Wakachikara Toru

Wakachikara Toru - 若力 徹 (born December 18, 1970) is a former American professional sumo wrestler from Waimanalo, Oahu, Hawaii. He made his debut in March 1991 and wrestled for Magaki stable. His highest rank was makushita 26 and he retired in November 1994.

## **Early Life**

Glenn "Bumbo" Kalima was born on December 18, 1970, in Waimanalo, Hawaii. He played American football at Kaiser High School. He joined Magaki stable in March 1991 where his brother George was already a sumo wrestler: Yamato. He was given the shikona "Onami" (男波).

## **Career**

Onami sped through the first two divisions and reached the sandanme divison by his fourth professional tournament. After a year in sandanme he was promoted to the makushita division in January 1993. He had changed his shikona to "Wakachikara" (若力) in the previous tournament and was on a run of impressive performances. He reached a career-best makushita 26 in May 1993 and was ranked higher than his older brother. In this tournament he injured his knee in a match against Ganyu on the first day and pulled out of the remaining tournament. He continued to sit out for another four tournaments and was demoted back down to jonidan. He returned in July 1994 and won all seven matches, however, he lost against Wakabusho in a playoff for the yusho. In the following tournament he produced another strong 6-1 record. However, he pulled out of the next tournament and his retirement was subsequently announced.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Due to his knee injury, Wakachikara retired prior to the November 1994 tournament after only three years in sumo. His retirement ceremony, or danpatsu-shiki, was held at a Tokyo hotel in October 1994.

Upon retirement, he returned back to the United States. In 2008, he participated in a sumo demonstration in a 4-day “Black Ships Festival” in Newport, Rhode Island.

## **Personal Life**

* Glenn Kalima lived in the same neighborhood as future yokozuna Akebono and they were well acquainted with each other before sumo.
* His nickname is "Bumbo".
* His brother, George, one year older than Glenn was also a professional sumo wrestler. They were around the same height, but George was much bigger, weighing 191 kg (421 Ib) at his biggest. His highest rank was maegashira 12.
* A third Kalima brother, Kalani, was also interested in joining sumo but was unable to find a stable and instead became a practitioner of Hawaiian martial arts.

## **Fighting Style**

Wakachikara is a yotsu-sumo wrestler who prefers grappling to pushing and thrusting techniques. He won over half his of his bouts with a straightforward yorikiri, or force out. He also regularly wins by oshidashi, or push out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 72-41-41/113 (23 basho)
* **Makushita:** 15-14-6/29 (5 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 29-20-28/49 (11 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 22-6-7/28 (5 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 6-1/7 (1 basho)

## **Shikona History**

* Onami Toru (1991.03 - 1992.09)
* Wakachikara Toru (1992.11 - 1994.11)

## **Gallery**

Glenn Kalima and his brother, Yamato (c. 1990)Wakachikara in maezumo (c. 1991)Wakachikara loses the jonidan playoff to Wakabusho (c. 1994)

## **Sources**

* Wakachikara Toru Rikishi Information
* Honolulu Advertiser, *Knee injuries drive Kalima from the ring* by Ferd Lewis
* Sumo Fan Magazine Article about Black Ships Festival
* Sumo Forum Thread on American Rikishi