April 2007

Haru Cup In Hakuho's Hands

Kinboshi: Receivers and Givers

    
Haru Cup in Hakuho’s Hands
Goes 13-2, Wins Playoff with Shoryu:  Kaio Achieves Milestone
by “Yukikaze for SUMO SHIMPO

In 2006, at the Osaka Prefectural Taiikukan, yokozuna-East ASASHORYU (Mongolia) came looking to get back on track after losing for the first time in over a year’s worth of action.  “The Express” did get himself back on the rails and rode to another yusho.

But that was then.  2007 saw a different SHORYU step onto the dohyo for the year’s first chiho basho – and the roof seemed to fall in on him as he lost his two first torikumi.  One of those defeats was at the hands of a hiramaku:  the 18th kinboshi of his career went to maegashira #1-West MIYABIYAMA.  These unexpected setbacks opened up the yusho race to a host of contenders; but by day 13 it was ozeki #1-West HAKUHO (Mongolia) who had bounced back from a shonichi loss with 12 consecutive shiroboshi to pull into the lead.  A day 14 loss to the sole yokozuna made it a two-way tie, and both men won on senshuraku to finish at 13-2.  “Sleeping Thunder” derailed “The Express” for the second yusho of his career, and (with a second consecutive yusho) a chance of ascending to Grand Sumo’s pinnacle in May in Tokyo.

With the notable exception of HAKUHO, the ozeki contingent’s performance could be described with “p” adjectives:  puny, punk, and downright poor. #3-West TOCHIAZUMA came into the basho vulnerable to demotion, but won his first 7 matches to briefly figure in the race for the Cup.  He lost his next two, made his kachi on day 10 – and promptly withdrew from the contest, citing health issues.  #2-#East KOTOOSHU (Bulgaria) and #2-West KAIO both finished with pokey 8-7’s.  The Tomozuna heyagashira did make sumo history with his day 11 win over #1-East CHIYOTAIKAI:  it was his 684th Makunouchi Division victory, which moved him past Takamiyama into sixth place on the career wins list.  He now has more Makunouchi wins (687) than any other rikishi who did not eventually put on a tsuna (refer to the “600-Win Club” list in this issue).  TAIKAI recovered from that loss and stood in good position at 7‑5 after day 12, but simply couldn’t close the deal:  he lost his focus along with his last three matches, finished at 7‑8, and is the latest ozeki to be stuck with a kadoban situation.

In the lower sanyaku, it was a ‘good news/bad news’ situation for Sadogatake Beya, since both sekiwake slots were occupied by rikishi who bear the proprietary KOTO prefix in their shikona.  On the East side, KOTOMITSUKI had his best performance in a while:  the former collegian fought a strong and consistent tournament and finished at 10-5  The story was quite different for west-sider KOTOSHOGIKU:  he lost his first three torikumi, was make-koshi on day 9, and only then was he able to pull out of freefall with six wins to finish at 7-8.  Komusubi-East AMA (Mongolia), all 124 kg (273 lbs.) of him, fought well in the ‘killer slot’ and actually had his 8th win on day 13, but may have relaxed a bit too much and lost his last pair for an 8-7.  Komusubi-West TOKITENKU (Mongolia) spiked SHORYU on shonichi, and managed to hold balance at 5-5 going into day 11; but 3 losses saddled him with a 7-8 and a ticket onto the erebeta back down to the maegashira rank-and-file.

The race for top maegashira honors ended in a three-way tie at 11-4 between #5-East HOMASHO (who garnered the Gino-Sho), #14‑East TOCHIOZAN (who earned the Kanto-Sho in his shin-nyumaku performance) and veteran #16-East WAKANOSATO.  Other hiramaku efforts earning mention in these despatches:

#7-East KOKKAI (Georgia Republic) (10-5)

#8-West TAMANOSHIMA (10-5)

#9-East AMINISHIKI (9-6)

#11-West KAKURYU (Mongolia) (9-6)

#15-East SHIMOTORI (9-6)

MIYABIYAMA garnered the first kinboshi of his career, but did not qualify for the Shukun-Sho.

