Achievement Unlocked: Watch a Keiko at Komatsuryu Dojo

mikawa · April 9, 2022

Thanks to Coach Hirano, I went to the Taito Riverside Sports Center in Tokyo earlier today to watch a training session at Komatsuryu Dojo (John Gunning's club), the recently crowned Hakuho Cup team champions.

Their keiko on Saturdays starts at 1:30pm. Because it was their first training session of the new school year, once they are all warmed up, Ryudai "Strategic Genius" Yoshioka was introduced as Komatsuryu Dojo's team captain for the upcoming year. Everyone gathered around him, and they bowed in all directions.

As Komatsuryu Dojo is situated up the river from the Kokugikan, they get visits from Ozumo wrestlers from time to time. In fact, most of their coaches are actually retired rikishi / oyakata. Ten points if you can recognize which former Makuuchi wrestler was there today? :-)

Unlike many other clubs, where they save butsukari-geiko (pushing practise) until last, Komatsuryu actually started off their training with this part. That took us to about 2:30pm, when practise bouts started. These are done in a winner-stays-on format, but instead of the winner choosing their next opponent, Komatsuryu actually have a queueing system to determine who's next up. Half an hour for the youngest wrestlers in the club, one entire hour for the older elementary school wrestlers (Grades 4-6), and then half an hour for the middle schoolers.

Because Komatsuryu only have one dohyo, the wrestlers would do various muscle training around the room when it's not their turn. There are all sorts of equipment around the room to help them do this. There's a water bag, a couple of tires, some dumbbells, and even a couple of Mjölnir (everyone there is worthy lol).

This is the third club where I've watched keiko, and I have to say, the training bouts at Komatsuryu are so much more intense. I mean, there were multiple instances today where blood was drawn. Their wrestlers also displayed a wider skillset, with all sorts of moves being attempted and executed.

Look who's here? If it isn't "Japan's 10-year-old sumo champion" (according to Reuters' video), and recent Hakuho Cup winner, Kyuta Kumagai? However, I was much more impressed by the left-most boy, Ikko Taira. He is the son of Coach Taira (Komatsuryu's head coach), and is very good at lateral movement during his bouts. He uses this talent to set up all sorts of different techniques, such as throws and trips. Like father like son eh?

(The one in the black mawashi is their new team captain, Ryudai Yoshioka)