I'm a fan of the sumo wrestler (more properly, sumotori or sekitori) Terao, also known as The Eternal Typhoon, whose career lasted a long time. He never reached the heights (Yokozuna) but he was exciting to watch. He was one of the "small" sekitori - a little over 6 feet, but no tremendous pot belly like many of them.
Click twice on arrow to play
Terao vs Akebono, 1995
Akebono was a Hawaiian born Yokozuna. Bout only lasts 17 seconds. Normally Terao did better than this...
Click twice on arrow to play.
Terao vs Chiyanofuji
Chiyanofuji was a yokozuna...another "small" rikishi who nevertheless defeated men weighing a hundred pounds more than he.
Although Terao has lost in these three videos, he actually had the most "kinboshi" - wins against a yokozuna - for any sekitori who did not eventually become a yokozuna himself. His technique was "tsuppari", advancing and slapping at his opponent to drive him off balance.
Click twice on arrow to play.
Terao's heya
Terao retired and is now the oyakata - owner and coach - of a heya, or sumo stable. This video is in Japanese, but is a very intersting look at life in a heya, with some photos from Terao's life, and a video of a bout as well.
