Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-20
The Beer THAT Made Milwaukee Faroonns

~ II IL ~ ~
s.
Gent customs and traditions, Which are
closely involved in the Shinto reiglon, are
considered undignified ana unprolessioliaa ;
ffth foreigners do not and cannot appre-
ctate the religious significance OF wrestling
contekts and regard them only as an anluse,
ment: sixth, betting Is absolutely prohiol.eu
at wrestling tournaments IN Japan, pu'
could not be prevented in foreign countries,
and finally departures from the traditlonai
customs and rules of the PROFESSION ana eA-
hibitions in unaccustomed places are ape ~
demoralize and degrade an honorapie pro-
feksion. These are the reasons WHY hoieieAA
tours are discouraged.
Honor of Wrestlers.
While professional wrestlers are usually
dissolute men, and often lose their skill
and strength by yielding to conVlvlal temp
tations, they are noted for a high sense Oh
honor Any man who resorts to dishonor-
able methods will be promptly expelled
from the guild. The judges at the contests
are retired champions, whose positions are
for life, and they are supposed to supervise
the morals and training of the younger
members of the profession as well as the
contests in the arena. Wrestling has the
patronage of the emperor and the Buddhist
church, on the theory that It tends to inn
prove the physical condition OF the people.
Like jujutsu, 1t is a science, requiring years
Of study to become proficient, and wrestling
schools are as common as teachers OF
music. Professionals win tell you that 1854
devices, grips and positions are recognized
as legitimate. Occasionally some wrestler
Of genius invents or discovers anotneis
the executive committee of the guild BEFORE
it can be used and they keep 1t secret,
but the profession will discover 1t as soon
as 1t Is introduced into match for While
ia Younger MEM
bers of the profession stand by, watching
as closely as medical students at clinic
where some great surgeon is performing an
opera ton.
1t is no disgrace for a champion to be
defeated in the arena. but when he once
loses the. supremacy his honors are over.
He cannot compete again. He must go on
the retired list and live on the glory Of his
past fame until some new hero arises to
eclipse him. He becomes judge and pre-
sides at future contests. The champion
ship is not decided by a single contest, as
in pugilism, but by the highest number Of
throws during the season.
A remarkable feature of the contests Is
the good nature of the participants. They
seldom lose their tempers or question the
decisions of the umpire, which is very diff
ferent from the habit Of professional ath-
letes and sporting people in other lands.
Nor do they resort to jockeying. l attended
tournament in which sixty-two wrestlers
participated and which lasted seven days
There was not single dispute: the decision
of the umpire was not once questioned, and
there was but one foul. which was instantly
granted without protest from the accused.
Wrestling Tournaments.
The contestants at a tournament are d.
vided by lot into two sides-one called
Nishi the west side and the other Hi
gashi (east side, according TO the location
of the dressing rooms, and each side con-
sists of four grades or classes. The first
class is called ''Makuno Uchi," which
means within the curtain, because, being
composed of the best men in the profession,
it's members have certain privileges and
distinctions not enjoyed by those or INFERIOR
rank The second class is called Sekl-
waki'' Cthe neighborhood of the Darrler) !;
the third ''Komusubi' Ia knot dllncuit 10
untie), and the youngsters are "Maye-Ga-
shira" (members of the van). Anybody can
enter this class and take his chances at
the next tournament, but he cannot enter
the guild until he becomes a komusupi
The lowest class is composed of ambitious
young men serving apprenticeships, or stu
dents of the members of the frst CLASS
They usually begin by attachng them
selves to member of the highest class IN
the capacity of a valet servant, and In
reward for their services he teaches them
the scientific side of the business. In two
or three years they are prepared to pass an
examination for promotion into the no
musubi class, when they are admitted to
the guild, receive regular allowance ana
thereafter rise in the profession according
to their merits. Now and then some
brawny yokel, with big limbs and quick
wit, comes down from the country without
training and apprenticeship and earns tame
and position by a single struggle. Some
years ago one of these phenomena APP
peared In the ring, entirely unknown, ana
created great sensation by throwing the
most skillful and experienced men in the
profession over his head.
The Chalnpion.
The champion makes his appearance In
the ring daily wearing the championship
belt, which Is rope Of white SILK ABOUT
the size of mans wrist, tied like a SASH,
and suspended from it. are clusters OF
white cards representing the contests ne
has won during the season thus far, each
card being inscribed with the date, the
place and the name of his opponent. me
WreStiefs In each class are matched py lot
the day before they are to appear ana the
!lsts are puDnshed, so that the pupnc may
know when the favorites perform. AT eacn
| tournament every man must have a bout
with every other member of his class,
which makes 1t necessary for him to ap-
pear every day, and sometimes two or
three times In the day. The judges keep
a score OF the results, and at the end OF the
season the record is made up and the rat
| ing Of each wrestler, according to the num-
per OF MS Victories. Is published. The
champion is often thrown Few cham
pions have ever. been SO fortunate as to
win every contest, but to retain the cham
pionsnlp ne must have larger NUMBER OF
victories to his credit than any other man
| OF his class in the guild. Promotions from
one class to another are made annually
AFTER the tournament but to be promoted
wrestler must throw every man in his
| class.
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