Re: Sumo, gaijin and Football

[steveb@telco.com (Stephen Baker)]

> From: abe@kaleida.com (Masumi Abe)
> 
> Almost every time when American football teams visit Japan, they visit one
> of sumo-beya to see how it is.
> 
> Most of football players believe linesmen are the strongest players and try
> sumo against rikishi. Linesmen don't have any chance against rikishi in
> sumo. Rikishi is quicker and stronger, also much more flexible.
> 
Abe-san joto-matei kudasai.

Although I confess that I have never actually seen any football player engaged
in sumo with a rikishi, I am familiar with both varieties of athletes. IMHO, I
don't believe rikishi, in general, are either quicker or stronger although they 
might be more flexible.

Strength is somewhat relative, I think you would be correct to say that the
lower body (especially hips) is stronger in a rikishi than a typical NFL 
linesman. But I also think that the opposite is true if one were to refer to 
their upper body (especially shoulder) strength.

As far as quickness, once again IMHO you could maybe give a hand speed and 
perhaps a lateral foot speed advantage to the rikishi due to his training but I 
also think that, in general, a foot race would be won by a linesman 
if for no other reason than the size(stride) advantage the average linesman has 
over the average rikishi.

> Kyokudozan used to run 100 m in 12 seconds. That's fast, but not as fast as

Isn't Kyokudozan a somewhat smaller rikishi, at least in comparision to an 
average sekitori, and might this account for an unusually fast 100 m time?

> leading running backs. I think football player has more stamina than
> rikishi. I don't think they could keep up with a time-consuming long drive.
> 
> -Masumi
> 
> 

In any case, it would seem that the real reason that a rikishi would (and 
should) be dominant in a sumo match with an NFL linseman is due more to 
his training and mastery of technique as opposed to any clear physical 
superiority.

-Steve