Cornelius Booker was quick to mention that his fascination with Japanese culture dates to a young age.

PANAMA CITY — Cornelius Booker was quick to mention that his fascination with Japanese culture dates to a young age.

Therefore his knowledge of where to experience the best sushi bar in Bay County, right?

Not even close.

An in-depth understanding of the samurai philosophy? You’re still cold.

Martial arts and further exploration of the inner self? Sound the buzzer — Aaaaaa.

Ninja warriors? Double Aaaaaaaa.

Booker recently bought a used 2003 Mitsubishi?

No. the graduate of Bay High School took his absorption to a totally different level. A wrestler while at Bay, he became enthralled with sumo wrestling.

That’s right, ginormous Japanese men clad in diapers revered in their country for an ability to push an opponent out of a ring on what resembles a wrestling mat.

Not quite, in Booker’s case, but the 6-footer has quickly risen through the ranks to place fourth in the lightweight class at the U.S. Sumo National Championships, and also placed fourth in his class at the more prestigious U.S. Sumo Open last month in Long Beach, California.

Booker explained that there are three classes for his sport in this country, up to 187 pounds (lightweight), 188-252 (middleweight) and 253 and over, the size most of the uninitiated equate with sumo.

How Booker got started in sumo wrestling and his preparation for competition are even more singular than his passion for his new-found focus.

Suffice to say, he’s gone by the book. Literally.

Booker, 24, said he felt a void following his senior year of wrestling at Bay when he said he made a “stupid mistake” in the regional tournament that cost him a chance to reach state at 171 pounds.

“It left a void I felt like I couldn’t fill,” Booker said. So he started researching sumo wrestling and got in contact with some people familiar with the sport.

“I figured I would try it out and did a little practicing on my own,” Booker said. “I was looking some stuff up (online) and found some basic sumo drills. And some of it came from me reading “Sumo Skills, Instruction Guide” by Thomas Zabel.

“I never competed until last September in Atlanta at Japanfest. Just by watching online it gave me some hands-on perspective.”

Booker said that he’d never sparred with a training partner except the day before his first match in Atlanta. He admitted it was a very small tournament with only a few participants in his weight class. He said his only loss was against a Bulgarian who had been a world champion in the lightweight class.

“I felt like he was toying with me,” Booker said.

The object of sumo is to force an opponent out of the ring or have him touch the ground with something other than his feet inside of the ring. A match continues until that occurs.

“Generally matches don’t last too long,” Booker said. “It can be over in 5 seconds or some go a minute and a half. Usually it’s about 30-40 seconds.”

Booker eventually took part in the U.S. Sumo National Championships where he finished fourth in the lightweight division and in the top eight of the Open division.

His finish there caught the attention of some in the sport.

“Originally I was just going to go to nationals and then call it a day, but I got pressured into” competing in the U.S. Sumo Open. “With how well I did a bunch of people actually in the sport told me I should go.

“There were people with a lot more training and experience than I have, and with me doing well they figured I should do the Open and see how well I did there.”

Booker said he split six matches to finish fourth, one spot out of a medal. He was the highest-ranking American in his class, he said.

“It was a great experience with me competing that well at that high a level,” Booker said. “It told me that this is definitely the sport that I should be sticking with. I’ve had under 20 matches and I’m still relatively young. From what I’ve seen most of the best who compete for the U.S. are in their mid-30s.”

Booker said he is taking a sabbatical from attending Gulf Coast State College and works in the produce department at Walmart in Panama City Beach. His job and some donations solicited on social media helped finance his recent trip to California.

Booker said that his walking-around weight is about 200 pounds, and that he cuts weight prior to competitions. He said that he’s done some training with the Back in Black Club that has come into prominence as an offseason conduit for accomplished freestyle wrestlers at ArnoldHigh School and also has begun a weight-training schedule with Chad Reid, owner of Fitness Junkee.

“It’s a different skill set than freestyle wrestling,” Booker said. “Some people think it’s mainly upper body, but lower body is just as important. The initial charge at the start of match is an explosion like a football tackle and is a lot of leg strength.

“You have to have a center of gravity low enough to gain leverage so you’re not getting pushed out or thrown so easily. One thing I did in the U.S. Open is stay low and put my head on their chest making it difficult for them to try anything without me feeling it and reacting.”

Arnold coach Jeff Skipper was aware of Booker from his high school days.

“Cornelius while wrestling at Bay had some epic battles with a few of my wrestlers,” Skipper said. “I was happy that he asked to be part of our Back in Black program. It’s always nice to see a young person give back to the community and to the sport.

“As far as sumo ... it’s something new to me. I know he is driven and has been training very hard with myself and Chad Reid at Fitness Junkee. His passion for his sport is contagious.”

Booker is accustomed to the reaction he receives when he tells people he is a sumo wrestler.

“They think it’s just big Asian guys in diapers bumping into each other,” Booker said. “I fit literally none of that.”

His immediate goals are to put the sport on the map in Florida. He said that currently California, New Jersey and Texas are where the sport is most prominent in this country. His ultimate goal is to get a Team Florida established.

“That definitely would give me people to train with, and my long-term goals, I want to be able to medal in some of these places. Placing in nationals and being able to take part in the U.S. world team, competing abroad in the world championships or Combat Games.”

For now, Booker expects to take a break from competition until September and Japanfest in Atlanta which is attractive because travel expenses aren’t daunting. He’s also looking into a tournament in Missouri in October if he can locate funding to defray the cost.

Booker said that competitors must become a member of a national federation in order to participate at tournaments.

“Most of us that compete in sumo, it’s for the love of the sport,” Booker said. “I’m kind of the same way. The culture, the honor, bowing before and after showing honor and respect.

“All the matches are intense, high-paced. It’s really entertaining. I like that aspect of it.”

In keeping with tradition, Booker dons the mawashi, which is a heavy cotton garment about 5 inches wide and 24-28 feet long that is wrapped around the groin and midsection of competitors.

“Basically the texture is like a firehose,” Booker said. “It’s big enough to wrap around me four or five times. Men have the option of wearing compression biker shorts underneath.

“You get used to it. Two people wrap it around you and you can grab it for leverage and throws. I actually do not wear the biker shorts. I go traditional, or some call it going raw. If you’re going to do the sport I think you should do it the right way.”