Fans flock to sumo demo in S.F.'s Japantown

Recommended Video:

Several thousand spectators gathered at San Francisco's Japantown Peace Plaza on Sunday to see some of the biggest names in sumo demonstrate the ancient Japanese martial art.

Although none of the four competitors was actually from Japan, the free exhibition brought together three-time World Sumo Champion Byambajav Ulambayar of Mongolia; five-time U.S. Sumo Champion Kelly Gneiting of Idaho; and U.S. Sumo Open bronze medalists Baatartsogt Jileekhuu of Mongolia and Siosifa "Big Joe" Isamau, a Tongan who lives in East Palo Alto.

Their combined weight is 1,460 pounds.

"People always think we are a bunch of fat naked guys, they don't see the athleticism," said Gneiting, 43, as he stretched backstage. (He can do the splits.)

A former college football player, the 430-pound Gneiting took a chance on sumo after a failed attempt to get down to 265 pounds to compete for a spot on the Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling team. His power and size made a perfect fit in sumo. He has been happy ever since, becoming the Guinness World Record holder for the heaviest man to ever run a marathon, which he did twice, in Los Angeles. Now, he's training with 10-hour swims because he wants to do the freestyle across the English Channel.

'Biggest belly'

Sumo wrestlers, including U.S. Sumo bronze medalist Baatartsogt Jileekhuu of Mongolia, prepare for the show. Sumo wrestlers, including U.S. Sumo bronze medalist Baatartsogt Jileekhuu of Mongolia, prepare for the show. Photo: Susana Bates, Special To The Chronicle Photo: Susana Bates, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Fans flock to sumo demo in S.F.'s Japantown 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

"Root for Kelly, I have the biggest belly!" he told kids who lined up for autographs before the exhibition.

Wrestlers kissed babies, high-fived kids and flexed next to pretty ladies at the meet-and-greet. They are mini-celebrities, and Ulambayar is so beloved he has his own Topps trading card just like the baseball players, and he has been cast as himself in more than 200 commercials, TV shows and movies.

"I want Big Joe to fight my Dad!" said Conor McBride, 9, of San Francisco, as his father, Patrick, chuckled sweetly and moved his son along before the wrestlers got any ideas.

Sunday's annual Sumo Expo was the second, and event organizer Adam Straus said it's one of the most popular cultural events at Japantown.

Last year, 40 people came to the meet-and-greet; this year, there were 10 times that many.

Kellyx Nelson stood in line with her 5-year-old son, Spyder, and her 2-year-old daughter, Cricket.

"Two of my son's preschool teachers are Japanese, and his best friend is Japanese, and it's an important culture in San Francisco that I want him to stay exposed to," she said.

"Also, our society is so size-ist, and I want my children to see that you can be big and also be strong."

Sumo maneuvers

The wrestlers demonstrated some of the 82 sumo maneuvers inside a ring called a "dohyo," placed on top of a mat in the center of the Peace Plaza. Jileekhuu crouched before Big Joe, and when the emcee gave the call, the two men sprung up into a bear hug. Jileekhuu grabbed one side of Big Joe's belt, and slid another arm under his armpit. In one swift movement, he lifted Big Joe off the ground and swung him in a half circle, flipped him over and let him fall flat to the mat, as thousands of shutters clicked to the sound of a thousand "ooooohs!"

"Sumo is very fascinating for people," said Andrew Freund, founder of the U.S. Sumo. He puts on more than 70 live sumo shows a year throughout the United States, including a sit-down dinner and private sumo demonstration called "Sumo & Sushi," which will stop in San Francisco on Nov. 9-10.

"It's exotic to see large guys in mawashis (loin cloths), yet it's very fan-friendly because it's easy to understand. You push the other guy outside the circle, or to the ground, and you win."

Gentlemanly rules

There are some gentlemanly rules, however.

No eye poking. No hair pulling. Tripping is OK, but kicking is not. Open-palmed slaps are allowed, but fist-punches are a no-no. Belt grabbing is OK, but only on the sides of the belt. Giving your opponent a wedgy in back or grabbing the groin will get you DQ'd.

"Can you tickle?" a child in the audience asked over a microphone.

After the laughter subsided, the answer was yes, but the other guy is also going to push you as you tickle, so you might want to have a back-up strategy.

For technique tips, a good person to ask is three-time World Champion Ulambayar, whose lifetime win-loss record is 68-to-1.

"I do an hour of warm-up with leg lifts and stretches," he said, while crouching and lifting his left, then right, legs in the air.

"Before getting inside the dohyo, you must concentrate because intensity is the key. If you lose your focus, you can make a mistake."