looking at the ball. They would look ahead, trap the ball without looking down at their feet. That was the difference. I am conscious of shifting the opponent’s centre of gravity. If I can move the opponent’s body, I win.”

Mitoma concluded his thesis with a message that, with the benefit of hindsight, is ominous reading for defenders who were about to face him. He wrote-

“The power of my characteristic dribbling has doubled.”

Effects on his game

Needless to say, Mitoma has exploded at every level since his thesis. After finishing his course at the university, he felt he was ready to take on the challenge of the Japanese league.

Signed by the same club whose advances he rebuffed earlier, Kawasaki Frontale, Mitoma took the J1 League by storm.

He struck 13 goals and laid on 12 assists in the season in his debut season, breaking numerous records in the process. That one season was enough to convince Brighton that Mitoma was a diamond in the rough who could be carved into something special. However, Mitoma spent another season in J1 League after which he was finally signed by Brighton, who loaned him to Union Saint-Gilloise .

Kaoru Mitoma's dribbling creates CHANCES 😬 #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/SuNelrDHwf — Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 23, 2023

Mitoma mania was by now up and running. His slick dribbling skills and ability to know when to release the ball blew away opponents. He had nine goal contributions in just 1,187 minutes of football, a very good figure for a player playing his first season in Europe.

Deemed ready for the rigours of the Premier League after the loan, the rest is history. As the Japanese superstar continues making defenders look silly, Kaoru Mitoma’s thesis on dribbling has achieved cult status.

*This article is sponsored by Fastrack , which brings you the best sports watches in funky, trendy, and cool designs.

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What Kaoru Mitoma Really Thinks About His Now-Famous Thesis on Dribbling

By: Author Vishal Singh

Posted on April 20, 2023

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is making waves in Italy by leaving Serie A defenders on the floor regularly. But he’s not the only breakout dribbler this season to stun European football. In the Premier League, Kaoru Mitoma is the talk of the town, not just because of his silky feet, but also for the way he learned the trick of the trade.

Brighton and Hove Albion signed the Japanese winger from Kawasaki Frontale in 2021 after being impressed with his pace and dribbling in the J1 League. But before the rookie became the star of the league, he turned down Frontale’s initial contract offer at 19.

It is understood that after eight years in the club’s academy, Mitoma decided to reject their professional contract and instead enrolled at the University of Tsukuba.

Why did Mitoma go to University?

Recalling his thought process at the team, Mitoma told Optus Sport : “At that time, I felt that my body wasn’t fully developed yet to match up properly against the professionals. I also felt that it was important to go to university for my own career in the long term.

“Universities in Japan are of a very good standard, and I wanted to still play whilst studying, and try to be a professional footballer after graduating. My family has always stood by my career path as well. I felt that I should be the one making these decisions, so I made sure to take responsibility of career.”

A translation of Mitoma’s thesis on information processing of the attacking side in 1v1 football situations pic.twitter.com/wXY5wy5bQQ — Eric Njiru (@EricNjiiru) February 4, 2023

But such was the youngster’s genius that while playing for the university side and studying physical education he wrote his thesis on the process of dribbling.

Talking about his research that is mentioned on Twitter every time he gets past a defender, the 25-year-old said: “Yes, and I feel that the media love to talk about this a lot too. I had to write a thesis in order to graduate university, and I knew dribbling would be something I could write about.

“I wanted to study the differences between people and who could dribble well and those that could not. In reality, I don’t think the thesis has contributed that much to how I play in the Premier League!”

Mitoma’s friendship with Tomiyasu

Mitoma isn’t the only Japanese international doing well in England’s top flight. Takehiro Tomiyasu has been a solid defensive option for Premier League leaders Arsenal . His presence in the same league has helped Mitoma adjust to a new country more comfortably.

“Having him in London is a nice reassurance even if I can’t see him much because of busy schedules. But we get along well as teammates for Japan and we both strive to play at higher levels,” the Brighton star said .

Arsenal tried to sign a marquee left-winger during the January transfer window and came close to securing Mykhailo Mudryk’s signature before Chelsea made their move. They instead signed Brighton’s Leandro Trossard. But if Arteta decides to persist with the signing of an elite left-winger in the summer, the North London giants should certainly monitor Mitoma and perhaps try to reunite him with his national teammate Tomiyasu.

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Kaoru Mitoma at Brighton: From the university dribbling thesis to brilliance in Belgium and finishing like Thierry Henry

How Kaoru Mitoma, the dribbling master who ‘finishes like Thierry Henry’, has his own colleagues laughing at his rare talent. Adam Bate speaks to Mitoma’s former team-mate to find out more about what makes the Brighton winger so special…

Comment and Analysis @ghostgoal

Monday 30 January 2023 10:12, UK

As recently as October of 2021, Kaoru Mitoma had yet to start a game since moving to Europe. He was on loan and on the bench for Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium. But with his team two goals and one man down to Seraing, they needed something different.

Mitoma came on at half-time. By full-time, he had inspired an extraordinary comeback, scoring an improbable hat-trick in a 4-2 win. "It was the Kaoru Mitoma show," Christian Burgess, Union's English defender, tells Sky Sports . "He just destroyed them."

It was a glimpse of what is becoming an increasingly frequent sight for Premier League audiences. Since breaking into the Brighton starting line-up in the thrashing of Chelsea, Mitoma has been a revelation, emerging as one of the most exciting players around.

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His opening goal against Leicester last Saturday was his best yet, finding the top corner of Danny Ward's net from outside the penalty box. Leandro Trossard has left for Arsenal but Brighton supporters are already convinced that his replacement can be even better.

Mitoma inspired the comeback at Wolves, scored home and away against Arsenal, began the recent rout of Everton and shone again in beating Liverpool. A dribbler who can glide beyond defenders and an unusually calm finisher, the sight of him in full flow is a joy.

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Burgess had predicted this impact, whether it was tipping off a Brighton fan to stick him in his fantasy team or mentioning to their goalkeeper Jason Steele during a pre-season game that Mitoma was the real deal. It had not taken Burgess long to be convinced.

"I remember one of his first training sessions," he says.

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"He was just electric. Those first few steps are so fast that he was destroying my friend Jonas Bager. Thankfully, he was on my team so me and this other Danish guy Casper Nielsen were just laughing at Jonas. He went past him three times with ease.

"Jonas is not someone you want to wind up by doing that to him. He was like, 'Watch this.' The next time he just took Kaoru out. We were just laughing because it was the only way to stop him. Jonas, bless him, is not the quickest, but nobody really had a chance.

"That was my first memory of him. You could just see he was very good. He had the technical ability and he obviously had the physical attributes. But he also had this coldness on the ball that made him a standout player who could make the transition."

His opening goal at Goodison Park was perhaps the clearest example yet of this particular quality. He touched the ball only three times - one to evade Nathan Patterson, another to skip beyond Conor Coady and the last to stroke the ball beyond Jordan Pickford.

As with his goal against Arsenal just days earlier, Mitoma passed it into the far corner. There have been only a handful of examples of it just yet, but there have been enough of them to prompt an eye-opening comparison from his former team-mate in Belgium.

"He finishes like Thierry Henry," says Burgess. "He is just so nonchalant at finishing into the far corner, whether it is in training and or in games. It is a strange one because most people panic but he seems to have so much time on the ball in those situations."

Mitoma's game is about more than goals. He is the only player in the Premier League to rank among the top 10 for goals scored from open play and expected assists from open play per 90 minutes. In other words, nobody is scoring and creating as regularly as he does.