In Juryo:  #4-East SATOYAMA won the championship, and a ticket to the top row of the banzuke, with a strong 12-3 posting.  Other worthy efforts from the “ten-ryo” ranks:

#1-East OTSUKASA (11-4)

#3-East RYUO (Mongolia) (9-6)

#4-West HOKUTORIKI (9-6)

#5-West KITAZAKURA (9-6)

#6-East TOCHISAKAE (9-6)

#9-West GOEIDO (11-4)

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Kinboshi:  Receivers and Givers

(updated after Haru 2007)

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JUNIOR DIVISION YUSHO WINNERS

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The 600-Win Club

(updated after Haru 2007)

* Non-Japanese

The ASASHORYU Watch

(updated after Haru 2007)

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IF YOU REALLY LOVE SUMO, AND WANT TO STAY CLOSE TO IT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME…

MAKE THE COMMITMENT!!

Become a United States Sumo Federation LIFE MEMBER

A one-time tax-deductible donation of $200.00 eliminates your worries about annual USSF dues FOR LIFE.  If you compete in USSF-sanctioned amateur sumo events for ten years or more, a Life Membership will pay for itself.  It also shows you are very serious about the sport, and is a definite ‘resume enhancer’ if you decide to seek office in the USSF or any other amateur sports body.

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SHUNBUN 2007:  No Mongolian Spice, But Some Great Stories

Report by “Yukikaze” for SUMO SHIMPO

To be really honest, SHUNBUN 2006 was going to be a very hard act to follow:  There was only a slim chance (at best) that we would have anywhere near the same number of competitors for the 2007 version.  When Troy Collins announced he would not be coming, the chances of having any Mongolian sumotori joining us became slimmer still.  The Oceanside Sumo Kyokai, which had made such a strong showing the previous year, was represented solely by Michelle Pike and new recruits Lindsey Hood and Jimmy Calas.  Golden State Sumo’s Doug Cochran brought Steve Moore, a former high school/college football player, as well as his own children Sawyer and Shannon.  Dan Kalbfleisch and Bradley Sutton carried the California Sumo Association colors.  Southern California Sumo Kyokai members Kurt Rightmyer, Art Morrow and Mike Simpson drove in with kids Cory, Judy and Steve respectively, to take part with SCSK founders Hiroshi Matsuzaki and this correspondent.  Juvenile males Brandon Freel (Goltz) and Zachary Clark (SCSK) filled out the lists.

The field may have been smaller than last year, but the fighting spirit was there in abundance.  It was a great outing for the Cochran children:  son Sawyer won a best-two-of-three against Cory Rightmyer, while daughter Shannon’s hard work paid off with victory over Judy Morrow.  The big boys’ division saw rookie sumotori and judo student Zachary Clark take the gold medal in surprising fashion, with Steve Simpson taking the silver and Brandon Freel the bronze.

With Trent Sabo and Jason Gilbert not present, the men’s lightweights came down to a best-two-of-three between Art Morrow and Hiroshi Matsuzaki.  Our most-esteemed patron and research editor fought very hard, but the coach from Palm Desert won out for the top honors.  There was no Masters’ competition this time out.

Only two women came to the “DoD” to compete – but did they ever!  Michelle Pike had her hands more than full with football player/powerlifter/rookie sumotori Lindsey Hood, who had driven up from San Diego to try her hand at this.  In probably the most inspiring story to come out of this tournament, Lindsey won out in the best-two-of-three match battle –despite the minor handicap of an artificial leg.  (Why should Heather Mills have all the fun on Dancing With the Stars? – Ed.)

The middleweights were (in the opinion of this correspondent, anyway) the most exciting competition in this year’s edition.  Kurt, Doug, Brad and Jimmy threw themselves headlong into a round-robin bursting with energy.  When all the official bouts were done, a three-way tie at 2-1 existed between Brad, Doug and Jimmy.  It then went to a playoff, where the first man who could win two bouts in succession would get the gold medal.  When the dust and salt finally settled, Jimmy had the top honors with Doug holding the silver and Brad the bronze.  The middleweight medal presentation was done right afterwards – because Jimmy, a newly-ordained minister, had to head back home to perform a wedding!  This action helps make the case that amateur sumotori are better-conditioned athletes than the professionals.  In his remarks after the tournament, organizer and referee Harry “Tonkatsu” Dudrow stated that, in the future, round robins would be used to seed a bracket for the finals.

