 |
| John and Jesse (Takamiyama) |
When John Jacques arrived in Honolulu to watch a professional Sumo Exhibition, he could never have imagined the journey in Sumo that he was about to embark on. In a very short time he found himself making his first trip to Japan as part of the Hawaii team. He did poorly but the sumo bug had bitten him hard and his passion for the sport was becoming very strong. While in Japan he had dinner with Jesse, the great Hawaiian known in Japan as Takamiyama. That conversation would make it's way back to former Yokozuna, Yoshibayama who was then the Oyakata at Miyagino Beya. When John returned to Hawaii, he received a call. The former Yokozuna wanted to offer him the chance of a lifetime, to come to Japan and train for 3 months at the stable. To learn the ways of sumo and bring his knowledge back to Hawaii to raise a new crop of sumo wrestles. What they saw in John, and what I saw in him still during a recent interview was a well stoked fire in his belly for the sport.
John received his training in the summer of 1976. When he arrived he was told that he wouldn't become a great wrestler in only 3 months, but what they hoped to do is give him a good overview that would help the Hawaiians back home.
First Month : John was treated like a new recruit, enduring all the hardships that come with it. The lowest of the low, he was expected to be up early, helping the senior wrestlers, cooking food, scrubbing floors and toilets and eating from the Chanko pot last. He received blows from the bamboo stick (shinai) as he strained to do the 300 shiko asked of him. It was a brutal first month, but John was dedicated.
Second Month: Now he would be promoted to the upper ranks of Makushita, being able to take things a little easier. With this came a little more free time and some better selections at the dinner table.
Third Month : In the final month, he was treated like a top division wrestler, going to dinner with sponsors and eating the choice pieces of meat. While he didn't win very often, he had gained the knowledge he would need to make Hawaii a Sumo powerhouse for years to come.
When I interview John, I was captivated by his exuberance for this sport. But one thing stands out to me form the interview. When asked about how Sumo changed his life John said that "Sumo made me a much better man. Sumo stripped me down to the core and built me back up again. I was a much better husband when I returned than the day I left for Tokyo." It's this aspect of Sumo that I think has made John so successful as a coach and ambassador for this sport.
Sumo as a way of life has captivated my experience over the last year as I've been fortunate to be part of building a club, and not just building a club physically. Our clubs values have sought to reflect the values of Budo, the way of the Warrior. Caring for those around us and being upstanding members of our society. These are values that every parent should want for their children and I think sumo embodies those values better than any sport out there available to young people.
I'll leave you with John's own words :
“I soon came to realize that the Japanese amateur and professional sumo organizations wanted to give me a complete overview of the world of sumo and sumo-do, the way of sumo. Whether a wrestler remains an amateur or turns professional he chooses to live by a strict code of conduct.
He must show allegiance and obedience to those above him in seniority and or rank and always respect the sport and his opponents. Honesty dedication, hard work and guts are the mainstays of all sumotori and those not willing to walk the straight and narrow path are quickly steered out of the sport. The sumo wrestlers strong clean body focused mind, fighting spirit
and humble attitude make him a worthy hero among his countrymen. The concept of sumo-do goes far beyond the requirements to participate in an American sport. It is a combination of religious avocation and a dedication to sports intertwined with a sense of nationalism.”
No comments:
Post a Comment