It is his skill in one-on-one situations that has allowed him to find those positions, ranking third for completed dribbles per 90 minutes this season. His old team-mate at Union might have been the first to be twisted inside-out on European soil but he was not the last.

Maybe it helps that Mitoma is a student of the game, quite literally. He chose to attend the University of Tsukuba rather than enter the professional game at 18 and it has since attracted considerable media attention that he wrote his thesis on the art of dribbling.

Curiously, it means that he had something in common with Burgess, who was studying history at the University of Birmingham when he was offered a contract at Middlesbrough. Not that the two men were aware of their similar routes into the game at the time.

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"I found out on social media, it is an amazing story. Kaoru did not speak much English so you could not find out much about him. All we knew is that he had come from Japan, signed with Brighton, and now he was with us. We knew absolutely nothing about him.

"But he was a really good lad, very humble and quiet. He just smiled all the time and laughed at the jokes even if he did not understand but I think he understood more than he could say. At least he led us to believe that. But to get stuff out of him was harder.

"It must have been so tough for him because he barely spoke any English so you did not hear much from him. Imagine not being able to communicate. But his English did improve during his time at Union because it is mainly an English-speaking club."

Indeed, it is not the only thing that improved. Perhaps that is to be expected given that Mitoma has made only 23 starts in league football since moving to Europe. At 25, his university background might mean that he is a late developer. There is more to come.

"It is funny because he did not start every game for us. He used to come on when the opposition were a little bit tired and his pace would blow them out of the water. It was only as the season went on that he really got into it and started playing 90 minutes.

"A different side to him began to come out in the play-offs. You saw him fighting a lot more. Against Club Brugge, he was really putting his body about. Add that winner's attitude that he had to his quality on the ball and you have a special player on your hands."

A similar process is happening at Brighton. Mitoma completed a whole Premier League game only once prior to the World Cup but has now done so in four of their last five matches. It underlines his growing importance, the sense that this could be his time.

"To see him playing at the World Cup was the icing on the cake, really. I was proud to have played with him. There was no ego with him so it is really nice to see him doing so well at Brighton and he is still young so he is going to develop. He is just a top player."

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Kaoru Mitoma: a guide to the art of dribbling

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When Mitoma joined Kawasaki Frontale's U-18 team, the club offered him the first contract of his professional life, but the young Japanese took the riskier decision to go to university first . In his case, physical education at the University of Tsukuba.

I love soccer and what I like most is dribbling.

Kaoru Mitoma

Mitoma 's love of soccer and dribbling led him to write a university thesis on the subject. He had the brilliant idea of attaching cameras to the heads of his fellow students to see where and what the attackers were watching and how the defenders were watching them .

All good research starts with observation. Mitoma

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Mitoma's dribbling thesis leaves Wolves in pieces: Moment of the Weekend

• Anirudh Menon

14 minutes into the game, the score reads 0-0. Wolverhampton Wanderers , fresh off utterly dominating Manchester United (even if they lost that one ) are keeping Brighton & Hove Albion at arm's length; and comfortably so. Which is when Pervis Estupinan gently prods the ball forward to Kaoru Mitoma .

Mitoma isn't your regular footballer. At 18, instead of turning professional, he went to college -- the University of Tsukuba -- to major in physical education and settle into senior football via their amateur college league. To get the degree, though, he needed to submit a thesis. The topic he chose for it? Dribbling.

A translation of Mitoma's thesis on information processing of the attacking side in 1v1 football situations pic.twitter.com/wXY5wy5bQQ - Eric Njiru (@EricNjiiru) February 4, 2023

Eyes up, frame upright, he receives the ball down the left touchline just past the halfway line, heels kissing the white paint. In front of him is Nelson Semedo , who's coming off a brilliant display against Alejandro Garnacho (and later Jadon Sancho ) at Old Trafford. He's confident and he's got his body position exactly the way they teach in fullback defense 101: split stance, body open towards the touchline, showing the winger down the outside. Take me on down the line, it suggests, go on then... perfect for a defender as rapid as Semedo is. Well, almost perfect.

Speaking to ESPN last season, Mitoma had explained his thought process when it comes to dribbling: "First, I look at the opponent's centre of gravity, posture, body movement, then I think about my options."

Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma says his evolution into a star winger in the Premier League has nothing to do with his university project.

Semedo's posture is just a bit too overcommitted to showing him down the line, the centre of gravity not quite where it should be. After the initial couple of touches to assess Semedo's body movement, Mitoma jags sharply inside. That's enough to throw the fullback off-balance, and by the time he recovers, Mitoma's past him.

An attempted shoulder pullback from Semedo makes Mitoma lean back a touch, but momentum is the Japanese forward's friend now. He screams forward, racing toward the Wolves box. Semedo chases, but quick as he is, he has no chance now. The pursuing Joao Gomes , even less so.

Craig Dawson is ahead of Mitoma, but he's caught in two minds - to cover the left flank, where in the space Semedo should have occupied, now lurks Brighton's Julio Encisco - or to step back into the middle and cut off Mitoma. By the time he realises Mitoma's going for goal, it's too late. He knows it too, and shouts furiously at the pacier Max Kilman to cover.

In that same ESPN interview, Mitoma had said that the whole thesis-in-dribbling bit had been way too exaggerated. "I can say that the thesis has almost nothing to do with my current play style. I chose the theme because it would be easy to write about. I simply wanted to finish my degree." Which is fair enough, but it's hard not to get carried away by the quick feet and the even quicker decision making Mitoma displays on occasion. Like this one.

Kilman reads the situation and closes down the straight route. Mitoma, fast as he's going, has seen this, and already recalibrated. One touch of his right boot, and ball and man are going past Kilman like he isn't even there.

Desperate, he pulls Mitoma back, tugging on that right shoulder again, making Mitoma lean back again... but this time he uses that to his advantage. Already leaning back, he 'Thierry Henrys' one into the bottom far corner. Just the way he loves doing it.

An old teammate of his from Union Saint-Gilloise, Christian Burgess, told Sky Sports last season that "he finishes like Thierry Henry. He is just so nonchalant at finishing into the far corner, whether it is in training and or in games. It is a strange one because most people panic but he seems to have so much time on the ball in those situations."

From first touch to last, the whole thing had lasted seven seconds. By the time he had got in front of the goalkeeper, Jose Sa , he ought to have been out of breath, his touch ought to have been just that bit less assured, but no. Head up, body upright, Mitoma knew just what to do.

He will repeat that his thesis and his dribbling have nothing to do with each other; but the more we see of Mitoma at the highest level, the more evident it's becoming that he's a devout student of the art. You can see it in how he varies his dribbling - small, quick touches when assessing the situation. Much longer, much fewer touches when he's shifted into high gear. He took five touches of the ball before getting past Semedo with his sixth. He took just five more to cover the remaining two-thirds of the distance.

There's no banking on deflections, or luck, or pure pace and power here... every touch is measured, taken for a reason, every change in direction executed with one clear aim in mind. In an era of pass-pass-pass with a hint of push-it-forward-and-sprint, it's a throwback and then some.

And so, this display of technical excellence - performed so well by this student of dribbling - is ESPN India's moment of the weekend.

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Kaoru Mitoma: can you study your way to being a better athlete?

Japanese winger’s former professor helps assess how much of his success can be attributed to a thesis on dribbling.

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If football used to be a game played with the heart, it is now increasingly dominated by data.