2006 California Amateur Sumotori of the Year Dan Kalbfleisch claimed he would be under the 253-pound middleweight threshold for the US Sumo Open in April.  (He did make it, with good results:  see article in this issue – Ed.).  But for SHUNBUN he was still in the heavyweight category along with rookie sumotori Steve Moore, Mike Simpson and this writer.  Unlike the middles, the four-man round robin yielded a clear 1-2-3 finish:  Dan, Steve, and Mike.  These three, with Brad joining in, formed the field for the Open competition.  And once again, the round robin action resulted in an unambiguous result:  Dan, Steve, and Brad.

Dan now has four medals (all gold) for the 2007 season.  Jimmy and Steve both established strong chops for SUMO SHIMPO’s Rookie-of-the-Year honors, while Lindsey has a ‘leg up’ (no offense intended – Ed.) on being named Female Sumotori of the Year.  Full tournament results are located elsewhere on this page.

Together with its autumnal counterpart, SHUNBUN represents sumo in its natural state, on natural surface under the open sky.  It is here, however, that a somber event must be reported.  A large Brazilian pepper tree (also known as the ‘monkey puzzle’ tree) had been in the backyard of what would eventually be called “Meade Station” when Lorinda’s family moved into the house in the mid-50’s.  Over the years it had grown to provide a large section of shade in that otherwise-open yard.  And many sumo fans had utilized that shade when they came to the “Dohyo of Dreams” for tournaments.  Sadly, they will no longer be able to hide from the sun under those tangled branches:  the fierce winds that came through the area the week after SHUNBUN pushed the tree over, ripping its roots from the ground.  In pace requiescat!

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<< HEATHER WHO??… Rookie sumotori Lindsey Hood (in blue singlet) did not let her minor handicap get in the way, as she overpowered Michelle Pike for the gold medal in Women’s Open action at SHUNBUN 2007 on the “Dohyo of Dreams” in Garden Grove, CA.  (Photo:  “Yukikaze”)

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Winds of Change Sweep “Dohyo of Dreams”
By "Tonkatsu" for SUMO SHIMPO

As the saying goes, "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb."  Of course, the fact is, that the only thing predictable about March weather is that it's totally unpredictable.  Case in point:  Tuesday March 27, 2007.  The weather forecast called for "scattered showers."  We don't know about you, but a forecast of "scattered showers" usually doesn't conjure up images in this writer’s mind of roofs torn off, downed power lines and trees blown down.  But, that's exactly what we got in Southern California that day. 

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RESULTS OF SHUNBUN 2007 (The Spring Equinox Tournament)
(March 24, 2007:  “Dohyo of Dreams”, Garden Grove, CA)

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The Photo Page:  SHUNBUN 2007 (by various photographers)

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2007 US Sumo Open: Best Yet, IMHO
Report by “Yukikaze” for SUMO SHIMPO

The Los Angeles Sports Arena at Exposition Park was where JFK and LBJ were nominated as the 1960 Democratic Presidential ticket.  It hosted the Lakers and the Kings prior to the construction of the Forum in Inglewood.  It was then home to the Los Angeles Clippers until the Staples Center was built, which left the University of Southern California basketball teams as the venue’s only major tenants.  When the new Galen Center opened on the USC campus, the Sports Arena became even more empty and irrelevant.

