Wrestlers meet at tournament
Star-Bulletin
See Hawaii kids and adults wrestle in an International Goodwill Sumo Tournament Saturday at the Japanese Cultural Center. Admission is free. Parking in the building is $2 with validation.The members of the Oahu Sumo Club will face off against the Tokai All-Star Sumo Team, featuring some of the top Japanese amateur wrestlers.
John Jacques, an Oahu Sumo Club coach, said the club has about 15 boys under age 14, 15 boys of high school age, and 15 adults.
By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
Oahu Sumo Club coach Wayne Vierra, 350 pounds,
has 12-year-old Thomas Kahele, 100 pounds, in a
head lock during a club practice session.
The Japanese team has about three intermediate school, 13 high school and 14 adult wrestlers, he said.Jacques said sumo teaches "humbleness, dignity and respect for your opponent." He said that in sumo, "win or lose, you're a winner. If you play, you shouldn't be able to tell from your behavior in the ring who is the winner and who is the loser" of the match. Plus you learn about Japanese culture.
The Oahu Sumo Club has sent six of its wrestlers to professional sumo in Japan (Akebono, Musashimaru and Konishiki are not among them) and three wrestlers to the Japanese collegiate league.
On the mat
What: International Goodwill Sumo Tournament
