[sumo] Takanohana -beya shindeshi+Sumo and other martial arts

[Moti <sumo@dichne.com>]

Takanohana Oyakata has recruited two new rikishi for his heya. One of 
them comes from a totally non-Sumo background. He is around 1.75 meters 
and weighs 90 kilos (Makuuchi average in Hatsu was 1.83/153.5), which is 
relatively small for a rikishi.  "Though the  guy is physically small, 
he has fighting spirit", said Futagoyama Oyakata. He is experienced in 
boxing, takwando and Judo, but has no Sumo experience. He has begun 
keiko, and other rikishi from the heya were impressed by his strength. 
Others at the Kyokai PR office said there were quite a few rikishi who 
came from Judo and Karate, but they have never heard of someone coming 
from boxing. Juryo Kasugaou from Korea does have a Takwando background. 
The new deshi wasn't even scouted- he just came to the heya and 
volunteered his services. "It doesn't matter that he comes with a 
totally clean slate regarding Sumo. Shisho will teach him everything 
gradually", added Futagoyama Oyakata.

Here is a rough breakdown of Rikishi with a non-Sumo background:
Of the 70 sekitori, 19 come from a Judo background. 4 (Kyokushuuzan 
among them), come from a wrestling background. Kokkai was the European 
freestyle Junior champion (130 kilo category) in 1999. 2 have karate 
experience. Chiyotaikai, while in Junior high, was third in the national 
Judo championships, and third in the Kyushu karate championships. 
Tochiazuma and 5 others come from baseball.

Unusual stuff continuing at the new heya. Keiko started on the 5th, but 
still, no sign of the new Oyakata on the 7th. Since there will be a 
three day break in keiko (tournament) he will only be able to start 
personally overseeing keiko on the 11th at the earliest. There is a 
quiet state of confusion at the heya which is becoming more and more 
obvious. The rikishi themselves have been doing serious keiko. this 
energy-filled keiko is in sharp contrast to the new Oyakata's seeming 
apathy, shown by his absence these first three days. "The Shisho? He has 
prior engagements. All sorts of them. It's his job. I have no idea when 
he'll be back", said Otowayama Oyakata who, together with Fujishima 
Oyakata, has been in charge of keiko while Takanohana was away. He 
sounded politely displeased.
As the new boss, he hasn't even been around to encourage them or give 
them a "pep talk", or anything. He just hasn't been there.
"Takanohana Oyakata? He's got things to do. Just get off his back!!", 
said his father, Futagoyama Oyakata. With the absence of the new 
Oyakata, and the name "Futagoyama Beya" still prominently displayed on 
the wooden plaque outside the heya, there seems to actually be no change 
since the handover on February the 1st..
--
Kintamayama Mochiron

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[EndPost by Moti <sumo@dichne.com>]