It was against this backdrop that the 2007 edition of the US Sumo Open came to this historic venue.  This writer was committed to being there to cover the action, and was willing to pay $85.00 (plus TicketMaster service charges) for the best possible location.  He also had a mission to bring loaner mawashis for several people competing in this event.  So he loaded everything he needed (mawashis, camera, spare batteries, bottled water) into his big sports backpack and headed for the wilds of Los Angeles.  Once there, he was able to get a good parking spot with a minimum of fuss.  It took a little hiking around to find the way in (not easy with a load later measured out at approximetely 70 pounds) but he finally found himself standing at the dohyo.  And standing…and standing:  no one present could point out the seat location printed on his ticket!  Eventually, that all was squared away and he settled into an aisle seat just 4 rows from the action, which gave him reasonably good camera angles.

SUMO SHIMPO’s Outstanding Sumotori of 2006, Dan Kalbfleisch had vowed that he would make the middleweight limit (-253 pounds) for this competition.  And he did it.  Even more surprising to this writer:  New York’s powerful Carl Pappalardo managed it also.  It came out in conversation that part of the reason had stemmed from a very wrenching experience:  both of Carl’s parents had passed away within a space of four months.  (Condolences have been extended in this issue on behalf of this publication and the California amateur sumo community – Ed.)

There were five women, ten lightweights, ten middleweights, eighteen heavyweights, and one openweight – 44 competitors in all.  As the only referee, Douglas Cochran worked his tail off through a massive preliminary schedule.  (Troy Collins had been scheduled to split the officiating with Doug, but was unable to come due to LAPD work commitments.)  Jeff Riddle was at one of the corners as a line judge:  the others were Koji Makiyama (JPN), Davaadorj Damdin (MGL), and former women’s heavyweight competitor Kairi Kuur (EST).

The lightweights fought in two pools, with the top two men in each pool moving into the finals bracket.  It was a bit of a surprise that current US lightweight champ Trent Sabo did not qualify; but his Oceanside teammate Javon Rushing did.  Joining him in the bracket were Valentin Gogov (BUL), “Bilgay” (MGL) and “Mukii” (MGL).

The middles were also parceled into two pools, same deal.  This writer was not totally sold on Odd Magnus Severinsen’s qualifications, but he became a believer when the 2006 middleweight champ downed Dan with a show of straightforward power.  There was a scary moment when Odd and Shawn Dostal (USA) had a ‘coconut collision’:  the Norwegian was motionless on the dohyo for a couple of minutes, but was able to get up under his own power and finish.  Carl was less fortunate:  a tumble off the raised platform tore up the big toe on his left foot, making it impossible for him to continue.  Both Odd and Dan qualified for the finals, as did “Zolja” (MGL) and Fausto Gobbi (ITA).

The heavies were divided out into four pools:  the top two in each would be placed in the finals bracket.  World heavyweight champion “Byamba” (MGL) showed commanding early strength.  Hans Borg (NOR) hammed it up to the crowd with his ‘I can’t hear you cheering for me’ attitude, but backed it up with bone-bruising power.  Both of them made the “Elite Eight” as did current US champion Kelly Gneiting, former US champ Wayne Vierra, “Tugsu” and “Bayanna” (both MGL), Petar Stoyanov (BUL) and US junior champ Steve Jimenez.

Councilwoman Janice Kelly and Councilman Bernard Parks (in USC gear) both made short speeches during the intermission period.

As the only woman who made the lightweight limit, Michelle Pike won the gold medal in that division.  Florence Bannout, making her first dohyo appearance since the 2003 edition of the Open in Manhattan Beach, was awarded the middleweight title.  There were three heavyweight competitors:  “Dashda” (MGL), Lindsey Hood (USA) and Elizabeth Gray (USA).  The SHUNBUN 2007 gold medalist fought very hard but finally fell to the tall, experienced Mongolian.

The lightweight finals quickly boiled down to “Mukii” and “Bilgay” in the gold medal match.  You know the match is a long one when the audience begins stamping their feet to encourage some action.  You know the match will go down in the oral history of the sport when the audience actually manages to GET A WAVE GOING!  The two mighty Mongols were ‘statued up’ for (by this writer’s best reckoning) at least eight minutes before “Mukii” finally downed his friend and training partner.  Valentin bested Jovan for the bronze.

