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.