The Sumo Brotherhood : Help those around you!

 One of the things that strikes you when you join the sumo community is the warm reception you get as a newcomer and the willingness of the more experienced to give you a helping hand. This is apparent at every tournament you go to. I remember my first tournament, fellow lightweight Justin Kizzart coached me before and after some of my matches. Even though I represented a potential threat as I was unknown to him, he was more than willing to help the new guy. 

I think this spirit is one that we must hang on to in the sport as long as we can. Many other sports seem to be driven by people with giant egos and bad attitudes. We are lucky in that most people in Sumo are here for the camaraderie as much as the competition. I think this helps us in the long run because the only way we are going to be competitive Internationally is to stand together as American Sumo Wrestlers and make everyone around us better. Because if you can't cut it as an individual, maybe you can help someone else cut it. And maybe that person goes on to win a medal at worlds. 

 Now I'm not suggesting we all lose our competitive edge. Do whatever you need to do. But never be so into your own ego that you can't lend a helping hand to those around you. 

I had the privilege of practicing with Dark Circle Sumo in Austin Texas after a dismal performance at the tournament. I was pretty discouraged but at practice, Justin was able to refocus my attention on the details and helped me realize that I can do it. I have the tools, I just need to sharpen them. His excitement for me to do well is something we could all learn from. 

Ohayo Sumo : A No Frills Practice Approach

  Today I thought I would write a basic overview of Ohayo Sumo practices to maybe help other clubs get a sense of what, for us, makes a solid practice. I feel I can say without pretension that Ohayo Sumo has gained somewhat of a reputation for our style of sumo and the intensity of our practices. 

 So what goes in to a practice. 

 Here is the basic layout and then I'll expound on some philosophy. 

 - 40-50 Shiko

 - 5 Minutes Surashi

 - 5 Minutes Surashi variations 

 - Matches 

 - Matches 

 - More Matches 

 - Butsukari 

We try to keep instruction limited to the individual needing the instruction, meaning that we don't stop the entire practice to give a 5 minute dissertation. Everyone keeps practicing and moving their bodies. 

 We try to limit chatter during practice and just stay as focused as we can. This isn't always the case, but it's an ideal. 

 If a person has a specific thing he wants to work on, he can grab a partner and do so, but again, it doesn't interrupt the flow of the rest of the practice. Nobody should be standing around unless they're waiting for another chance to get in the ring. 

 Our practice philosophy is pretty basic : Get as many matches in as you can. 

 Something Darius said early on when we started the club was that for those years he trained by himself he felt deprived of matches. We try to do as much of our practice like the pros, but unlike the pros, we don't practice every day for 8 hours. You can weight train and work on conditioning stuff at home, but you usually only get one chance a week to go against another opponent and this is the most valuable training there is. 

 Our practices are pretty intense, and usually by the end everybody is completely exhausted. We joke that it isn't a good practice unless Austin Goode is laying on the floor gasping for air. 

 I hope this helps to give a basic overview of what it is Ohayo Sumo values in a practice session and maybe will help you structure your own practice sessions! 

 

Dreams Coming True and History Remembered

 On February 6th, a long time dream of mine became a reality. Ohayo Sumo had it's first Youth Sumo practice. 

The kids began filing in as the adult practice was finishing up. I greeted them at the door, and began to tie their mawashi's. I was really impressed with how little hesitation there was on their part. It's hard enough to get an adult to put in the dreaded "diaper", but these kids were unflinching. 

 We started them off with the basics, shiko, surashi and butsukari. They were good listeners and followed the instructions well. Towards the end we let them get in a few matches. All in all, an incredible day. 

 What does this all mean to me? It's hard to put it into words. As I stood there watching the kids I became emotional and misty eyed as I thought about what has preceded this moment. It began for me as a boy in the late 90s seeing Musashimaru and Akebono on ESPN at my grandparents house. But as I have made friends and learned from others, this love affair with sumo began in America long ago.

Sumo Club in Sacramento California, 1920s 

 It began with the Japanese immigrants to Hawaii working in the sugar mills and holding weekend tournaments. The lumber mill workers in the Pacific Northwest and immigrants into California. It began with US service members stationed in Japan, bringing the sport home. With men like Ernie Hunt who revived the Hawaii Sumo tradition. With Jesse, the first Foreigner and American to hoist the Emperors Cup. It began with a "broken down haole" school teacher who would get the chance of a lifetime and later would give amateur sumo a shot in the arm both nationally and internationally. With a Hawaiian boy with Samoan roots who rose to the top division in just 12 basho and became one of the biggest sumo stars the sport had ever seen. 

Henry "Sentoyru" Miller, the first successful Rikishi from the Mainland

With a kid from Ferguson Missouri who, despite a career riddled with injuries, posted winning records against future Yokozuna Asashoryu and Ozeki Kotomitsuki. With another pair of Hawaii boys who would finally do what no foreigner had done before, reach the pinnacle of the mountain and wear the white rope of a Yokozuna. 

Yokozuna Musashimaru, Ozeki Konishiki and Yokozuna Akebono 

 Hawaii has had strong youth sumo for many years. And several attempts have been made to try youth sumo here on the mainland. I hope we can lean on this rich history we have of sumo in the United States and that it helps us be the first on the mainland to grow a strong youth program and inspire others to try it themselves. And who knows, maybe we can train a future World Champion, maybe even send a kid to Japan. Wouldn't that be something? 

Thanks for all your support.