And by most metrics, one of the stand-out stars of the current UK Premier League season is Brighton and Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma who, statistics show, is the second-best dribbler in the division and third most accurate shooter.

After such glowing performances, attention has turned to the Japanese international’s decision aged 18 not to turn professional but instead study at the University of Tsukuba , where he was apparently able to use research to make himself a better player. His thesis focused on dribbling and involved strapping cameras to the heads of his teammates and analysing their decisions on the ball.

Commentators – never ones to shy away from a cliché – have delighted in the idea that the student has become a master.

But Masaaki Koido, an assistant professor in Tsukuba’s Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences who coached Mr Mitoma in the university’s football team, told  Times Higher Education  that the results of the research itself had little impact on the player’s talents.

Instead, the very act of studying “led to a significant development in his ability to think logically and to verbalise his ideas”, which may have translated into improved performance.

While sporting bodies worldwide have long advocated for stars to remain in education as long as possible, up until now this has mainly been seen as a way of ensuring they have a back-up plan should injury or the ruthless nature of competition force them to abandon their dreams.

But there is emerging research that ties studying to degree level with improved athletic performance, according to Jane Holden, a senior lifestyle adviser who has worked on education programmes for the British Olympic swimming, equestrian and hockey teams and is studying for a PhD at the University of Portsmouth .

“[If you study] you will be selected more and you will have a longer career. There is that link now, which we have never had before,” she said.

“If you are thinking about emotional, intellectual development, and also the experience of being committed to high-level learning, the skills that can transfer into the game are shown to have a positive effect.”

This link, Ms Holden said, may be the extra motivation athletes need to keep studying.

Study, unfortunately, is still no substitute for enormous amounts of practice and Mr Koido’s memories of Mr Mitoma show he did not find a way to hack the system.

“He always took his training seriously. He often practised one-on-one after team practice,” he said of his protégé. “He has reached the very stage that he has been aiming for all his life, and I feel that this performance is the result of his continuous training toward this point. It is not a coincidence, but an inevitability.”

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 Print headline:  A degree, then sporting glory?  

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Jan 30, 2023 | 12:00 PM EST

Brighton and Hove Albion v Liverpool FA Cup 29/01/2023. Fourth Round Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Kaoru Mitoma 22 during the FA Cup 4th round match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Liverpool at the American Express Community Stadium, Brighton and Hove, England on 29 January 2023. Editorial use only PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK , Copyright: xIanxStephenx PSI-16803-0116

The Premier League season started after the FIFA World Cup break. Teams like Liverpool and Chelsea are still struggling for results. However, some teams are improving every passing day, and Brighton and Hove Albion are one of them. They knocked out Liverpool from the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday, and a Japanese soccer player is making the news after scoring the winner in the game. 

Kaoru Mitoma, who plays as a winger for Brighton, is in scintillating form for the seagulls. His recent performances have caught the eyes of fans. He is proving to be a menace to defenders with his dribbling skills. But do you know, he went to university to learn to dribble?

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Japanese soccer star wrote a thesis on dribbling at University

Mitoma, at the age of 19, left the Japanese club Kawasaki Frontale to learn to take a degree in physical education. He deemed himself not ready to play in the league and went for further studies. He started analyzing dribbling skills during his studies and ended up researching and writing a thesis on the same. 

Kaoru Mitoma has four goals and an assist in his last six games. Hard to believe Brighton paid just over $3M for him from Kawasaki Frontale in 2021 ✨ pic.twitter.com/MavWCsvTnL — B/R Football (@brfootball) January 29, 2023

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Speaking to The Athletic, the Japanese winger said ,  “It was the easiest subject for me to choose because I love football, and dribbling is what I love to do. I put cameras on the heads of my teammates to study where and what they were looking at and how their opponents were looking at them.”

Mitoma thinks great dribblers don’t look at the ball but trap the ball at their feet and dribble. He found out that if the dribbler can move the body of the defender, the chances of a successful dribble increase. The 25-year-old feels his instinct has increased based on the thesis, and it’s not great news for the Premier League defenders. His brilliant finish against Liverpool on Sunday was a good example of it. 

Mitoma is in form great form after the World Cup break

Brighton signed the Japanese left winger for just over from J1 side Kawasaki Frontale for just over 3 million USD. He has netted three goals in five appearances so far in the Premier League. But above all, he can go past the top defenders with his dribbling, which makes him more lethal. 

Read More:  VIDEO: Fuming Fan Throws a Bottle at Chelsea Superstar After Time-Wasting Efforts in Recent Premier League Win

He also has a goal and an assist in two FA Cup games this month, and his winner against Liverpool is making rounds. Brighton is currently sixth in the table and will hope Mitoma continues his form. They will face AFC Bournemouth next on Saturday and are waiting to know their FA Cup opponents for the next round.

Watch This Story:   Ferrari  Favorite Charles Leclerc Spotted With French Soccer Bombshell Paul Pogba

Do you think the research at University on dribbling is really helping Mitoma? Let us know in the comments your thoughts on his recent performances.

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Welcome to ESPN India Edition

Mitoma's dribbling thesis leaves Wolves in pieces: Moment of the Weekend

• Anirudh Menon

14 minutes into the game, the score reads 0-0. Wolverhampton Wanderers , fresh off utterly dominating Manchester United (even if they lost that one ) are keeping Brighton & Hove Albion at arm's length; and comfortably so. Which is when Pervis Estupinan gently prods the ball forward to Kaoru Mitoma .

Mitoma isn't your regular footballer. At 18, instead of turning professional, he went to college -- the University of Tsukuba -- to major in physical education and settle into senior football via their amateur college league. To get the degree, though, he needed to submit a thesis. The topic he chose for it? Dribbling.

A translation of Mitoma's thesis on information processing of the attacking side in 1v1 football situations pic.twitter.com/wXY5wy5bQQ - Eric Njiru (@EricNjiiru) February 4, 2023

Eyes up, frame upright, he receives the ball down the left touchline just past the halfway line, heels kissing the white paint. In front of him is Nelson Semedo , who's coming off a brilliant display against Alejandro Garnacho (and later Jadon Sancho ) at Old Trafford. He's confident and he's got his body position exactly the way they teach in fullback defense 101: split stance, body open towards the touchline, showing the winger down the outside. Take me on down the line, it suggests, go on then... perfect for a defender as rapid as Semedo is. Well, almost perfect.

Speaking to ESPN last season, Mitoma had explained his thought process when it comes to dribbling: "First, I look at the opponent's centre of gravity, posture, body movement, then I think about my options."

Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma says his evolution into a star winger in the Premier League has nothing to do with his university project.

Semedo's posture is just a bit too overcommitted to showing him down the line, the centre of gravity not quite where it should be. After the initial couple of touches to assess Semedo's body movement, Mitoma jags sharply inside. That's enough to throw the fullback off-balance, and by the time he recovers, Mitoma's past him.

An attempted shoulder pullback from Semedo makes Mitoma lean back a touch, but momentum is the Japanese forward's friend now. He screams forward, racing toward the Wolves box. Semedo chases, but quick as he is, he has no chance now. The pursuing Joao Gomes , even less so.

Craig Dawson is ahead of Mitoma, but he's caught in two minds - to cover the left flank, where in the space Semedo should have occupied, now lurks Brighton's Julio Encisco - or to step back into the middle and cut off Mitoma. By the time he realises Mitoma's going for goal, it's too late. He knows it too, and shouts furiously at the pacier Max Kilman to cover.

