- Title: Meet Kyuta: the 10-year-old, 85-kilo sumo in training
- Date: 19th January 2021
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE - DECEMBER 6, 2020) (REUTERS) YOUNG SUMO WRESTLERS LIFTING WEIGHTS AND MEDICINE BALLS DURING TRAINING VARIOUS OF 10-YEAR-OLD SUMO NATIONAL WRESTLING CHAMPION, KYUTA KUMAGAI, LIFTING WEIGHTS KYUTA KUMAGAI WRESTLING TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE - SEPTEMBER 2, 2020) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF LOCAL TEMPLE WITH KYUTA KUMAGAI LIFTING WEIGHTS INSIDE VARIOUS OF KYUTA KUMAGAI LIFTING WEIGHTS AT TEMPLE DURING TRAINING SWEAT ON KYUTA KUMAGAI'S FACE VARIOUS OF KYUTA KUMAGAI LIFTING WEIGHTS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 10-YEAR-OLD SUMO WRESTLING CHAMPION, KYUTA KUMAGAI, SAYING: "It is fun to beat people older than me." VARIOUS OF KYUTA KUMAGAI DOING SIT-UPS WITH HIS FATHER TAISUKE KUMAGAI (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) FATHER OF KYUTA KUMAGAI, TAISUKE KUMAGAI, SAYING: "When he was in kindergarten, I let him join a sumo tournament. Although I didn't teach him anything, he could do various things naturally. There is a talent for sumo and he has that talent. He won the tournament. I thought he may have something special." VARIOUS OF KYUTA AND TAISUKE KUMAGAI WRESTLING TOGETHER DURING TRAINING / KYUTA CRYING WITH EXHAUSTION (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) FATHER OF KYUTA KUMAGAI, TAISUKE KUMAGAI, SAYING: "Of course he doesn't train 24 hours during those six days. I think he is managing to make time for himself and I think he has time to play with his friends. I don't think it is 'too much pressure'." VARIOUS OF KYUTA AND TAISUKE KUMAGAI TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) FATHER OF KYUTA KUMAGAI, TAISUKE KUMAGAI, SAYING: "I don't think I'm wasting money at all. It is not easy. I have to spend a lot of time and money. But I think it is worth investing. I don't gamble. Instead, I'm betting everything on this." KYUTA KUMAGAI BEING SERVED DINNER, CHANKO NABE (TRADITIONAL SUMO WRESTLER'S MEAL), BY MOTHER MAKIKO KUMAGAI VARIOUS OF KYUTA KUMAGAI EATING DINNER TAISUKE KUMAGAI SERVING HIMSELF TOKYO, JAPAN (DECEMBER 16, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF KYUTA KUMAGAI AND HIS FRIENDS ARRIVING AT SCHOOL VARIOUS OF KYUTA KUMAGAI AND HIS FRIENDS PLAYING GAME IN PLAYGROUND KYUTA KUMAGAI TAKING SEAT AT TABLE AT START OF LESSON VARIOUS OF KYUTA KUMAGAI AND HIS CLASSMATES READING (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 10-YEAR-OLD SUMO WRESTLING CHAMPION, KYUTA KUMAGAI, SAYING: "Sumo training is something you don't describe with words like 'enjoy'." KYUTA KUMAGAI SEATED AS TEACHER SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 10-YEAR-OLD SUMO WRESTLING CHAMPION, KYUTA KUMAGAI, SPEAKING ABOUT THINKING ABOUT GIVING UP SUMO WRESTLING, SAYING: "Yes, when I was training and when it became tough…(cross-talk with reporter) I have thought about that idea sometimes." TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE - AUGUST 20, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF KYUTA KUMAGAI AND OTHER YOUNGSTERS WALKING IN CIRCLE AS PART OF SUMO TRAINING VARIOUS OF CHILDREN, KYUTA KUMAGAI TRAINING CHILDREN'S FEET MOVING WHILST TRAINING VARIOUS OF KYUTA KUMAGAI WRESTLING WITH SUMO WRESTLING COACH AND FORMER PROFESSIONAL SUMO WRESTLER SHINICHI TAIRA (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) SUMO WRESTLING COACH AND FORMER PROFESSIONAL SUMO WRESTLER, SHINICHI TAIRA, SAYING: "At the moment, he has great talent. He is a hard worker and his parents are very enthusiastic. I think that is why he won the national competition. It doesn't matter whether I say to him 'become a Yokozuna', it depends on how much effort he puts in. I think he has a talent so I think his future will be interesting." KYUTA KUMAGAI AND TAIRA WRESTLING KYUTA KUMAGAI BLEEDING KYUTA KUMAGAI WRESTLING
- Embargoed: 2nd February 2021 00:34
- Keywords: Japan Kyuta Kumagai Sumo wrestling Yokozuna child father life national champion sport
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Sport,Sumo Wrestling,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA001DVVBB6H
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Among the young sumo wrestlers lifting weights in the ring, 10-year-old Kyuta Kumagai stands out.
At 85 kilograms (187 lbs.), Kyuta is twice the size of the other children his age and is so dominant that he wrestles, and beats, boys five or six years older.
His training regime, devised by his father Taisuke, is relentless.
He trains six days a week, either at his local sumo club or lifting weights. He also swims and practices track and field to build up the flexibility and explosive quickness needed for sumo wrestling.
Kyuta has been on the programme since his father entered him in a tournament while still in kindergarten.
"I didn't teach him anything, he could do various things naturally," said Taisuke, a former amateur sumo. "There is a talent for sumo and he has that talent. He won the tournament. I thought he may have something special."
Kyuta is currently the under-10 world champion, beating out competition from as far afield as the United Kingdom and Ukraine last year.
A shy boy of few words, his motivations are simple.
"It is fun to beat people older than me."
When it became apparent the boy had talent, Taisuke moved the family to the Fukugawa area of Tokyo that is famous for producing sumo wrestlers. It has an abundance of clubs and Nominosukune Shrine, where the God of Sumo is said to reside, meaning there is a lot of local support for the Kumagais.
Father and son use a local temple for intense one-on-one training. The sessions tend to finish with the pair wrestling up and down the carpet in front of the main shrine.
Taisuke pushes Kyuta so hard that the child is often left breathless and crying. But he believes it is the only way to get the best out of his son.
"I think he is managing to make time for himself and I think he has time to play with his friends," explained Taisuke. "I don't think it is too much pressure."
The training is expensive and requires a huge commitment from the entire family, including his mother Makiko.
"I don't do gambling (at a casino). Instead, I'm betting everything on this," Taisuke said.
Key to any sumo's success is their diet.
On an average day, Kyuta will consume 2,700 to 4,000 calories, including over a litre of milk and copious amounts of protein. Steak is his favourite.
Over a bowl of chanko nabe, a specialty sumo broth, Taisuke said Kyuta needs to put on another 20 kg by the time he enters middle school in two years.
If he does that, the hope is he will be taken in by a high-profile sumo stable and Taisuke said there has already been interest.
His current coach, former professional wrestler Shinichi Taira, thinks Kyuta has what it takes.
"At the moment, he has great talent," said Taira.
Kyuta wants to reach the level of 'yokozuna' - the highest ranking in the sport.
But he admits the regime can be brutal.
"Sumo training is something you don't describe with words like 'enjoy'," Kyuta said. "When it became tough… I have thought about (quitting) sometimes."
For now though, the grind towards the top continues, for both father and son.
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