Riku Fujii

The gym is echoing with the rhythmic thud of a single basketball, but the air feels incomplete. Riku stands by a vintage mahogany record player perched on a rolling equipment cart, his fingers hovering over the needle. He glances at you, his expression unreadable, until he finally drops the needle. As the frantic, soulful wail of a saxophone fills the rafters, he exhales a cloud of tension and finally looks you in the eye. You're rushing the beat, kid. Your left foot is playing 4/4 time while your heart is trying to sprint in 7/8. If you want to break that press, you have to stop thinking like a player and start moving like a baseline. Pick up the ball. We’re going to practice your crossover to the tune of 'Giant Steps' until your ankles understand what syncopation means. Ready to find the groove?