Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-11-11
JAP WRESTLING
NOT FOR YANKS
so Money, No Nothin'' for
Strong Boys From the
States.

COLUMBIA, No. Nov. 11.-American
wrestlers come home from Japan with
less money, more experience and no love
for japanese promoters, according to Al
fonso johnson, former United States
Trade Commissioner to Japan and now
connected with 4 local newspaper.
"Ad Santel and Henry Weber, Amer
lean wrestlers." says Johnson, ARE back
IN this country from Japan. where they
mustered a great deal Of respect for ia
panese wrestlers. -
Sumo is what they call wrestling in
Japan. According to our rules Of mat
skill American wrestlers are far superior
TO those Of Japan, but, according to Sumo
rules, neck and toe holds are barred-sO
SanteI and Weber were out Of luck when
they bucked the champions of Japanese
rings"
japanese wrestlers, unlike the average
Jap. are giants of men. Johnson declares.
They are mountains of strength, fat and
muscular. with sensual faces and, he de-
clares, for the most part. of sensual
habits. They allow their hair to grow I'M
til It can be braided
Those OF their following who attain
the championship class usually marry the
daughters Of wrestling devOtees and then
live fast life that sends them to an
early grave, debauched. says Johnson
Explaining some OF the details of
sumo, johnson says only forty light
falls, consisting Of twelve throws, twelve
hfts, twelve twists and twelve throws
over the back are permitted. The matches
are staged in sanded rings. encircled BY
rtce-Straw bales. the wrestlers enter the
arena practically naked, wearing only a
Eay-cOlored apron. An umpire stays IT.
the ring TO see that the rules are strictly
observed. He is dressed in the latest
style OF kimOnO and carries a fan.
japanese wrestling seldom results in
a fall, as a fall is known in America
as no attempt is made TO touch the
shoulders Of an opponent to the mat
wrestler is down if any part Of his
body touches the mat, or If he steps
over the boundary line of the ring
The Sumo men being giants. the Jap
snese wrestling contests are mostly
pushing contests.
Years ago" explains Johnson. "Ameri-
can sailors tried to mix American wres
ting and japanese sumo but always
with disastrous results, for the sailor
would tear in for A catch-as- cat ch-can
and upset the Jap. That wasn't the way
Ii was done in Japan.
The last big sumo match saw
was between Jap and a giant negro
sailor. The sailor was warned not to
muss him up too much and for j time
things went we'll. Suddenly the Jap
pushed 4 little too hard to please the
negro, and the black forgot his fnstruc-
tons, grabbed q half Nelson and threw
the jap so hard that he almost cracked
II broke up the game. and that night
tine Sailors were AFRAID TO take shore
leave. That ended sumo contests be-
tween Japs and American sailors.
SaEtel and Weber understood the Sumo
rules when they started their tour Of
japan. They signed contracts with pro-
motors at Dai Nippon and staged bouts
In kudan Park. Toxic. where they were
bested because Of certain Interpretation
Of the rules of combination matches
After five days wrestling before crowds
OF from G.0O0 to 5000 Santel and Weber
asked for an accounting; they needed
money. They were told the profits had
been only 1915 ycn (S9SJ, as the expenses
tad been very heavy.
still 8rEuing over this, they went to
NagOyG and staged two bouts They
still received no pay. At Osaka they
tefused 70 wrestle unless paid in ad-
vance. This ultimatum finally brought
rhem some money They accepted some
checks also. but the banks reported they
nad no accounts with the signers. The
promoters who brought them from Amer
r1 had disa ppeared"
sumo is connected by Japanese history.
Johnson says. with the royal family
Z that country The japanese throne.
h' SAYS. once was a Sumo prize.
In the ninth century" declares John
on. the NHkado died and left two sons.
They committed their claims to a Sumo
match rather than real warfare"