In that same ESPN interview, Mitoma had said that the whole thesis-in-dribbling bit had been way too exaggerated. "I can say that the thesis has almost nothing to do with my current play style. I chose the theme because it would be easy to write about. I simply wanted to finish my degree." Which is fair enough, but it's hard not to get carried away by the quick feet and the even quicker decision making Mitoma displays on occasion. Like this one.

Kilman reads the situation and closes down the straight route. Mitoma, fast as he's going, has seen this, and already recalibrated. One touch of his right boot, and ball and man are going past Kilman like he isn't even there.

Desperate, he pulls Mitoma back, tugging on that right shoulder again, making Mitoma lean back again... but this time he uses that to his advantage. Already leaning back, he 'Thierry Henrys' one into the bottom far corner. Just the way he loves doing it.

An old teammate of his from Union Saint-Gilloise, Christian Burgess, told Sky Sports last season that "he finishes like Thierry Henry. He is just so nonchalant at finishing into the far corner, whether it is in training and or in games. It is a strange one because most people panic but he seems to have so much time on the ball in those situations."

From first touch to last, the whole thing had lasted seven seconds. By the time he had got in front of the goalkeeper, Jose Sa , he ought to have been out of breath, his touch ought to have been just that bit less assured, but no. Head up, body upright, Mitoma knew just what to do.

He will repeat that his thesis and his dribbling have nothing to do with each other; but the more we see of Mitoma at the highest level, the more evident it's becoming that he's a devout student of the art. You can see it in how he varies his dribbling - small, quick touches when assessing the situation. Much longer, much fewer touches when he's shifted into high gear. He took five touches of the ball before getting past Semedo with his sixth. He took just five more to cover the remaining two-thirds of the distance.

There's no banking on deflections, or luck, or pure pace and power here... every touch is measured, taken for a reason, every change in direction executed with one clear aim in mind. In an era of pass-pass-pass with a hint of push-it-forward-and-sprint, it's a throwback and then some.

And so, this display of technical excellence - performed so well by this student of dribbling - is ESPN India's moment of the weekend.

• English News

Mitoma, who wrote a thesis on dribbling, wins hearts as Brighton knock Liverpool out of FA Cup

Fans have taken to social media to praise Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma following his late winner against Liverpool in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Brighton's forward Kaoru Mitoma is winning the hearts of several football enthusiasts worldwide. The 23-year-old Japanese sensation scored a spectacular late goal against Liverpool in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday to knock the defending champions out, leaving fans of the Reds in utter dismay.

In the 92nd minute of the clash at Falmer Stadium, Mitoma produced a magical moment for Roberto De Zerbi's team by deftly handling the ball and blasting it past Alisson from close range.

Fans have taken note of Mitoma's spectacular finish after his fifth goal in his six outings in all competitions for the Seagulls. Supporters have stated that Mitoma, who wrote a thesis on dribbling in university, is the kind of player who deserves a 100 million euros deal.

"Think I should keep this as a draft tweet…. MITOMA IS MAGIC!!!" wrote broadcaster Jules Breach, who is a Brighton supporter. Another fan noted, "Now Mitoma is the kind of player you pay €100M for."

The victory on Sunday is Brighton's second win over Jurgen Klopp's men in as many weeks, and some have argued that the reputation of Trent Alexander-Arnold has taken a hit.

"Mitoma has done serious damage to Trent's reputation over the last two weeks man," tweeted a third fan of Brighton.

Mitoma took a touch to remove the ball from Joe Gomez's path before releasing his shot. "That second touch from Mitoma is DISGUSTING," said another fan.

At the halfway point, Harvey Elliott gave Liverpool the advantage. Before Mitoma's late winning strike, Brighton came back and scored an equaliser through Lewis Dunk.

Here's a look at how fans reacted to Mitoma's sensational goal against Liverpool in the 4th round of the FA Cup:

• Kaoru Mitoma
• Premier League

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Mitoma's dribbling thesis leaves Wolves in pieces: Moment of the Weekend

• Anirudh Menon

14 minutes into the game, the score reads 0-0. Wolverhampton Wanderers , fresh off utterly dominating Manchester United (even if they lost that one ) are keeping Brighton & Hove Albion at arm's length; and comfortably so. Which is when Pervis Estupinan gently prods the ball forward to Kaoru Mitoma .

Mitoma isn't your regular footballer. At 18, instead of turning professional, he went to college -- the University of Tsukuba -- to major in physical education and settle into senior football via their amateur college league. To get the degree, though, he needed to submit a thesis. The topic he chose for it? Dribbling.

A translation of Mitoma's thesis on information processing of the attacking side in 1v1 football situations pic.twitter.com/wXY5wy5bQQ - Eric Njiru (@EricNjiiru) February 4, 2023

Eyes up, frame upright, he receives the ball down the left touchline just past the halfway line, heels kissing the white paint. In front of him is Nelson Semedo , who's coming off a brilliant display against Alejandro Garnacho (and later Jadon Sancho ) at Old Trafford. He's confident and he's got his body position exactly the way they teach in fullback defense 101: split stance, body open towards the touchline, showing the winger down the outside. Take me on down the line, it suggests, go on then... perfect for a defender as rapid as Semedo is. Well, almost perfect.

Speaking to ESPN last season, Mitoma had explained his thought process when it comes to dribbling: "First, I look at the opponent's centre of gravity, posture, body movement, then I think about my options."

Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma says his evolution into a star winger in the Premier League has nothing to do with his university project.

Semedo's posture is just a bit too overcommitted to showing him down the line, the centre of gravity not quite where it should be. After the initial couple of touches to assess Semedo's body movement, Mitoma jags sharply inside. That's enough to throw the fullback off-balance, and by the time he recovers, Mitoma's past him.

An attempted shoulder pullback from Semedo makes Mitoma lean back a touch, but momentum is the Japanese forward's friend now. He screams forward, racing toward the Wolves box. Semedo chases, but quick as he is, he has no chance now. The pursuing Joao Gomes , even less so.

Craig Dawson is ahead of Mitoma, but he's caught in two minds - to cover the left flank, where in the space Semedo should have occupied, now lurks Brighton's Julio Encisco - or to step back into the middle and cut off Mitoma. By the time he realises Mitoma's going for goal, it's too late. He knows it too, and shouts furiously at the pacier Max Kilman to cover.

In that same ESPN interview, Mitoma had said that the whole thesis-in-dribbling bit had been way too exaggerated. "I can say that the thesis has almost nothing to do with my current play style. I chose the theme because it would be easy to write about. I simply wanted to finish my degree." Which is fair enough, but it's hard not to get carried away by the quick feet and the even quicker decision making Mitoma displays on occasion. Like this one.

Kilman reads the situation and closes down the straight route. Mitoma, fast as he's going, has seen this, and already recalibrated. One touch of his right boot, and ball and man are going past Kilman like he isn't even there.

Desperate, he pulls Mitoma back, tugging on that right shoulder again, making Mitoma lean back again... but this time he uses that to his advantage. Already leaning back, he 'Thierry Henrys' one into the bottom far corner. Just the way he loves doing it.

An old teammate of his from Union Saint-Gilloise, Christian Burgess, told Sky Sports last season that "he finishes like Thierry Henry. He is just so nonchalant at finishing into the far corner, whether it is in training and or in games. It is a strange one because most people panic but he seems to have so much time on the ball in those situations."

From first touch to last, the whole thing had lasted seven seconds. By the time he had got in front of the goalkeeper, Jose Sa , he ought to have been out of breath, his touch ought to have been just that bit less assured, but no. Head up, body upright, Mitoma knew just what to do.

