Re: Weight Loss Directive

["John D. Morvant" <jmorvant@uog9.uog.edu>]

The Pacific Daily News here on Guam carried the same photo and identified
the other rikishi as Takanohana...jdm

On Fri, 3 Oct 1997, Jeffrey Anderson wrote:

> In today's Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA, USA) Sports section, thjere is a
> front-page color picture of Konishiki being thron down by another rikishi
> whom I don't recognize.  The cutline states, "Japanese officials are fed up
> with overweight sumo wrestlers. Page C2."
> 
> Inside, there's a black-and-white copy of the color photo from page C1.  The
> cutline reads, "Counting calories:  The Japan Sumo Association is fed up
> with the current shape of things, especially heavies like Konishiki, right,
> who weighs in at 605."
> 
> The story reads as follows:
> 
> **********************
> 
> Headline: Japan's sumo wrestlers, grunt, have, grunt, been branded pound,
> grunt, foolish.
> 
> If you know anything about sumo wrestling, then you know the competitors are
> fat - real fat - and proud of it. Well, holy calories, listen to this:  The
> Japan Sumo Association is fed up with the current shape of things.  "Some
> young wrestlers are too heavy to keep with the training," Sho Sakaigawa
> said.  "They're breathing heavily all the time, some even have trouble
> walking. They're too fat."
> 
> The average weight of wrestlers in the top divisions of sumo is about 330
> pounds - a record.  American-born Konishiki tips the scales at a nice round
> 605!  Sakaigawa, himself a former sumo big fellow, says that injuries are
> rising because wrestlers are too heavy and less athletic.  He said several
> wrestlers in the top two divisions had to sit out a recent sumo tournament
> because of injuries.  Those who did compete were heavily taped.
> 
> *************
> 
> I have a question.  Is running used at all in sumo training?  I have only
> heard of wrestle, pump weights, eat, rest.  American NFL football now
> features over 100 linemen who go 300 pounds or over and they are in some
> sort of shape.  Would running do anything to get the rikishi into better
> shape and cut down on the injuries?
> 
> Best regards,
> Jeffrey Anderson
> Gaijingai
> jeffand@regent.edu
> 
> 		*Seize the day!  Seize whatever you can,
> 		*'Cause life slips away like the hourglass sand.
> 		*Seize the day!  Pray for grace from God's hand,
> 		*And nothing will stand in your way.
> 		*Seize the day! - Carolyn Arends, "Seize the Day"
> 
> 
>