Kyokutenzan Takeshi

Kyokutenzan Takeshi - 旭天山 武 (born August 4, 1973) is a former Mongolian professional sumo wrestler from Öndörkhaan. He made his debut in March 1992 and wrestled for Oshima stable. His highest rank was makushita 13 and he retired in January 2008.

## **Early Life**

Batmönkhiin Enkhbat was born on August 4, 1973, in Öndörkhaan, Khentii Province. In late 1991, a Japanese sumo training stable master, Oshima-oyakata (the former ozeki Asahikuni) went to Mongolia to recruit promising wrestlers for sumo. The young Enkhbat happened to notice the advertisement and applied along with 120 others. He was selected and went to Japan with five others, including Kyukotenho and Kyokushuzan.

## **Career**

Unlike Kyokutenho and Kyokushuzan, Kyokutenzan never reached sekitori status. This was due partly to an inability to put on weight, and partly to injuries. Nevertheless, he served as a tsukebito, or personal attendant, to Kyokutenho, and was an importance influence on other Mongolian rikishi. During his early days in sumo, when five of the six Mongolians in Oshima stable ran away due to homesickness and the hardship of training, and sought refuge in the Mongolian embassy, Kyokutenzan was the only one who remained and he persuaded his countrymen to return. The importance of this action was recognized by Futagoyama Oyakata, the former ozeki and father of Takanohana and Wakanohana, who commented that otherwise the subsequent line of successful Mongolian wrestlers in sumo might never have emerged.

During the January 2007 tournament Kyokutenzan attracted criticism over the amount of time he was spending in the two dressing rooms in which the wrestlers prepare for their bouts. He was interviewed by the Japan Sumo Association as part of their investigation of alleged match-fixing involving yokozuna Asashoryu. Kyokutenzan responded by saying he was just giving advice to Mongolian junior wrestlers, declaring, "I have never known of any match-fixing."

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Kyokutenzan retired from professional sumo at the end of the 2007 Kyushu tournament. His retirement ceremony was held in December with Hakuho and Asashoryu amongst the attendees as well as Kyokushuzan and Kyokutenho. Kyuokutenzan moved to Germany with his wife, who he had married in July 2007, to start a business. His first child, a girl, was born in May 2008.

## **Personal Life**

* Kyokutenzan was born in Öndörkhaan, Khentii Province, however, he used Ulaanbaatar as his shusshin, or birthplace, when joining sumo.
* Kyokutenzan obtained Japanese citizenship in 2006 and took the name Takeshi Sano.

## **Fighting Style**

Like many of his Mongolian compatriots, Kyokutenzan was very technical in his sumo and won many bouts with trips and throws. His most common winning kimarite, however, was still the straightforward yorikiri, or force out. Nonetheless, he employed over 44 different techniques throughout his career, many of which include uwatenage (overarm throw), shitatenage (underarm throw), and susoharai (rear foot sweep).

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 337-321-7/658 (96 basho)
* **Makushita:** 167-183-7/350 (51 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 114-96/210 (30 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 50-41/91 (13 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 6-1/7 (1 basho)

### **Achievements**

* Major influence in Mongolian success to sumo

## **Shikona History**

* Kyokuranzan Takeshi (1992.03 - 1995.03)
* Kyokutenzan Takeshi (1995.05 - 2008.01)

## **Gallery**

Kyokutenzan (sitting left) gets measured with his stablematesKyokutenzan (bottom right) become Mongolian sumo pioneersKyokutenzan trains with his stablematesKyokutenzan prepares for his upcoming matchKyokutenzan serves as Kyokutenho's tsukebitoKyokutenzan mentors future Yokozuna Hakuho (c. 2001)Kyokutenzan failed to make sekitori unlike his Mongolian stablematesKyokutenzan with Mongolian stablemate, Kyokushuho (c. 2007)Kyokutenzan's retirement ceremony (c. 2008)

## **Sources**

* Kyokutenzan Takeshi Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Kyokutenzan Takeshi Rikishi Information