(NOAH) The Sumo story: exploring Yoshiki Inamura's background

20th June 2020

It is common among wrestlers that they often choose to incorporate their background in sports, especially if they are martial arts or combat, into their wrestling. For example Kenoh, Katsuhiko Nakajima and Seiki Yoshioka draw on their martial arts backgrounds (Nippon Kempo, Karate and Taekwondo) with their different styles of kicking. Yoshiki Inamura, like Akira Taue and Takeshi Rikio before him, has chosen to incorporate his background in sumo into his style. Whereas Takeshi Rikio and Akira Taue used the sumo palm strikes to drive their opponents back, Inamura has incorporated his sumo background more in the way he looks and what he does, rather than his moveset, although one move he does seems to have been inspired by the sport. Noah have had former sumo wrestlers turned wrestlers before, but they have never quite had someone who fused his past and his future so much and in this way. 

Appearance 

"Anko-gata" (あんこ型) or "Anko" (鮟鱇)

The Japanese sports press have often described Yoshiki Inamura by these two terms in articles. "Anko-gata" basically means that he has the traditional sumo shape, i.e. a big body. Traditionally, the well rounded plump body has been the ideal image for sumo wrestlers. Inamura manages to incorporate this, and while he is seemingly growing bigger each time you see him, he also manages to somehow look toned. 

"Anko" means a sumo wrestler with a big belly.

Entry

"Shiko" (四股)

When a sumo wrestler enters the ring he can often be seen lifting one leg high and bringing it down with a stomp, before he repeats this with the other leg. Inamura can sometimes be seen doing this as he waits for his opponent. Sumo wrestlers are said to do this for two reasons, and its more than just a warm up. Sumo is a highly traditional sport with roots stretching back into when it was performed annually as a religious rite, and so the shiko is said to be a way of scaring away demons before each bout. It is also said to be the wrestlers intention of crushing the skull of his opponent underfoot.

"Tachi-ai" (立ち合い)

When there is more space for him to do this (otherwise he will do it when entering the ring), when he enters the arena, Inamura will crouch down, usually with his fists on the floor, which is what the Sumo do (usually behind a white line) before they enter the "Tachi-ai" position, which is when they rise and charge at each other. Inamura has incorporated this either when he runs to the ring, or if he is in it his standing and roaring when he is announced. 

"Sonkyo" (蹲踞)

This is the formal crouch that the Sumo do at the beginning of sumo matches prior to the bout starting. I did notice that it looked like Inamura had incorporated this position into a knee choke he did while an opponent was in the corner, while he was clinging on to the ropes to sustain the position. If so, it is a very inventive way of doing it, as most people choke their opponents with their feet, and not with their knees. 

Picture credit: these pictures are mine, I took them in Osaka in November 2019.