He will repeat that his thesis and his dribbling have nothing to do with each other; but the more we see of Mitoma at the highest level, the more evident it's becoming that he's a devout student of the art. You can see it in how he varies his dribbling - small, quick touches when assessing the situation. Much longer, much fewer touches when he's shifted into high gear. He took five touches of the ball before getting past Semedo with his sixth. He took just five more to cover the remaining two-thirds of the distance.

There's no banking on deflections, or luck, or pure pace and power here... every touch is measured, taken for a reason, every change in direction executed with one clear aim in mind. In an era of pass-pass-pass with a hint of push-it-forward-and-sprint, it's a throwback and then some.

And so, this display of technical excellence - performed so well by this student of dribbling - is ESPN India's moment of the weekend.

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Kaoru Mitoma turned down professional contract at 16 to go to university, his thesis was incredible

Brighton forward kaoru mitoma attended the university of tsukuba between 2016 and 2019 after rejecting a professional contract..

Jack Kenmare

Kaoru Mitoma turned down the chance to go professional at 16 to attend university – and he wrote a fascinating graduation thesis on dribbling that involved fixing a GoPro to his head.

The 25-year-old Japan international, who continues to impress for Brighton in his debut season, has taken a somewhat unconventional route to the top.

When he was 18, the talented Mitoma was offered a professional contract by local J1 League outfit Kawasaki Frontale.

But instead of taking it with both hands, like most teenagers would, the Kanagawa-born forward rejected the proposal as he felt he was not prepared for the challenges of pro football.

In the coming weeks, he would accept an offer to study physical education at the University of Tsukuba.

"I thought it would be better to go to university in order to make it as a professional footballer,” Mitoma said in a recent interview with Eurosport . "So I studied lots of things – coaching, sports and nutrition. I learned lots of things.”

As well as attending lectures, Mitoma would develop as a footballer, representing Japan at a number of university tournaments.

But at the same time, he was absolutely engrossed in his studies. In fact, the highly-rated forward decided to go above and beyond when writing his graduation thesis on the process of dribbling.

His research involved fixing a GoPro camera to his head to record his movements, examining which ones enabled him to get past opponents.

If you watch Mitoma dribble, he tends to keeps an eye on the opponent and the space in front of him rather than look down. "I am conscious of shifting the opponent's center of gravity," he said in his thesis. "If I can move the opponent's body, I win."

The thesis also describes the mechanism of the dribble and, according to reports, the piece of work sits pride of place in one of the University of Tsukuba classrooms.

"It's been passed down to his juniors as useful information," one report states. "But it seems that he left something more valuable than the contents."

Mitoma's teacher Masaaki Koido, who helped coach his graduation thesis at the university, remembers how determined the Brighton forward was.

“He was very serious," Koido told Bunshun . "He even decided on his own theme and brought it with him."

His former coach was also complimentary about his playing style. "The defenders knows what Mitoma will do next, but they somehow can’t stop him," he told the JFA .

"Even when the defenders thought they had the advantage, they always seemed to be caught flat footed. When he started dribbling near the penalty area on the left side, he was unstoppable.

"I think they call it the “Mitoma zone” at Kawasaki Frontale, but the groundwork was laid at University of Tsukuba."

After picking up valuable experience in the university setting, Mitoma agreed to sign for Kawasaki Frontale.

He made his debut on the opening week of the 2020/21 campaign and soon established himself in the Frontale first-team, becoming the first rookie to reach double digits in goals since Yoshinori Muto in 2014.

Mitoma, who would go on to score 30 goals in 64 games for soon-to-be J1 League champions, was wanted by a number of clubs in 2021, including Brighton and Hove Albion.

The Premier League side would eventually snap him up on a four-year deal before shipping him out on a season-long loan to Belgian outfit Royal Union Saint-Gilloise – a move that would help him become accustomed to European football.

"I’d been thinking about transferring to Europe since I was a child,” Mitoma told Eurosport .

"I wanted to play in a league at the highest professional level. So when I played in the J-League for a year and a half and was approached by Brighton, I felt I had to go there.”

Since coming back from his loan spell in Belgium, the 25-year-old has played a key role for Brighton this season, featuring in 12 Premier League games so far.

He continued his impressive form on Tuesday against Everton, netting for the second straight game in an emphatic 4-1 win.

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi recently said Mitoma has "big potential" and has "so much quality" to show. We're certainly looking forward to seeing him flourish in the coming weeks, months and years.

Topics:  Brighton And Hove Albion , Premier League , Japan

Senior Journalist at SPORTbible with a passion for long-form journalism. Almost 10 years’ experience across online and print.

@ jackkenmare_

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I’m a Premier League star who wrote a thesis on dribbling and wore GoPro on my head to study rivals’ weaknesses

• Joshua Hall
• Published : 8:28, 26 Aug 2023
• Updated : 9:37, 26 Aug 2023

KAORU MITOMA wrote a university thesis on how to be good at football... and now he's putting his words into practice.

The Brighton star, 26, has been nothing short of sensational since signing for the Seagulls - and has even been tipped for a Manchester United transfer .

But his impressive talents haven't come through luck and are a result of intense research and hard work.

Mitoma only turned professional aged 23 in 2020 after turning down a pro contract aged 19 in favour of going to university.

And it was during his studies that the tricky winger honed his craft and examined his rivals to get to the highest level possible.

He attended the University of Tsukuba where he studied Physical Education.

He was clearly a cut above the usual university footballer level and was picked to represent  Japan  at the 2017 and 2019 Universiade tournaments, as well as the 2018 Asian Games and the 2019 Toulon Tournament with the U23 national team.

Dribbling degree

During his final year at University, Mitoma had to complete a thesis and for him there was only one topic to write it on.

The Japanese international decided he would focus on dribbling and more importantly how to beat his man with the ball at his feet.

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Speaking to The Athletic , he explained: "It was the easiest subject for me to choose because I love football and dribbling is what I love to do.

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“There were no rules on how much to write, but I progressed with it by analysing my team-mates that were good and not-so-good dribblers and trying to find out why that was.

“I put cameras on the heads of my team-mates to study where and what they were looking at and how their opponents were looking at them.

“I learned that the good players weren’t looking at the ball. They would look ahead, trap the ball without looking down at their feet. That was the difference.

“I was one of  the better dribblers  at that time, but not exceptional.”

The 26-year-old also attached a Go-Pro to his own head to examine his own ability and figure out the best way to beat his man.

He discovered that putting his opponent off balance was the best way to do it and reckons that he is now twice the dribbler he was before.

He said: "I am conscious of shifting the opponent's centre of gravity. If I can move the opponent's body, I win.

“The power of my characteristic dribbling has doubled."

High praise

Mitoma later made it pro signing for J-League outfit Kawasaki Frontale before making his £3million move to Brighton in 2021.

He immediately went out on loan to Union SG in the Belgian first division before returning to the Premier League to make his debut last year.

Since then he has scored eight goals and registered a further eight assists for Brighton in just 35 Premier League appearances.

As a result he's been attracting interest from massive clubs like Manchester City , Arsenal and Liverpool.

And it's not just scouts and managers that are impressed with his ability, but he has come in to some high praise from former pros too.

After Mitoma's stunning solo goal against Wolves at the weekend Alan Shearer joked that he wished he could've seen the the goal from a GoPro point of view.

Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, he said: "I wish he had a GoPro on him on Saturday because the way he went past those three or four defenders was sublime.

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Comeonin !!! ~ Far East Trendy News !

Kaoru Mitoma’s Graduation Thesis: Immerse yourself in Dribbling Research!

– “Secret research stories” from a professor at the University of Tsukuba-

“FOOTBALL ZONE”:

Immerse yourself in dribbling research, graduation thesis episode

We asked “Manager Masaaki Koido, who coached the Tsukuba University Football Club for four years.”

British newspaper “Daily Mail”:

Graduation thesis written at Tsukuba University.

The theme was specialized in Dolbul.

Graduation thesis topic:

“Study on Information Processing of Attacker in One-on-One Soccer Scene”

What is the difference between a good dribbling group, including yourself, and a group that is not?

Wearing a small camera “GoPro” on your head and running with a ball, you analyze the actual footage taken.

I devoted myself to researching “Where is the other person’s gaze and how do they react?”

Director Koido, University of Tsukuba:

ーThe situation at the time when Mitoma presented her graduation thesisー

Coach Koido said, “I felt the desire to master dribbling and to think more deeply.”

He showed a strong enthusiasm for dribbling research. The image of Mitoma is still clearly visible in my mind.

Graduation theme setting:

In the laboratory, the theme of the graduation thesis can be set freely. Research based on it.

Choose an experimental theme:

Game analysis is often chosen as a theme by students.

Game analysis system: If you watch the game and get the statistical data out, you will inevitably get results, so there are few mistakes.

Choosing an experimental theme: It is an “extremely rare case” to choose an experimental theme like Mitoma.

“What kind of difference is there in conducting experiments and collecting data?” Hypothesis-testing research is difficult.

I was flooded with inquiries from students at other universities who wanted to use it for reference papers.

Director Koido’s evaluation:

-Director Koido’s evaluation is flawless-

The task of deciphering the raised themes was indeed a difficult one.

How to use weapons effectively?

in a purposeful and purposeful way, The research results that came out during the progress, I did some statistical analysis. Favorite dribbling:

We tested and considered whether there was a significant difference between skilled and semi-skilled workers.

“Knowing that research can fail,” he worked.

Research results:

“When receiving the ball, it was found that there is a difference in what other players are looking at.”

-Professionals have a good distance with their opponents-

“It’s all about understanding space,” he says.

There was a difference in “the point of dribbling with a straight line of sight”.

– Many reactions to this paper –

This paper generated a lot of reactions.

Inquiries from both domestic and foreign media, as well as students from other universities who wanted to use it for reference papers, flooded in.

Coach Koido said, “I don’t know how much he contributed to the football world.”

The culmination of Mitoma:

Mitoma trained his mind and body in the university soccer club, and as a culmination of his efforts, he left behind a difficult experimental thesis.

The quintessence of Santoma is that you can logically solve problems toward your goals and change yourself.

This paper contains a “strong determination to become a world-class player.”

(FOOTBALL ZONE)-Yahoo! News

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/4647c403147cca591e4fc9bd442d763315047529

Objective：This study investigates where in the field of vision attacking players perceive opposing players in one-on-one football situations, by level of proficiency.

The purpose of this study is to clarify the relationship between football players’ athletic ability and visual information processing,

to improve my own athletic ability, and to contribute to theoretical football training and coaching.

Methods A total of 21 offensive players belonging to the University of Tsukuba football club,

10 skilled group (top 20% of the club) and 11 semi-skilled group (bottom 20% of the club), were the subjects.

The subjects performed one-on-one attacks on a football field, receiving a ball from 3 meters away and dribbling it towards a defender.

A GoPro camera was attached to the attacker’s forehead to record the view, which maintain a upright posture while dribbling and was divided into 3×3 segments.

The defender’s body and surrounding positions were also numbered for analysis.

The visual field of the attackers was analyzed at two points in time: during trapping and during dribbling.

The location of the defender’s body in the divided field of view at each timing was examined by one-way ANOVA using SPSS.

A questionnaire was also administered to the subjects after the play to obtain subjective information on where they were looking at their opponents.

Mann-Whitney’s U test, a non-parametric method, was used to compare the results of the questionnaire.

Results GoPro image analysis revealed a clear and significant difference

between the skilled and semi-skilled groups in the degree to which the defenders were captured in the upper center field of view during trapping.

At the moment of trapping, the skilled players followed the ball with their eyes, but kept their attention on the opposing player at the edge of their sight.

During the dribbling stage after trapping, there was a difference between the skilled and semi-skilled players, although with a weaker correlation.

The skilled players looked at the defender more centrally in the horizontal direction and downward within their field of vision.

The results of the questionnaire indicated that the skilled players reported focusing on the higher part of their opponents’ bodies, which was consistent with the results of the objective image data analysis.

Conclusions Compared to the semi-skilled group,

the skilled group was able to keep the opponent in the upper center of the field of vision and to recognize the surrounding position and situation even before actually touching and trapping the ball.

In addition, the skilled group tended to maintain a upright posture while dribbling and to keep their opponents lower in their field of vision.

While bringing their opponents into perspective and being aware of one’s surroundings are suggested as factors that contribute to successful dribbling,

the possibility that proficiency in ball handling itself facilitates the maintenance of a high posture needs to be considered.

Further research is needed to conclude whether consciously keeping one’s gaze high can improve football skills.

https://note.com/yuki_alliswell/n/n9a79dcec8442

Thèse de fin d’études de Kaoru Mitoma : plongez dans la recherche sur le dribble ! 　

– “Histoires de recherche secrètes” d’un professeur de l’Université de Tsukuba-

“ZONE FOOTBALL”:

Plongez dans la recherche de dribbles, épisode de thèse de fin d’études

Nous avons demandé “le manager Masaaki Koido, qui a entraîné le club de football de l’université de Tsukuba pendant quatre ans”.

Journal britannique “Daily Mail”:

Thèse de fin d’études rédigée à l’Université de Tsukuba.

Le thème était spécialisé dans Dolbul.

Sujet de mémoire de fin d’études :

“Étude sur le traitement de l’information d’un attaquant dans une scène de football en tête-à-tête”

Quelle est la différence entre un bon groupe de dribbles, y compris vous-même, et un groupe qui ne l’est pas ?

Portant une petite caméra “GoPro” sur la tête et courant avec un ballon, vous analysez les images réelles prises.

Je me suis consacré à la recherche “Où est le regard de l’autre et comment réagit-il?”

Directeur Koido, Université de Tsukuba :

ーLa situation au moment où Mitoma a présenté sa thèse de fin d’étudesー

L’entraîneur Koido a déclaré: “J’ai ressenti le désir de maîtriser le dribble et de réfléchir plus profondément.”

Il a montré un fort enthousiasme pour la recherche de dribble. L’image de Mitoma est encore bien visible dans mon esprit.

Réglage du thème de la remise des diplômes :

Au laboratoire, le thème du mémoire de fin d’études peut être défini librement. Recherche basée sur celle-ci.

Choisissez un thème expérimental :

L’analyse de jeu est souvent choisie comme thème par les élèves.

Système d’analyse de jeu : Si vous regardez le jeu et obtenez les données statistiques, vous obtiendrez inévitablement des résultats, il y a donc peu d’erreurs.

Choisir un thème expérimental : C’est un “cas extrêmement rare” de choisir un thème expérimental comme Mitoma.

“Quelle sorte de différence y a-t-il dans la conduite d’expériences et la collecte de données?” La recherche pour tester des hypothèses est difficile.

