Daiki Susumu

Daiki Susumu - 大喜 進 (born July 16, 1973 - May 16, 2005) was an American professional sumo wrestler from Waikane, Oahu, Hawaii. He made his debut in November 1991 and wrestled for Azumazeki stable. He reached the juryo division in September 1995. His highest rank was juryo 10 and he retired in January 1998.

## **Early Life**

Percy Kipapa was born in Kailua, Hawaii, and raised in Waikane, Hawaii. He grew up on a farm and attended Waiahole Elementary School. He later went on to attended Castle High School where he was a standout American football player. He also participated in baseball and basketball. A few months after graduation, he was personally recruited by fellow Hawaiian Azumazeki oyakata (former sekiwake Takamiyama). He joined Azumazeki stable and made his professional debut in November 1991.

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He initially wrestled under the shikona "Wakataisei" (若大成) before switching to "Daiki" (大喜) in July 2003. Unlike, his Hawaiian contemporaries, Daiki struggled to climb past the sandanme division. He struggled, because his oyakata stressed that he should practice oshi-zumo (pushing/thrusting), but Daiki never learned to master technique. Instead he switched to yotsu-zumo (grappling) and would use his weight (he peaked at 224 kg, 494 Ib) to his advantage. After he mastered his yotsu-zumo, he accelerated up the rankings. In July 1995, he won the makushita yusho with a perfect 7-0 record at the rank of makushita 8 and was promoted to juryo for the following September 1995 tournament. He was a former tsukebito or personal attendant to fellow Hawaiian Akebono Taro, whom he credited for helping him reach the sekitori ranks.

### **Juryo Career**

In his sekitori debut, Daiki managed to finish with an 8-7 record and was promoted to his highest rank of juryo 10 in the following November 1995 tournament. He was ranked in juryo for three more tournaments before a disastrous 3-12 record sent him back down to makushita.

### **Later Career**

Daiki remained in makushita for majority of his later career and he won his second makushita yusho in January 1997. He fell back down to sandanme in November 1997 and wrestled his last tournament in January 1998 where he ended on a high note with a 6-1 record.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

He retired from sumo in 1998, due to appendicitis and knee injuries. He was fluent in Japanese and after returning to his home in Waikane, Oahu according to his mother he worked for a tour company and in lomilomi massage. At the time of his death he had become addicted to methamphetamines.

### **Death**

He was found dead from multiple stab wounds in a truck in Kahaluu Hawaii. He had been killed by his Castle High School friend, Kealiiokalani Meheula, in a dispute over money. Meheula claimed self-defense but was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment on September 7, 2006.

His death was the subject of a book by Mark Panek, published in 2011 as Big Happiness: The Life and Death of a Modern Hawaiian Warrior. "Big Happiness" was the translation of Kipapa's sumo shikona of Daiki.

## **Fighting Style**

Daiki was initially an oshi-sumo wrestler who prefers pushing and thrusting techniques to fighting on the mawashi. However, he could never master the technique and eventually switched to yotsu-zumo, or grappling. He would use his immense weight advantage to tire out his opponents. His peak weight of 224 kilograms (494 lbs) means he ranks thirteenth in the list of heaviest sumo wrestlers.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 153-119-19/271 (38 basho)
* **Juryo:** 26-34/60 (4 basho)
* **Makushita:** 54-39-12/92 (15 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 50-34-7/84 (13 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 18-10/28 (4 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 5-2/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 2 **Makushita** Championships
	+ 1st (July 1995)
	+ 2nd (January 1997)

## **Shikona History**

* Wakataisei Susumu (1991.11 - 1993.05)
* Daiki Susumu (1993.07 - 1998.01)

## **Gallery**

Azumazeki congratulates Daiki for his Makushita Yusho (c. 1995)Daiki after promotion to Juryo
(c. 1995)Daiki with fellow American stablemate Ozora (c. 1995)Daiki prepares for his upcoming match (c. 1995)Daiki during the Juryo dohyo-iri
(c. 1996)Daiki's tegata
## **See Also**

* List of American Sumo Wrestlers
* List of Heaviest Sumo Wrestlers

## **Sources**

* Daiki Susumu Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Daiki Susumu Rikishi Information