RE: [sumo] drug use in sumo

["ShiroiKuma" <ShiroiKuma@ShiroiKuma.com>]

Hey Josh:

Thanks for the welcome, good to see you too... :) I like reading your posts.

Training in Naruto. Well, I accomplished what I came to do that time, that is to crown my training for the year and prepare to achieve good results in the top amateur competition of the year.

I spent a month there, basically as a member of the heya, though a guest. This means, I wasn't a tsukebito, but I did chores with the others etc. So, I took part in rebuilding the dohyou, folding the banzuke on banzuke-happyou, cleaning up, preparing the heya for the Senshuuraku party etc.

But I didn't observe curfew and regularly went out on my judgment, which the rikishi can't do.

With regard to training, this is really where the big breakthrough came.

I've been practicing heavily last year, and the goal coming to Naruto at the end was to be able to fight lower Makushita well.

Well, what I gained from practice most was great self-confidence. There was about two days, after the start of keiko, where I fought mainly with Sandanme, so so. But then I quickly got myself together and from then on practiced only with Makushita with all levels.

I started moving well and could use the strength that I trained for.

So I could beat all Makushita. In the end I practiced mostly with Hagiwara, with whom I went about 50-50.

I also had a couple of bouts with Takanotsuru, whom I could also beat a couple of times.

With regard to the other two Sekitori, Takanowaka and Wakanosato, no way. In comparison, they're super strong, so that's good too for keeping you down to earth. Hagiwara though, I can attest to everything said in the newspapers, that kid is strong as a bull, he's working on his technique. Wow... 17 years.

In fact now that it's certain that he'll be a Sekitori next basho, I look forward to going over to practice with him again, if he will, since he's a Sekitori now. Incidentally, I'm leaving for another training camp at Naruto-beya next Friday. I'll stay for two weeks this time.

Takanoyama already sent me an email, saying he thinks I probably ain't gonna be able to beat Hagiwara no more. Well, I ain't comparing myself to the Sekitori, but I've done serious training so far this year, gained weight and strength, I'm at 140 kg now, so almost as big as Hagiwara. So I'll give my best...

After I come back home, this year's Europeans will take place in two weeks time. So we'll see... :)

Back to the story though:

This was really big in terms of the shin part of shin-gi-tai for me. It strengthened my heart. Not that I would get any new technique or so, though every time I go for a training camp in a heya, I get fine technique pointers, which otherwise I wouldn't be aware of.

But I really solidified in myself the strength of will and belief - yeah, you can do it.

So then, at the Europeans I did lose to the eventual champion by isamiashi, duh... But eventually came through to take third place, which was a good result I think, in the face of the tough competition.

So, training with the pros - I think it's completely different than in amateur sumou. I train every day of the week, quite a heavy physical schedule, two times a day. But still every time I'm there, I have to refocus and give me best, and I see the light.

In essence, every time I go over, I think I come closer to grasping real sumou. I really feel I improve a lot. Most of this is the shin part again.

The gi - technique, I slowly work on that all year long, the tai - physique, i.e. strength I really do by myself, i.e. not in Japan.

But the shin - heart, which I think is the key to sumou, I always rediscover it in Oozumou. It's in a sense almost like coming back home every time, though I wouldn't really think of myself as a Japanophile. But every time I get back to the heya, I almost feel: "Yes, this is the real world, this is home. This is the basis of all life, where you learn what's right and wrong. Do good here, you can't fail anywhere else." I believe that.

So for me training in Oozumou really shows me the right way. Not only in practice and in competitive sumou. But in life.

Later,

ShiroiKuma

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-sumo@statgen.ncsu.edu [mailto:owner-sumo@statgen.ncsu.edu] On Behalf Of Joshua A. Reyer
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 9:28 PM
To: sumo@statgen.ncsu.edu
Subject: Re: [sumo] drug use in sumo

ShiroiKuma wrote:

>With regard to Asashouryuu though, last time I went to Japan at the end of last year, I spent a month training in Naruto-beya, preparing for the European Sumou Championships.
>  
>
In a desperate, doomed attempt to stave off the flame war that will 
surely follow, as well as for my own interest, I simply must ask: 
ShiroiKuma (nice to see you on the list again, btw), can you tell us 
about training with Naruto beya?  What was your status in the heya?  
Were you part of the tsukebito crew or were you exempt from such chores 
as a guest?  How were you able to wrangle training with the rikishi?  Do 
you feel training with the pros elevated your own skills?

Josh Reyer

[EndPost by "Joshua A. Reyer" <circlejar@comcast.net>]



[EndPost by "ShiroiKuma" <ShiroiKuma@ShiroiKuma.com>]