In the middles, “Zolja” defeated Odd while Dan topped Fausto.  Fausto made it official that not only would Odd not repeat, but he wouldn’t even get a spot on the podium.  Dan made a great effort to run his streak to five gold medals in 2007, but “Zolja” would not be denied.  As it turned out, Dan’s silver would be the only medal won by an American male in this event.

Eight heavyweights rumbled onto the dohyo.  The first round was pure single elimination:  you win and stay in; lose one and you’re done.  Falling victim to this dictum were Kelly, Steve, “Tugsu” and “Bayanna”.  “Byamba” then defeated Wayne, and Petar ran Hans off the ring.  Hans topped Wayne for the bronze medal.  Petar is a very tough competitor, but in the end he could not overcome “Byamba” as the reigning world heavyweight champ showed why he is who he is.

“Dashda”, Florence, Lindsey and Michelle answered the bell for the women’s open.  They finished in that order.

The vast majority of the male competitors stepped forward to try their hand at the Open division.  They were joined by one competitor who had come just for this particular competition.  It was his misfortune to draw Trent for what turned out to be his only match in the single-elimination action:  not only did he lose, but he allowed Trent to get behind him.  Trent’s next opponent was Petar:  he fought well, but the strong and skilled Bulgarian sent him tumbling ass-over-teakettle.  The eight qualifiers were Kelly, Dan, Fausto, “Byamba”, Wayne, Hans, Petar and “Bayanna”.  It became a mirror image of the heavyweight finals bracket, with the only difference being “Bayanna” replacing Hans in the bronze medal slot.  “Byamba” nailed down his second gold medal of the day, Petar his second silver.

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RESULTS of the 2007 US SUMO OPEN (from the California Sumo Association)

* TV Japan Cup winner

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The Photo Page:  2007 US Sumo Open (by “Yukikaze”)

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Condolences
SUMO SHIMPO staff

We at SUMO SHIMPO, the Southern California Sumo Kyokai, and the greater SoCal amateur sumo community offer our deepest condolences to Carl Pappalardo and his family, on the recent loss of both of his parents.

Carl won the Openweight title at the 2005 Grand Sumo Open in Los Angeles, CA.  He competed as a middleweight in the recently-completed 2007 US Sumo Open.

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Current Holders of USSF Dan Rank

* eligible for promotion in May 2007

Current USSF Life Members

1. Harry Dudrow  2. Yoshisada Yonezuka  3. Jim Lowerre  4. Andrew Freund  5. Troy Collins  6. Hiroshi Matsuzaki  7. Manny Yarbrough (honorary)  8. Trent Sabo  9. Packy Bannevans  10. Doug Cochran  11. Tom Zabel  12. Dan Kalbfleisch  13. Kelly Bannevans  14. Richard Hopp 15. Gary Goltz (honorary)

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Bow Twirler Retires
By "Tonkatsu" with "Honetokawa" for SUMO SHIMPO

Facing demotion from Juryo to Makushita, OGA, the rikishi who has been performing the yumitori-shiki (bow twirling ceremony) since 2004, announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2007 Haru Basho.

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Happy Birthday, Sensei Yone!

USSF Executive Director and past president Yoshisada Yonezuka (Yone for short) will celebrate his 70th Birthday on May 19th.

Here are some statistics on Sensei Yone:  Born May 19, 1937, in Aomori Prefecture.  Did sumo as a boy and in High School.  Had an intense rivalry with the older brother of ISF president  Hidetoshi Tanaka.  Attended Nihon University, where he was on the judo team.  Later mastered karate.  Has run the Judo Karate Center in Cranford, New Jersey since the early sixties.  Coached U.S. Olympic judo team in 1992.  Current ranks are judo 9th dan, karate 8th dan, sumo 5th dan.  He has two children:  Nick (1999 North American lightweight champion) and Natasha.  They have given him four grandchildren.

California Sumo Calendar for 2007

CLASSES/TRAINING SESSIONS

Fees may be charged for training session attendance.  Contact the listed STAGING ORGANIZATION for the latest information.

COMPETITIONS

(T) = Tentative

All information on this calendar is subject to change.  Contact the listed STAGING ORGANIZATION for latest information.

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