Awesome Fat Guy of the Week.

As a fat kid you are always looking for things that fit you. Clothes, friends, hobbies, and heroes. While other kids could look at any number of athletes and action stars, your choices are much more limited. There was one stand by though. One sport and group of athletes that you could call upon. Make no mistake about this. Fat kids, boys to be exact, always think of Sumo Wrestlers. I’m not saying that we watched Sumo Wrestling and wanted to learn about the sport. No, what I am saying is that the Sumo Wrestler was a big guy who was strong, confident, and fought. He was what we wanted to be. When boys talk about fighting and wanting to learn about martial arts the fat kid falls back on Sumo. Sure he could say Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, or any number of other martial arts that don’t evolve triple back flips, but Sumo was the obvious choice.  Which leads me to this weeks Awesome Fat Guy of the Week. A true giant in the world of Sumo. Akebono.

Akebono Taro, was born as Chad Haaheo Rowan, on May 8, 1969 in Waimanalo, Hawaii.  Chad played basketball at Kaiser High School. He became an All-Star Center which lead to him receiving a basketball scholarship to Hawaii Pacific University. Chad was planning to study for a career in Hotel Management but that fell to the wayside.

Takamiyama Daigoro looking oddly like much larger version of Emeril.

Chad had always been interested in the world of sumo. Since Hawaii has a large Japanese population it was more common for sumo to be shown on TV there. Which is how Chad was introduced to the sport. Eventually a family friend introduced him to a former sumo wrestler, Takamiyama Daigoro (Jesse James Wailani Kuhaulua), who was also a born and bred Hawaiian. At first Takamiyama was concerned that Chad was too tall and that his legs were too long for sumo, but overcame these doubts and agreed to let Chad join his Azumazeki stable.

In the early part of 1988 Chad flew to Japan. Once there he took the name Akebono, which means “new dawn”, as his ring name or shikona in Japanese. Akebono made his professional debut in March 1988. He quickly rose up the ranks, even matching the record for most consecutive kachi-koshi (majority of wins in a sumo championship) from debut. It wasn’t long until he had reached the third highest rank in professional sumo wrestling.

Asahifuji Seiya

He was promoted in March 1999, just two years after his debut. He was the first member of his stable to reach such heights. He went on to receive his first special prize, for Fighting Spirit ( a very Japanese phrase which basically means guts), in November 1990. In January 1991 he beat Asahifuji, a sumo wrestler who was at the level of Yokozuna, and received a gold star. A few months later he would take part in the first ever match between two sumo of the top division who were non-Japanese.

After spending time at the top of the makuuchi division Akebono surged forward. He went on a tear and was promoted to ozeki the second highest rank of sumo wrestler. After this he spent some time nursing an injury but came back better than before. He won two consecutive championships in November 1992 and January 1993 and reached the level of Yokozuna. The first non-Japanese person to do so and the 64th Yokozuna ever. He was now at the top of the Sumo world. This was added to by the fact that he was the only Yokozuna at the time and the first in over 8 months. I should explain. The rank of Yokozuna is not given to just one man.  It is a rank achieved only by the best. Sometimes there are no who qualify. Sometimes there are more than one.  The qualifications for the rank of Yokozuna are not set in stone. Which makes Akebono’s achievement all the greater.

Akebono at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano.

As a Yokozuna, Akebono was very successful. He spent eight years in the rank and won the top division championship another eight times. He was incredibly popular and well respected. So much so that he represented Japan in the opening ceremony on the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. A professional sumo wrestler was chosen to represent each of the competing countries and lead them into the stadium.

Akebono’s career was not without difficulties. Due to his height and weight Akebono was susceptible to injury. During his career he suffered serious knee injuries and back problems caused by a herniated disc. With that said he wouldn’t be an Awesome Fat Guy if he didn’t over come these issues. In 2000, during an injury free period, he won two tournaments and finished with the best record of any wrestler that year. 

In November 2000, Akebono was once again injured . He sat out a tournament in January 2001, and decided to retire. After retiring he became a member of the Japan Sumo Association as a coach. He helped to train Asashoryu, a Mongolian wrestler, who would also reach the rank of Yokozuna. During this time Akebono would appear in commercials and open a restaurant called Zuna.

Bob Sapp is a huge human being. He is dwarfed by Akebono.

Here is where things get a little less awesome. The restaurant failed. This in and of itself isn’t a horrible occurrence but it was compounded by a number of other issues. Most of which had to due to with money. Akebono was in financial difficulties. He had to do something.  An opportunity was placed before him and took it. Akebono joined K-1 and fought as a professional Kick Boxer.

This was not a good move.  He fought a total of 9 K-1 fights and won just one. If that wasn’t bad enough he then ventured into the world of MMA and achieved a perfect record of four fights with four losses.  Which just goes to show you that Sumo Wrestling may be awesome but it sure as shit isn’t good in a real fight. It was so bad that Akebono was given the nickname “Makebono”. Make meaning “lose” in Japanese.

Well when you can’t be a Sumo anymore and can’t fight to save your life what do you do? Professional Wrestling that’s what. He has competed for All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling. His wrestling career has actually been rather successful. He has worked for a number of organizations and won a couple of titles. Mainly as a tag team competitor but it is obvious that he is still a “draw”. He even competed for the WWE in a one-off sumo match at Wrestlemania 21. This was a worked match. Meaning the winner was predetermined. His opponent for the match was Paul “Big Show” Wight. A man who stands at nearly 7 feet and weighs in at close to 500 pounds. Which means he was slightly taller than Akebono but weighed less. To be honest I doubt the match had to be a work. Akebono may not be in his prime but he is still one of the all time great sumo wrestlers. A match with a rank amateur no matter how big or strong would not pose much of a challenge.

Family is all that matters. Well that and kick ass pair of orange shorts.

Okay so now I tell you why the previous three paragraphs mean nothing. Akebono accomplished many amazing things. When he could no longer do those things he put himself out there and did what he could to support himself and his family. It takes a lot for a great man to expose himself to ridicule. Akebono is doing what he can to support his wife and children. It doesn’t matter that his legacy is at risk. All that matters is that his family is cared for. It takes a strong man to do that. That is why he is the Awesome Fat Guy of the Week.

Wikipedia
Amazon
Youtube