Landmine950 44 Posted May 20, 2009 Hi all..Canadian guy here,new to the forum!... I am here because I have a son who is looking to join in sports where he can excel!. He has just turned 14 and is in grade 8, He is 6' 5 1/2" tall and weighs 325 lbs. He is naturally HUGE! maybe the biggest kid in the world! He has a video on youtube under giant sized 13 year old and huge football player 13 years old. I know a bit about sumo (tiny bit) and want to find out more about it here in Canada, I wonder how he would do in japan against other 14 year olds? Just thought I should post an intro since im a new member. Later! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doitsuyama 1,192 Posted May 20, 2009 Hi all..Canadian guy here,new to the forum!... I am here because I have a son who is looking to join in sports where he can excel!. He has just turned 14 and is in grade 8, He is 6' 5 1/2" tall and weighs 325 lbs. He is naturally HUGE! maybe the biggest kid in the world! He has a video on youtube under giant sized 13 year old and huge football player 13 years old. I know a bit about sumo (tiny bit) and want to find out more about it here in Canada, I wonder how he would do in japan against other 14 year olds?Just thought I should post an intro since im a new member. Later! He will probably be too tall to excel in sumo where balance is of biggest importance. My suggestion would be to strive for a size and physique like Andrew Bynum, the young center of the Lakers. 14 years is not too old to start basketball, Dirk Nowitzki was even older I believe (of course he was a standout in tennis and other sports with 14 years). Still, running up and down the court would help a great deal to slim down from 325 lbs which just is too much for any sport except football (and even there he needs to be VERY fast over 30 yards even with his weight). If he has a good feel for the ball, just go for it - and even with brick hands you can be an NBA player with the right size, there are enough examples. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Landmine950 44 Posted May 20, 2009 Hi all..Canadian guy here,new to the forum!... I am here because I have a son who is looking to join in sports where he can excel!. He has just turned 14 and is in grade 8, He is 6' 5 1/2" tall and weighs 325 lbs. He is naturally HUGE! maybe the biggest kid in the world! He has a video on youtube under giant sized 13 year old and huge football player 13 years old. I know a bit about sumo (tiny bit) and want to find out more about it here in Canada, I wonder how he would do in japan against other 14 year olds?Just thought I should post an intro since im a new member. Later! He will probably be too tall to excel in sumo where balance is of biggest importance. My suggestion would be to strive for a size and physique like Andrew Bynum, the young center of the Lakers. 14 years is not too old to start basketball, Dirk Nowitzki was even older I believe (of course he was a standout in tennis and other sports with 14 years). Still, running up and down the court would help a great deal to slim down from 325 lbs which just is too much for any sport except football (and even there he needs to be VERY fast over 30 yards even with his weight). If he has a good feel for the ball, just go for it - and even with brick hands you can be an NBA player with the right size, there are enough examples. I think he is too thick to play BB. shaq is 25 lbs LIGHTER than him at 7'2"! and he hasn't had a growth spurt yet! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Landmine950 44 Posted May 20, 2009 I don't think ANY 14 year old in the world could push him down or out of a ring. Im 6'4 and 250lbs and a former powerlifter.....and I can't. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jejima 1,414 Posted May 20, 2009 If he is seriously thinking about joining professional sumo in Japan, then there are plenty of hurdles he'll need to navigate. Every heya (stable) is only allowed to have a maximum of one 'foreigner', and I believe most have already met this quota. But if you were to start making inroads now, maybe by the time he is ready to join (in a few years time), there could be a place. But life in a heya is tough, especially for a rookie. Would he be able to put up with separation from family in an alien culture? If yes, then time to start the Japanese lessons! I would recommend that he joins a local amateur sumo club (if you can find one) - or a Judo club, if you can't, and try and get onto the US Junior national team. If he manages to shine at an international event - especially if he can defeat the Japanese young stars - he could be 'spotted'. As Doitsuyama says, height can be a curse in sumo, (although there are plenty of counter examples of tall guys doing well), as a low centre of balance is a good 'skill' to have. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doitsuyama 1,192 Posted May 20, 2009 I don't think ANY 14 year old in the world could push him down or out of a ring. Im 6'4 and 250lbs and a former powerlifter.....and I can't. Maybe not, but they might be quick enough to run circles around him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Landmine950 44 Posted May 20, 2009 If he is seriously thinking about joining professional sumo in Japan, then there are plenty of hurdles he'll need to navigate. Every heya (stable) is only allowed to have a maximum of one 'foreigner', and I believe most have already met this quota. But if you were to start making inroads now, maybe by the time he is ready to join (in a few years time), there could be a place. But life in a heya is tough, especially for a rookie. Would he be able to put up with separation from family in an alien culture? If yes, then time to start the Japanese lessons! I would recommend that he joins a local amateur sumo club (if you can find one) - or a Judo club, if you can't, and try and get onto the US Junior national team. If he manages to shine at an international event - especially if he can defeat the Japanese young stars - he could be 'spotted'. As Doitsuyama says, height can be a curse in sumo, (although there are plenty of counter examples of tall guys doing well), as a low centre of balance is a good 'skill' to have. So japanese sumo is not really a competative sport? is it like baseball where protectionism is still the acceptable norm? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 6,049 Posted May 20, 2009 Perhaps you should pick up a copy of Gaijin Yokozuna to get an idea. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kofuji 0 Posted May 20, 2009 Too bad John Tenta isn't still around ... He did in his 20's what you are considering having your son do ... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenjimoto 40 Posted May 20, 2009 The direct links to the YouTube videos... definitely worth a look. Pretty amazing! (Being unsure...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 19,657 Posted May 20, 2009 For comparison, fresh recruit Wakamatsuo is 6'3" and 345 lbs at age 15. I do think once you're approaching 6'7" (ca. 200 cm), the height issues Doitsuyama mentioned will become relevant, but I think that could be overcome by targetted lower body training...hell, Akebono made do somehow, and his legs were nobody's idea of "good" in sumo terms. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Landmine950 44 Posted May 20, 2009 The direct links to the YouTube videos... definitely worth a look. Pretty amazing! (Showing respect...) Thanx for posting them.. Wasn't sure if its allowed. Those videos are nearing one year old, He has just turned 14 and he has grown since then with his weight around 330 and maybe almost 6'5 1/2" tall. The amazing thing is the density of his body. he doesn't look at all like a fat kid. In the video you will see.. he looks like he weighs 230 or MAYBE 250... then you try and pick him up!! His knee joint is 23 inches around and he wears size 15 1/2 EEEE football cleats! he is SUPER dense and has massive joint size. I need to learn more about sumo obviously. I see its not just a matter of showing up and winning contests unlike judo or stength competitions. Thanx for all the info! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ilovesumo 12 Posted May 21, 2009 He really needs to join a local Sumo club - you need to find out IF he is able to move the way he would have to. Maybe starting Judo could be a start if no Sumo club can be found. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Landmine950 44 Posted May 21, 2009 He really needs to join a local Sumo club - you need to find out IF he is able to move the way he would have to. Maybe starting Judo could be a start if no Sumo club can be found. He plays football and some of the basics are the same I think. Pushing balance stance etc. He is going to join a local judo club this or next week. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sasanishiki 57 Posted May 21, 2009 hell, Akebono made do somehow, and his legs were nobody's idea of "good" in sumo terms. Yeah, but the price he paid was a long term knee injury caused by the position needed to get his hips lower. Height really can be a disadvantage, particularly if there is a lot of weight above those long legs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andreas 0 Posted May 21, 2009 I dont think professional sumo is the sport a good father would like his kid to be in, especially if he doesnt have much wrestling experience or interest yet... the life of a new student in a sumo stable is very tough, and sumo takes a big toll on the athletes health, many of them are physical wrecks in their mid-thirties. It would probably be better to get him into a sport in the US, closer to his home country, where payment is also better for top athletes and language isnt a Problem. He could try amateur sumo for fun, though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Landmine950 44 Posted May 22, 2009 I dont think professional sumo is the sport a good father would like his kid to be in, especially if he doesnt have much wrestling experience or interest yet... the life of a new student in a sumo stable is very tough, and sumo takes a big toll on the athletes health, many of them are physical wrecks in their mid-thirties. It would probably be better to get him into a sport in the US, closer to his home country, where payment is also better for top athletes and language isnt a Problem. He could try amateur sumo for fun, though. I said... I have a son who is looking to join in sports where he can excel! I want to find out more about it here in Canada I wonder how he would do in japan against other 14 year olds? Don't worry. I have no intention of shipping by Grade 8 son off to some "stable" in Japan....was wondering about the sport here in Canada, clubs ,groups, etc. Sorry If I didn't make that clear. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sasanishiki 57 Posted May 22, 2009 I want to find out more about it here in Canada I am only aware of this sumo club, which is run out of a judo club in Toronto. The information is pretty old, I think, and the link to the judo club website listed on the page has now expired. The new site for the judo club is here. Sumo in Canada used, as far as I know, to be largely dependent on the annual North American Championships. What I mean is that the athletes fought in that tournament but not much else. I think in the early years of the Sumo World Champs they sent a team but (as many countries have since done) it has now died out. Part of the issue was the cessation of the North American Sumo Champs, which struggled to get a sponsor. There are amateur sumo comps in the US at times, the most consistent being the US Sumo Open, which is run almost as a commercial event and attracts top competitors from around the world. You can find details here I'd suggest you try contacting som of these organisations to see if there is anything going, or indeed anything closer to home. Often there are people out there who have the ability to train new sumo athletes, just that they don't or can't set up a whole gym or infrastructure to get the project off the ground. However, if there are a couple of interested people then borrowing or hiring judo club space can be a good starting point to getting a club going. From memory there have been some Canadians on this forum who have dabbled in sumo, including one guy who was doing it with his college friends outdoors. Use the serach function of this forum and you might find something. Good luck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
