[sumo] Sumo and Rugby

["Jeff Anderson" <jeffand@regent.edu>]

Well well...my two favorite sports are in the news.  From the Newcastle
Falcons' website:
 
The squad was given privileged access to a traditional sumo training session
at the camp, which is run by legendary grand master Taka-No-Hana, who is one
of the biggest names in sumo. 

The Falcons witnessed an extremely physical session lasting over two hours,
before England Under-21 scrum half Dickson and Falcons first team forward
Parling got kitted out in full sumo costume and enjoyed three bouts of their
own.

Dickson, the lightest player in the squad, was the shock winner as he racked
up a 2-1 victory over Parling in a sport which traditionally does not have
any weight categories at all.

Speaking after his triumph, Dickson said: "I'd just like to thank my
trainers, Bob Morton and Steve Black, for getting me in prime condition to
take Geoff out of the ring with sheer power."

A dejected Parling said: "I'll have to take a long hard look at myself after
this defeat, and I will be working on my sumo technique throughout the
season."

The sumo wrestlers follow a gruelling regime which entails training at 6am
every day for more than three to four hours, before consuming around six
giant bowls of a traditional rice dish in one sitting.

The youngest sumo at the Taka-No-Hana Beya is a mere 16 years old, but still
trains with the adults.

Falcons director of rugby, Rob Andrew, tried his hand at the traditional
Shiko (four limbs), which is the ritual of squatting and lifting the legs
high in the air before engaging your opponent in combat.

He said: "After watching the session today, and having a go at the Shiko,
myself and the rest of our touring squad have an enormous amount of respect
for all of the sumos.

"They follow an extremely tough programme to get to the top, and having
watched their technique in practice, we might just get a few scrummaging
tips for next season!

"But in all seriousness we are grateful to Taka-No-Hana for allowing us the
honour of visiting his stable, which was an amazing experience."

Taka-No-Hana was a legend of sumo in his day, weighing in at 150kg, although
since becoming the manager of his own Beya and retiring from sumo
participation, he has lost 70kg and now weighs in at a mere 90kgs.

On a rare day off from training, the Falcons followed up their early morning
sumo outing with a trip to the Emperor's Palace, before visiting the temple
and market at Asakusa followed by a trip to the electric town shopping area,
where all the latest cutting edge gadgets and gizmos are on sale.

Falcons captain Colin Charvis said: "In professional rugby these days people
often neglect the actual joy of touring, and to sample the culture that we
have done today has undoubtedly been one of the high points of the trip."

On Thursday evening a glittering reception was held for the squad at the
ballroom of its Tokyo hotel, with Britain's ambassador toJapan and the head
of the Japan Rugby Football Union among those to welcome the Guinness
Premiership side to Japanese shores.

Coaches from both tour opponents, NEC and Toyota, were on hand to say a few
words, while traditional drummers and dancers honoured the touring team with
a performance on stage.

Andrew said after receiving the hospitality of his hosts: "The reception we
have had since the moment we landed in Japan has been truly amazing.

"We cannot forget the prime reason we are here, to successfully prepare for
the coming season, but when we have been as well looked after as we have
been in Japan, it makes touring here an absolute privilege." 

The Falcons open their tour account against Japanese champions NEC Green
Rockets at Tokyo's Olympic Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 7pm local time,11am
UK time) as part of the Greater Tokyo Festival.

That is then followed on Tuesday night with a trip to Toyota City, near
Nagoya, where the Falcons take on championship runners-up Toyota Verblitz,
who boast Kiwis Andrew Blowers and Troy Flavell among their ranks.

Best regards,
Jeffrey Anderson
Gaijingai - a gaijin who's a guy
 
For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these:
It might have been. - John Greenleaf Whittier
 


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[EndPost by "Jeff Anderson" <jeffand@regent.edu>]