February 2006

Tochiazuma Derails Express

Junior Division Yusho Winners

Tochiazuma Derails Express
Wins Third Cup with 14-1 Effort; Shoryu’s Rensho Ends at 7
by “Yukikaze” for SUMO SHIMPO

As the son of Tamanoi Oyakata, and the bearer of his father’s old shikona, TOCHIAZUMA has had a lot of expectations to fulfill from several quarters.  When he won the Emperor’s Cup in his Hatsu 2002 ozeki debut, he became the first rikishi since the War years to win a yusho in every division of professional sumo; but it was Kyushu 2003 before he held the Cup again.  2004 was a year of injury-plagued disaster, with a record of 24-19-47.  2005 saw significant improvement with an aggregate record of 54-25-11; but those 11 absences were all accrued in Fukuoka, leaving him in kadoban.

Ranked at ozeki #2-East coming into the Kokugikan for Hatsu 2006, AZUMA gave no indication of what he was about to unleash on the unsuspecting Makunouchi.  When the race started he did not falter, but pulled into the lead thanks to a day 2 kinboshi win by maegashira #2-West KOKKAI (Georgia Republic) over yokozuna-East ASASHORYU (Mongolia).  The only bump in AZUMA’s road was #1-East MIYABIYAMA on day 9.  He finished strong against shin-ozeki #2-West KOTOOSHU (Bulgaria) to set up a senshuraku reckoning with SHORYU.  To the surprise of everyone AZUMA pulled the grand champion down with uwatedashinage to finish with a personal-best 14-1, claim the third Tenno-Hai of his career – and end the run of the “Mongolian Express” at seven.

As SHORYU saw it, his loss to KOKKAI did not permanently damage his chances of extending his historic rensho.  What finally finished the streak was the loss on day 12 to sekiwake-West HAKUHO (Mongolia) followed the next day by giving up a gold star to small (113 kg/250 lbs) maegashira #6-East AMA (Mongolia).  The senshuraku loss to AZUMA left SHORYU at 11-4:  acceptable performance for a yokozuna under normal circumstances, but far below the standard he had set through 2005.  Time will tell whether he bounces back in Osaka the same way he did in Fukuoka in 2004.

“Eurozeki” KOTOOSHU is being counted on to stimulate the ozeki ranks and (perhaps) push through to the pinnacle.  The “Sofia Skyscraper” won 3 of his first 5, then took the next 7 to stand 10-2 on day 12.  Unfortunately, his last three torikumi were with AZUMA, SHORYU and HAKUHO.  Still, the resulting 10-5 in his first tournament at sumo’s second rank is acceptable.  The other two members of the contingent went completely flat.  Ozeki #1-East CHIYOTAIKAI won 4 of his first 5; but lost his next 2 and withdrew on day 8.  #1-West KAIO split his first 6 matches, then went down in his next 2 and pulled out on day 9.

HAKUHO delivered a breakout performance that establishes him (for the moment, anyway) as a possible ozeki candidate.  “Sleeping Thunder” won his first 6 matches before losing to maegashira #3-West TOCHINOHANA and AZUMA on successive days.  He then ‘ran the table’ with 7 wins (including SHORYU) to go 13-2 and win the Shukun-Sho.  Sekiwake-East KOTOMITSUKI had his problems.  He managed wins in 7 of his first 9 torikumi; but then managed only 1 win in the last six days to scrape through at 8-7.  Both komusubi had a rough go:  East-sider KYOKUTENHO (Mongolia) lost his first 7 matches, could not win on consecutive days, and finished at 4-11.  West-sider TAMANOSHIMA lost 7 of first 8, won his next 6 to stand ‘on the bubble’ going into senshuraku; but lost to wind up 7-8.

#11-East HOKUTORIKI and #14-West TOKITSUUMI both scored 12-3 to share best hiramaku performance honors.  RIKI also won the Kanto-Sho, while SUUMI garnered the Gino-Sho.  Other honorable maegashira mentions:

#2-East ROHO (Russia) (9-6)
AMA (9-6)
#7-East AMINISHIKI (9-6)
#8-West FUTENO (9-6)
#12-East KASUGAO (South Korea) (9-6)
#16-East WAKANOSATO (10-5)
#17-East KITAZAKURA (9-6)

In the Juryo, Makunouchi veteran #1-East TOCHINONADA won his first 7 torikumi on his way to a 13-2 that makes re-promotion to the “bright lights” a certainty.  Other distinguished second-division efforts:

#2-West USHIOMARU (9-6)
#4-West OTSUKASA (9-6)
#6-East TAMAKASUGA (12-3)
#6-West BUYUZAN (10-5)
#8-East RYUHO (11-4)
#10-West MOKONAMI (Mongolia) (11-4)
#11-East KYOKUNANKAI (9-6)
#12-East HOMASHO (10-5)
#13-West SATOYAMA (9-6)

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JUNIOR DIVISION YUSHO WINNERS  

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The 600-Win Club (updated after Hatsu 2006)

* Non-Japanese

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Current Holders of USSF Dan Rank

Current USSF Life Members

1. Harry Dudrow  2. Yoshisada Yonezuka  3. Jim Lowerre  4. Andrew Freund  5. Troy Collins  6. Hiroshi Matsuzaki  7. Manny Yarbrough (honorary)  8. Trent Sabo  9. Packy Bannevans  10. Doug Cochran

List Of USSF Sumo Clubs in good standing   (as of February, 2006)

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GOLTZ SUMO IX  (Hughes Center, Claremont, CA) - OFFICIAL RESULTS
(division designations by Sensei Gary Goltz)

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IMPORTANT NOTICE

GOLTZ SUMO IX:  Kids, Middleweights Dominate
Report by "Tonkatsu" for SUMO SHIMPO

The ninth annual Goltz Sumo Tournament was held at the Alexander Hughes Community Center in Claremont, CA on Saturday, January 21st.  Thirty two competitors ranging in age from four to sixty two answered the bell.  We actually had an abundance of officials both on the dohyo and watching from outside.  Ernie Hunt brought his grandson down from northern California, and current US middleweight champ Troy Collins put on the whites as well.

