Ryudo Go

Ryudo Go - 隆涛 剛 (born May 26, 1971) is a former Brazilian professional sumo wrestler from Sao Paulo. He made his debut in May 1992 and last wrestled for Tamanoi stable. He reached the juryo division in March 1994. His highest rank was juryo 8 and he retired in January 1999.

## **Early Life**

Luiz Go Ikemori was born in Sao Paulo and is a third generation Japanese-Brazilian. He began practicing judo at the age of 7 before transitioning to sumo at the age of 16. At age 18 he went to Japan and won an international tournament. He later enrolled at Takushoku University, but he did not speak Japanese and had to work extremely hard by balancing Japanese language courses, regular courses, and sumo practice. In 1990, he became the first Brazilian to win the Japanese National Collegiate Sumo Championship. He turned professional in May 1992, joining the Tamanoi stable which was already home to four other Brazilian sumo wrestlers (Kuniazuma, Wakaazuma, Kitaazuma, and Azumakaze).

## **Career**

### **Early Career**

He was the first foreign wrestler ever to be granted makushita tsukedashi status, meaning that because of his amateur sumo achievements he could start at the bottom of the third highest makushita division. He initially wrestled under his surname "Ikemori" (池森) before switching to "Ryudo" (隆涛) in November 1993. He was promoted to juryo in March 1994 which made him the first Brazilian sekitori.

### **Juryo Career**

Ryudo was ranked in juryo for a total of seven tournaments. He best performance came in January 1995 where he posted a strong 10-5 record. He was promoted to his highest rank of juryo 8 in the following March tournament. In September 1995, Ryudo fractured the humerus and epicondyles in his right elbow and subsequently withdrew form the tournament. As a result he was demoted back down to makushita in November 1995.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Ryudo remained in makushita for the majority of his later career. He reverted back to Ikemori as his shikona before switching to "Ryuko" (龍興) in November 1998. He fell down to sandanme in September 1998 and announced his retirement after the January 1999 tournament. He has remained in Japan, working for a Tokyo business.

## **Personal Life**

* On April 22nd, 1996, Ryudo became a naturalized Japanese citizen (the same day as yokozuna Akebono) and he changed his name to "Ikemori Go" (池森 剛).
* During the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, sekitori would walk out with countries during the opening ceremony. Furthermore, foreign wrestlers would walk out with their home county. Even though at the time Ryudo had already fallen to makushita, he was allowed to lead out Brazil during the opening ceremony.

## **Fighting Style**

Ryudo was a yotsu-sumo wrestler who prefers grappling to pushing and thrusting techniques. He favored a migi-yotsu (left hand outside, right hand inside) position when gripping his opponent's mawashi (belt). His most common kimarite was yorikiri, or force out.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 167-150-26/317 (41 basho)
* **Juryo:** 44-49-12/93 (7 basho)
* **Makushita:** 115-95-14/210 (32 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 8-6/14 (2 basho)

### **Achievements**

* **1st** Brazilian sekitori
* **1st** foreign makushita tsukedashi entrant

## **Shikona History**

* Ikemori Go (1992.05 - 1993.09)
* Ryudo Go (1993.11 - 1996.03)
* Ikemori Go (1996.05 - 1998.09)
* Ryuko Go (1998.11 - 1999.01)

## **Gallery**

Ryudo after promotion to Juryo (c. 1994)Ryudo becomes the first Brazilian sekitori (c. 1995)Ryudo prepares for his upcoming match in Juryo (c. 1995)Ryudo leads his native country at the 1998 Nagano OlympicsRyudo with his fellow Brazilian stablemates (c. 1998)Ryudo's tegataRyudo's kesho-mawashi

## **Sources**

* Ryudo Go Japanese Wikipedia Article
* Ryudo Go Rikishi Information