Former sumo wrestler Osunaarashi joins Rizin

[Oshime2]

He just announced it on his IG page about 30 minutes ago. He doesn't say when his debut will be, but he says he'll be training with Josh Barnett in the states to prepare.

He's the first Egyptian to make it to the top division in sumo. Showed a lot of promise but was plagued with knee and shoulder injuries that he never seemed to be able to fully heal. He was recently forced to retire after being in a car accident and lying about the conditions of the accident.

He's only 26 so it's probably safe to say he's the youngest high level wrestler to make the transition. He was known for starting matches with a heavy forearm charge that's had some pretty gnarly results:


He gained some fame for being the only wrestler to beat two Yokozuna back to back in his debut matches against them:

 

[Falconkick]

Interesting, a fun addition to the Rizin stable

 

[RizinSon88]

Can we ge another super hulk tournament please?

 

[Asurah]

Awesome. Shame he had to exit sumo the way he did but if he's recovered from his injuries then he should be fun to watch.

 

[Hotora86]

Fun but I don't foresee much success.

 

[GIBLERTBAPTISTA]

I see a superfight with Baruto on the horizon

 

[Fork]

beautiful.

 

[Asurah]

I see a superfight with Baruto on the horizon

Baruto is going back to Estonia to get into politics, I think he's done with MMA

 

[listrahtes]

Awesome. Shame he had to exit sumo the way he did but if he's recovered from his injuries then he should be fun to watch.

Honestly I am very happy Sumo keeps such a strict code of behaviour. They may be the last ones to enforce it.

 

[Asurah]

Honestly I am very happy Sumo keeps such a strict code of behaviour. They may be the last ones to enforce it.

It can be good but can also be very, very dumb (see recent situation with female medics)

 

[Fork]

very, very dumb (see recent situation with female medics)

coincidentally that whole fiasco happened in the town i lived in.

 

[Fluffernutter]

The Sandstorm!

 

[Oshime2]

Honestly I am very happy Sumo keeps such a strict code of behaviour. They may be the last ones to enforce it.

I have to disagree to an extent. I understand that the JSA is trying to maintain the traditional, cultural aspect of sumo, but they're unnecessarily controlling.

Yeah, Osunaarashi lied. But the JSA forbids wrestlers from driving period. Why? Who cares? Why do these guys have to live at their stables? Be subservient to senior wrestlers? The sport has been dying for years in Japan but they refuse to open it up to more international wrestlers.

 

[GIBLERTBAPTISTA]

Baruto is going back to Estonia to get into politics, I think he's done with MMA

That's a damn shame

 

[listrahtes]

I have to disagree to an extent. I understand that the JSA is trying to maintain the traditional, cultural aspect of sumo, but they're unnecessarily controlling.

Yeah, Osunaarashi lied. But the JSA forbids wrestlers from driving period. Why? Who cares? Why do these guys have to live at their stables? Be subservient to senior wrestlers? The sport has been dying for years in Japan but they refuse to open it up to more international wrestlers.

And that is the comment from someone who only sees it as a sport .
You have to leave your way of life out of any evaluation and first try to understand it Like always media concentrates on the "bad" aspects from an ignorant pov.

 

[Oshime2]

And that is the comment from someone who only sees it as a sport .
You have to leave your way of life out of any evaluation and first try to understand it Like always media concentrates on the "bad" aspects from an ignorant pov.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say I understand sumo better than most people.

It is a sport. It's a job. They are paid to wrestle. Their rank, status and pay is all directly dependent only on winning more than they lose. If my primary goal is to win more matches than I lose, how is not being allowed to drive a car going to help that? How is being ruthlessly hazed and bullied by senior wrestlers going to help that?

 

[Bubblun]

A sumo wrestler from Egypt, that's curious.

 

[Slick_36]

Good move, this guy has always been a bit of a slugger who had to hold himself back in sumo, explosive handwork and athletic enough to fight a takedown from the clinch but a little wild and rough around the edges. He never quite fit in sumo, but he'd be like a hand to a glove in Rizin. Seemed to rely on athleticism when I first saw him but grew a lot of composure and technique along the way. He should learn the ropes assuming his injuries don't bother him too much.

 

[Slick_36]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say I understand sumo better than most people.

It is a sport. It's a job. They are paid to wrestle. Their rank, status and pay is all directly dependent only on winning more than they lose. If my primary goal is to win more matches than I lose, how is not being allowed to drive a car going to help that? How is being ruthlessly hazed and bullied by senior wrestlers going to help that?

It pays money and it may look like an athletic competition, but it's a Shinto ritual first and foremost. The Japanese love their rituals and traditions, it's really what defines the sport and makes it special. I mean you can move out when you marry, so it's not like you're imprisoned at the stable. I get that it is archaic in it's rules outside the dohyo, but I personally appreciate that. It's a way of life, the journey is rough but honorable, takes a lot of courage to choose that world.

Just compare a basho with the amateur championships they have and it's entirely different. Stripping it of the rituals really weakens the sport and changes it entirely.

 

[Slick_36]

That said, Osunaarashi always seemed to really suffer from the culture shock and missed the freedoms of home. Possessing the skill and ability but lacking the heart of sumo and just never quite understood or fit in it. He'll be a lot freer in MMA and I look forward to that.