We never know from one tournament to the next what divisions will have the most competitors.  This time we had lots of kids under twelve, three Masters (over 40 years) and three Grand Masters (over 50 years) to start the action.  In the senior divisions there were only two lightweights and two heavyweights, but seven middleweights.  There was only one woman, so we had no women=s competition.  Medals were awarded in thirteen divisions.  Plus, Sensei Gary Goltz was supplied with three special plaques that he could award to anyone he chose.  These special awards went to Kala Crosby, Matthew Clark and Kurt Rightmyer.

Action started with the small kids, the old guys, and the very old guys.  Trent Sabo’s second win over Art Morrow in the lightweight division was one of the matches of the day.  He managed to throw Art while balancing on one leg (Note to self:  must send Art a copy of the “Finishing off an Ashi-Tori” article from the SUMO SHIMPO archives).  The middleweight action saw California middleweight champion Dan Kalbfleisch fall to eventual champion Ian Harris and newcomer Trevor Nakawaki (who, at 250 pounds, fought as both a junior heavyweight and a senior middleweight) on a close call that required a mono-ii by the judges.  Steve Jimenez (391 pounds) and Jim Lowerre (335 pounds) fought a single “winner-take-all” match for the senior heavyweights title.

The day’s action ended with a tough Open division battle consisting of one lightweight (Trent Sabo), five middleweights and one heavyweight (Steve Jimenez).  After losing to Jimenez in the third round, Dan Kalbfleisch came back through the consolation bracket with wins over Trent Sabo, Doug Cochran and Ian Harris to beat the mammoth sixteen-year old for the championship.

The day concluded with the presentation of the annual SUMO SHIMPO awards.  The recipients were:

Steven Simpson:  CA Junior Sumotori of the Year
Michelle Pike:  CA Female Sumotori of the Year
Justin Crite:  CA Most Improved Sumotori of the Year
Dan Kalbfleisch:  CA Rookie Sumotori of the Year
Trent Sabo:  Outstanding CA Sumotori of the Year

Trent was the first SUMO SHIMPO Outstanding California Sumotori of the Year in 2002, and is the first repeat recipient.

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IF YOU REALLY LOVE SUMO AND WANT TO STAY CLOSE TO IT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME…

MAKE THE COMMITMENT!!

Become a United States Sumo Federation LIFE MEMBER

A one-time tax-deductible donation of $200.00 eliminates your worries about annual USSF dues FOR LIFE.  If you compete in USSF-sanctioned amateur sumo events for ten years or more, a Life Membership will pay for itself.  It also shows you are very serious about the sport, and is a definite ‘resume enhancer’ if you decide to seek office in the USSF or any other amateur sports body.

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Photos from Goltz Sumo IX (Hughes Center, Claremont, CA)
	<<  A VERY BIG PROMOTION…SUMO SHIMPO publisher Harry “Tonkatsu” Dudrow receives his  designation as a judo “Shodan” (and the accompanying black belt) from Sensei Gary Goltz prior to the start of-the day’s sumo action.  (Photographer unknown)

>>  “GRAND MASTERS” BATTLE IT OUT…Jerry Tambe (in shorts) forces Glenn Nakawaki over the tawara in the “Really Old Guys” competition as referee Ernie Hunt monitors the action. (Photographer unknown)

<<  UNEXPECTED HONOR…Masters’ champion and former gubernatorial candidate Kurt “Tachikaze” Rightmyer was the recipient of one of the Special Awards handed out by Sensei Gary (Kala Crosby and Matthew Clark were the other honorees).  (Photographer unknown)

>>  THIS YEAR’S HONOREES…This year’s SUMO SHIMPO Award recipients gather for a group picture.  From left:  Dan Kalbfleisch (CA Rookie of the Year); Steven Simpson (Outstanding CA Junior); Trent Sabo (Outstanding CA Sumotori of the Year); and Michelle Pike (Outstanding CA Female Sumotori).  (Not present:  Justin Crite (Most Improved).)  Next to Dan is last year’s Outstanding CA Sumotori, US middleweight champ Troy Collins.  (Photographer unknown)

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My First Sumo Bout
by Hiroshi “Honetekawa” Matsuzaki (with a foreword by “Tonkatsu”) for SUMO SHIMPO

One pleasant afternoon on Matsuzaki-san’s patio last summer, the conversation turned to his boyhood in wartime Japan.  “Did the American bombers come to Kanazawa?” I asked.  “No”, he answered.  Then I asked him about doing sumo in elementary school.  Just as every schoolyard in America has some kind of softball diamond, in those days every school in