J’ai été inondé de demandes d’étudiants d’autres universités qui voulaient l’utiliser pour des documents de référence.

Évaluation du réalisateur Koido :

-L’évaluation du réalisateur Koido est sans faille-

La tâche de décrypter les thèmes soulevés était en effet difficile.

Comment utiliser efficacement les armes ?

d’une manière délibérée et utile, Les résultats de recherche qui sont sortis au cours du progrès, J’ai fait quelques analyses statistiques. Dribble préféré :

Nous avons testé et examiné s’il existait une différence significative entre les travailleurs qualifiés et semi-qualifiés.

« Sachant que la recherche peut échouer », il y travaillait.

Résultats de recherche:

“Lors de la réception du ballon, il a été constaté qu’il y avait une différence dans ce que les autres joueurs regardaient.”

-Les professionnels ont une bonne distance avec leurs adversaires-

“Il s’agit de comprendre l’espace”, dit-il.

Il y avait une différence dans “le point de dribbler avec une ligne de mire droite”.

– De nombreuses réactions à cet article –

Cet article a suscité de nombreuses réactions.

Les demandes des médias nationaux et étrangers, ainsi que des étudiants d’autres universités qui souhaitaient l’utiliser pour des documents de référence, ont afflué.

L’entraîneur Koido a déclaré: “Je ne sais pas à quel point il a contribué au monde du football.”

L’aboutissement de Mitoma :

Mitoma a formé son esprit et son corps dans le club de football universitaire et, comme point culminant de ses efforts, il a laissé derrière lui une thèse expérimentale difficile.

La quintessence de Santoma est que vous pouvez logiquement résoudre des problèmes vers vos objectifs et vous changer.

Ce document contient une “forte détermination à devenir un acteur de classe mondiale”.

(ZONE DE FOOTBALL) – Nouvelles de Yahoo!

Kaoru Mitomas Abschlussarbeit: Tauchen Sie ein in die Dribbling-Forschung! 　

– „Geheime Forschungsgeschichten“ von einem Professor der Universität Tsukuba-

“FUßBALLZONE”:

Tauchen Sie ein in die Dribbelforschung, Abschlussarbeitsfolge

Wir fragten „Manager Masaaki Koido, der vier Jahre lang den Tsukuba University Football Club trainierte“.

Britische Zeitung “Daily Mail”:

Abschlussarbeit an der Tsukuba University.

Das Thema war auf Dolbul spezialisiert.

Thema der Abschlussarbeit:

„Studie zur Informationsverarbeitung von Angreifern in der Eins-gegen-Eins-Fußballszene“

Was ist der Unterschied zwischen einer guten Dribbling-Gruppe, zu der auch Sie gehören, und einer Gruppe, die es nicht ist?

Sie tragen eine kleine Kamera „GoPro“ auf dem Kopf und laufen mit einem Ball, um die tatsächlich aufgenommenen Aufnahmen zu analysieren.

Ich widmete mich der Recherche “Wo ist der Blick des anderen und wie reagiert er?”

Direktor Koido, Universität Tsukuba:

ーDie Situation zu der Zeit, als Mitoma ihre Abschlussarbeit präsentierteー

Trainer Koido sagte: “Ich hatte den Wunsch, das Dribbling zu meistern und tiefer zu denken.”

Er zeigte eine starke Begeisterung für die Dribbling-Forschung. Das Bild von Mitoma ist immer noch deutlich in meinem Kopf sichtbar.

Abschlussthemaeinstellung:

Im Labor kann das Thema der Abschlussarbeit frei gesetzt werden. Darauf basierende Forschung.

Wähle ein experimentelles Thema:

Spielanalyse wird oft als Thema von Studenten gewählt.

Spielanalysesystem: Wenn Sie sich das Spiel ansehen und die statistischen Daten abrufen, erhalten Sie unweigerlich Ergebnisse, daher gibt es nur wenige Fehler.

Auswahl eines experimentellen Themas: Es sei ein “äußerst seltener Fall”, ein experimentelles Thema wie Mitoma zu wählen.

„Welchen Unterschied gibt es zwischen der Durchführung von Experimenten und der Erhebung von Daten?“ Forschung, die Hypothesen testet, ist schwierig.

Ich wurde mit Anfragen von Studenten anderer Universitäten überflutet, die es für Referenzarbeiten verwenden wollten.

Die Einschätzung von Regisseur Koido:

-Die Bewertung von Regisseur Koido ist einwandfrei-

Die Aufgabe, die aufgeworfenen Themen zu entschlüsseln, war in der Tat schwierig.

Wie setzt man Waffen effektiv ein?

gezielt und zielgerichtet, Die Forschungsergebnisse, die während des Fortschritts herauskamen, Ich habe einige statistische Analysen durchgeführt. Lieblingsdribbling:

Wir haben getestet und überlegt, ob es einen signifikanten Unterschied zwischen Facharbeitern und Angelernten gibt.

“Im Wissen, dass die Forschung scheitern könnte”, arbeitete er daran.

Forschungsergebnisse:

“Bei der Ballannahme wurde festgestellt, dass es einen Unterschied gibt, was andere Spieler sehen.”

-Profis haben einen guten Abstand zu ihren Gegnern-

„Es geht darum, den Raum zu verstehen“, sagt er.

Es gab einen Unterschied im „Punkt des Dribblings mit gerader Sichtlinie“.

– Viele Reaktionen auf dieses Papier –

Dieses Papier löste viele Reaktionen aus.

Anfragen von in- und ausländischen Medien sowie von Studierenden anderer Hochschulen, die es für Referenzarbeiten nutzen wollten, gingen ein.

Trainer Koido sagte: “Ich weiß nicht, wie viel er zur Fußballwelt beigetragen hat.”

Der Höhepunkt von Mitoma:

Mitoma trainierte seinen Geist und Körper im Fußballverein der Universität, und als Höhepunkt seiner Bemühungen hinterließ er eine schwierige experimentelle Arbeit.

Die Quintessenz von Santoma ist, dass Sie Probleme logisch lösen können, um Ihre Ziele zu erreichen und sich selbst zu verändern.

Dieses Papier enthält eine “starke Entschlossenheit, ein Weltklasse-Spieler zu werden”.

(FOOTBALL ZONE) – Yahoo!-Nachrichten

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Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma did his university thesis on football driblling.

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As a graduate student, you may need to complete a thesis or dissertation as part of your program's graduation requirements. While theses are common among master’s students and dissertations among doctoral students, this may not apply universally across all programs. We encourage you to reach out to your program adviser to determine the specific requirements for your culminating project.

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The Office of Theses and Dissertations is the unit of the Graduate School responsible for certifying that theses and dissertations have been prepared in accordance with formatting requirements established by the Graduate School, the University Libraries, and the graduate faculty of Penn State. We are here to help you navigate the review and approval process to ensure you are able to graduate on time.

The Thesis and Dissertation Handbook explains Penn State formatting requirements for all master’s theses and doctoral dissertations. It covers the submission process and approval deadlines, the responsibilities of each student, and provides page examples. We highly recommend all students doing theses or dissertations to carefully review the handbook.

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Luis Bernardi Junqueria Wins Award for Best PhD Thesis in Chinese Studies in 2023

8 July 2024

Congratulations to our PhD student, Luis Bernardi Junqueria, who has won the British Association for Chinese Studies Doctoral Award for the best PhD thesis in Chinese studies completed at a British university in 2023!

