Nicholas Tarasenko - English Sumo Hopeful

[John Gunning 3,645]

English schoolboy Nicholas Tarasenko may just be two months past his 15th birthday but he is already training in Minato Stable with the aim of becoming a professional sumo wrestler upon completion of compulsory education next summer. At 187 cm and 108 kgs the Hull native already has the size needed to compete in ozumo and is still growing.

 

 

Edited August 27, 2024 by John Gunning

[RabidJohn 1,817]

Good to see he's not going into it blind. We Brits don't have the best track record in ozumo, so I hope he can turn that around.
If nothing else I'd love to hear what Japanese sounds like with a Hull accent*, so a makuuchi KK would be great.

*I worked most of my life for a family from Hull. It's one of the funniest English accents around. 
I assume there's an interview coming, John. Have fun transcribing the words of someone who curls herm on his murbahl fern!

[The Fat Cyclist 31]

14 minutes ago, RabidJohn said:

Good to see he's not going into it blind. We Brits don't have the best track record in ozumo, so I hope he can turn that around.
If nothing else I'd love to hear what Japanese sounds like with a Hull accent*, so a makuuchi KK would be great.

*I worked most of my life for a family from Hull. It's one of the funniest English accents around. 
I assume there's an interview coming, John. Have fun transcribing the words of someone who curls herm on his murbahl fern!

I was a little worried for him too but he doesnt look out of place & certainly has the build for sumo.

As a southerner it took me far too long to parse that last sentence :)

[Asashosakari 19,500]

7 hours ago, John Gunning said:

English schoolboy Nicholas Tarasenko may just be two months past his 15th birthday but he is already training in Minato Stable with the aim of becoming a professional sumo wrestler upon completion of compulsory education next summer. At 187 cm and 108 kgs the Hull native already has the size needed to compete in ozumo and is still growing.

Do you happen to know if the time he's spending in the heya now is already going to count towards his required kenshu prep period, or is that going to start next summer? I was assuming the latter until now, but seeing him take part in full-fledged practice (and not in a white mawashi typical of guests)...

[aderechelsea 125]

"curls  herm on his murbahl fern!"

I need to give this a go as a non-native that speaks the language.

"Calls home on his mobile phone"????

[John Gunning 3,645]

6 hours ago, Asashosakari said:

Do you happen to know if the time he's spending in the heya now is already going to count towards his required kenshu prep period, or is that going to start next summer? I was assuming the latter until now, but seeing him take part in full-fledged practice (and not in a white mawashi typical of guests)...

Just an assumption but I wouldn't think so.

The academic calendars are different but as far as I know he'll still be regarded as a junior high school student until he finishes up in June next year - whether that's in England or Japan.

[John Gunning 3,645]

My piece on him today.

This English schoolboy has big dreams of becoming yokozuna — and more

[Yamanashi 3,874]

8 hours ago, John Gunning said:

My piece on him today.

This English schoolboy has big dreams of becoming yokozuna — and more

What a fascinating story, John!

1) His body looks a little more Kotooshu than Baruto, but as long as there's strength with the height he should be fine.

2) He should be taking intensive language training to make the transition less painful (socially).

3) With Ichinojo gone, the heya has nobody with more than mid-Makushita credentials.  This could be good or bad.

[Leoben 145]

Great article, I'll be keeping an eye on him for sure.

He's got great physical tools and 10 years of judo + 5 years of rugby experience are a really solid background to bring into sumo. 

[Benevolance 2,501]

Bah. He needs, what, three words for sumo? He's got to recognize hakkeyoi, matamatamata, and be able to mumble gambarimasu. BAM! Japanese covered. I think he'll do great. In fact, I'm already putting some wheels on the ol' ozeki bandwagon. 

[Gurowake 4,088]

From those pictures it doesn't seem like he's really all that big....until you realize he's only 15.

[Katooshu 3,265]

I've seen all sorts of numbers for him - 193cm/190cm/187cm. The shortest of those seems the most accurate, which is still very tall for his age. At the recent middle school national championships, which are mostly 2nd and 3rd years, a 183cm competitor looked like a giant compared to his opponents.

Edited August 29, 2024 by Katooshu

[Tsuchinoninjin 1,275]

Hopefully he takes all the rules and restrictions seriously 

[Hoshotakamoto 259]

8 hours ago, Gurowake said:

From those pictures it doesn't seem like he's really all that big....until you realize he's only 15.

I was scrolling facebook earlier in the week, saw him next to Terunofuji, and became very confused.