The Science of the Spirit: Psychical Research, Healthcare and the Revival of the Occult in a Modernising China, 1900–1949

Author: Dr Luis Fernando Bernardi Junqueira Supervisors: Professor Vivienne Lo and Professor Sonu Shamdasani

How did a new science initially promoted by only a few individuals eventually become a widespread cultural phenomenon practised by thousands of people? My thesis examines the transnational history of psychical research in Republican China (1912-1949), a field dedicated to the scientific investigation of paranormal phenomena such as hypnotism, mediumship and extrasensory perception. Originating in late 19th-century Britain, psychical research captivated the imagination of scientists and intellectuals worldwide, offering the potential to expand the boundaries of science beyond the material world. The field promised to showcase the supremacy of mind over matter, casting exceptional abilities into the domain of science. Amidst the turmoil of imperialism and civil wars, Republican reformers lauded psychical research as a scientific means to enhance the Chinese mind by unlocking hidden psychic powers. They believed this would save China from the grip of Western materialism, leading to a superior ‘spiritual modernity’ rooted in science, tradition and mental reality.

My thesis examines how Republican reformers appropriated psychical research during their modernisation efforts and its impact on Chinese notions of health and religious experience. I argue that China’s engagement with this field reflects the interplay between local interests and global movements that denounced Western modernity as materialistic and dehumanising. Challenging the narrative that science inevitably leads to secularisation, I demonstrate how psychical research rekindled interest among highly-educated Chinese in practices previously deemed ‘superstitious’. My research utilises an unexplored collection of sources and engages with scholarship in eight languages. It examines the dynamics between local and global forces and the rhetorical boundaries between ‘science’ and ‘non-science’ in early 20th-century China. My work upsets prevailing narratives that construe China’s modernity as a derivative of Western standards. It contributes to medical historiography by revealing the pluralistic healing landscape of the Republican era and the creative ways the Chinese appropriated psychological knowledge. It also fills gaps in religious and intellectual history, uncovering vast social networks previously unknown. In short, my thesis reorients how tradition, psychology and transnational movements shaped China’s construction of its own modernity.  

For further details, please visit Luis's website.

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Dissertation & Thesis Frequently Asked Questions

Preliminary review.

Reviews are scheduled through Microsoft Bookings following the instructions on the Preliminary Technical Review page.

All reviews should be made using your school email address ending in @baylor.edu.

All reviews take place online via Teams. You will receive a Teams meeting link in the confirmation email you receive after scheduling.

You most likely used an email other than your school email ending in @baylor.edu. The confirmation emails with the links often go to spam; please check that folder.

Use the options on your confirmation email to reschedule your review. Please do not try to reschedule via email.

Appointment slots are limited; you should only sign up for one preliminary review to ensure there is opportunity for all students to have a review. The only exception is if a Dissertation and Thesis staff member directs you to sign up for an additional appointment.

You must submit your materials to your profile in Vireo at least one hour prior to your review. If your materials are not submitted, you risk having your review cancelled.

Reviews for students who have clearly not applied the required formatting will be cancelled. Students will be notified via email.

Vireo Submission (Baylor's Submission Portal)

Students submit through Baylor’s Dissertation and Thesis submission portal, Vireo, which can be accessed at https://baylor-etd.tdl.org/. The manuscript and all accompanying documents will be uploaded there.  We do not accept documents via email.

You should only use the “Shibboleth Login” following the instructions on the Preliminary Review page. Do not create an account with an email/password. It should require you to use Duo to login after clicking “Shibboleth Login.”

Yes. Students should never create a new submission, even if they are temporarily unable to upload. (See next question.) All revisions, forms, and other documents must be submitted to the same profile.

The system will only allow uploads if your status is set to “Needs Corrections.” Please email  [email protected]  and a consultant will change your status.

Students are not able to change basic submission information once it is submitted. Please email the changes you need made to  [email protected]  and we will make those changes in the system for you.

Signature Page

a) Click on the correct signature page (number of committee members = number of lines) b)When you see the screen that says "Please Wait," click on the download button in the right-hand corner of the screen.  c) Save the document to your computer. d) Go to the folder where you saved the signature page.  e) Right click, select "Open With" and click on "Adobe." 

Click “print” and select “Microsoft Print to PDF.” This will allow you to save as a regular PDF without fillable fields.

No. You should turn in the signed page with signatures from all committee members and your department chair; the Graduate School will obtain the Dean’s signature.

No. The Graduate School does not accept paper copies of any forms or manuscripts. All paperwork should be uploaded directly to the student’s Vireo submission portal. Physical forms that are dropped off at the office will be shredded.

Baylor provides KIC scanners for student use in Moody Library, including in the Graduate Research Center on the 2 nd  floor. Students may also choose to use scanning apps on their phones, such as Scannable, etc. Photographs or sloppy scans of forms are not accepted.

No. The only forms submitted directly by the department are both online: The Announcement of Oral Exam form and the Results of Oral Examination form. Departments who assist in obtaining signatures should send the signed forms back to the student, who will then submit.

Students should submit forms (unsigned and signed signature pages, Copyright and Availability form, and Approval of Final Dissertation/Thesis Copy form) directly to Vireo. Doctoral students will need to submit the Doctoral Investment Form online.

It is your responsibility to schedule far enough in advance to ensure that all committee members can meet  prior  to the defense deadline.

As long as you have all of your materials and final revisions turned in by the 10-day deadline, you may make necessary formatting changes after that deadline.

All changes should be made within 48 hours of receiving the notification email.

The Dissertation and Thesis Office works through submissions as quickly as possible. Timelines vary by individual student based on how quickly they turn in revisions, how many revisions they have, and whether we have received all of their forms.

Master's students'  information is sent to our Student Records area immediately upon approval in  Vireo . After receiving the Vireo approval email, please allow for a few days for that requirement to be cleared on your audit.

Doctoral students'  information is sent to our Student Records area immediately upon approval in  ProQuest  (see section below.) After receiving the Vireo approval email, doctoral students should follow the instructions in the email in order to upload to ProQuest. They will receive an email from ProQuest alerting them when their ProQuest submission has been approved. After receiving the ProQuest approval email, please allow for a few days for that requirement to be cleared on your audit.

ProQuest Submission (Global repository; Required for doctoral students AFTER Vireo Approval)

Students should only upload to ProQuest after receiving the approval email from Vireo stating that their dissertation (or thesis) is approved and ready for submission. The Vireo approval email includes instructions on how to upload to ProQuest, including the information in the questions below.

After approval on Vireo, go to your Vireo submission and download the “primary document” on file. This will include your unsigned signature page and be the official copy of your dissertation approved by Baylor. This is the document you should upload to ProQuest. It is also the document you should use for all future printings/copies of your dissertation.

Baylor does not pay any fees associated with ProQuest submission and publication. The “Traditional Publishing” option is free through ProQuest and is what the majority of students select.

Based on US Copyright laws, your dissertation is automatically protected by copyright in your name when it assumes "fixed form." Whether or not you want to formally register that copyright with the US Copyright Office is up to you.

You should choose the embargo that matches the one indicated on your Copyright and Availability form. If you chose a 5-year embargo, you will need to use the “Note to Administrator” to let us know, and we will manually enter that embargo before approval.

Bound copies are processed only after submissions are delivered to the system on the day of commencement. This means you will need to wait several weeks after your graduation for your copies to arrive. Baylor is not involved in printing or delivering bound copies; any questions regarding printed and bound copies should be directed to ProQuest.

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