<DATE> Contents

SOS - Shinjinrui on Sumo  
Chris Gould
Wrapping up his look at increasing the popularity of sumo, Chris Gould caps a series the NSK would do well to refer to.
Sumo Souvenirs  
Mark Buckton
Souvenirs are a part of every sport and sumo is no different - or is it? A look at collectibles and the downright trashy, the bona fide versus the unproven.
Rikishi of Old  
Joe Kuroda
Joe Kuroda's latest look at times past focuses on former makunouchi man Dewagatake.
Eric Evaluates  
Eric Blair
Eric takes a no-nonsense look at the claims of fixed bouts in the Japanese media.
Rikishi Diary  
Mark Kent
Mark Kent - English pro-wrestler and amateur heavyweight sumotori - takes us through the first month or so of his training and preparation for the various European events lined up in in 2007.
Heya Peek  
Chris Gould
SFM's Chris Gould was in Japan for the Hatsu Basho and popped along to the new Shikoroyama Beya to give SFM an online exclusive peek into sumo's newest heya.
SFM Interview  
Mark Buckton
Mark interviews Mark - Buckton on Kent that is as Mark Kent, the UK's only active heavyweight amateur answers a few questions on his own recent entry into the sport.
Photo Bonanzas  
Sumo Forum stepped in to take the weight off the shoulders of SFM as far as Hatsu went so we could sit back, relax, enjoy the sumo and take a few more select pics you won't see anywhere else.
Hatsu Basho Summary
Lon Howard
Lon wraps the Hatsu Basho and chucks in a few bits on the rush of henka that threatens to sully the good name of at least one foreign ozeki.
Sumo Menko  
Ryan Laughton
Sumo cards of old brought to life by expert collector Ryan Laughton. None of your BBM here.
Haru Ones To Watch
Carolyn Todd
Carolyn ponders and puts fingers to keys on the ones to watch come March and the Haru Basho.
Kimarite Focus  
Mikko Mattila
Mikko's latest look at sumo's kimarite offers unequalled analysis and in depth explanations.
Amateur Angles  
Howard Gilbert
Howard looks at the 'sumo factory' of lore - Nichidai.
Kokugi Konnections
Todd Lambert
Click on Todd's bimonthly focus on three of the best the WWW has to offer.
Fan Debate
Facilitator - Carolyn Todd
Moti Dichne comes back for more and takes on Bradley Sutton on the subject of 'Modernize the heya - yea or nay?'
SFM Cartoons
Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson
In this issue's cartoon bonanza, sit back and sample Benny's artistic offerings.
Sumo Odds & Ends
SFM's interactive elements - as always includes Henka Sightings, Elevator Rikishi and Eternal Banzuke!
Let's Hear From You
What was it that made you a sumo fan? Ryan Laughton - sumo fan and menko expert reveals all.
Readers' Letters  
See what our readers had to say since we last hit your screens.
Sumo Quiz
The Quizmaster
Answer the Qs and win yourself a genuine banzuke.

Rikishi Diary
 
by Mark Kent
corner so did some shiko and suriashi.

Jan 16th    As I've done a lot recently, been in the back yard doing my shiko and suriashi today - pretty boring when you're alone. Took my daughter to her athletics training this evening and helped her with her medicine ball training.

Jan 18th    My son's football coach had to work this evening so he asked me to take the training session. Spent 1½ hours running around and playing football with a load of 14 and
15 year olds. I'm shattered. 

Jan 21st    Back to Dropkixx where I got some of the bigger guys to go against me in some sumo matches. A few of the lads made me work hard to beat them before finishing early to take my daughter out for her birthday.

Jan 24th    Disaster struck today. Hit some black ice on the way to work this morning and came off my motorbike. Result: a twisted knee and pulled ligaments.

Jan 28th    I thought training alone was boring. Try not training! My knee is killing me - can't bend or straighten it.


Next


Mark Kent, a 194 kg, 187 cm Warehouse Manager by day, is, by night the UK Champion (2004, 2006) Professional Wrestler as well as the most recent heavyweight representative of his nation at the last Sumo Worlds in Sakai, Osaka.

A man clearly at home in the ring, Mark is not afraid of the pen either and has kindly agreed to let SFM follow him, by way of a diary, through the year as he trains and prepares for and, injuries notwithstanding, competes in amateur sumo events across Europe.

As a former footballer and rugby player, UK born and bred, Mark is married with two kids - a boy and a girl - themselves heavily into sports and, although his ventures into boxing, judo and even American football may now be behind him, he is just getting started on the road to amateur sumo stardom.

As part of that journey, Mark’s diary will let SFM, our
readers and sumo fans from around the world know just how it feels to be setting out on a relatively lonely road in a nation not exactly known for its male sumotori in years past.

Any and all comments of support for Mark as he works his way through the year can be sent via editor@sumofanmag.com

Jan 1st    Christmas over, New Year's eves drinking finished. Time to get back into training.  Not a lot doing today - far too fragile.

Jan 8th    First week over now. A tough week of training at home - alone.

Jan 11th    Trained a lot harder this week, Lots of squats for leg strength. Did some running with my son's football team to build up my stamina.

Jan 14th    Went to the Dropkixx Wrestling Gym today. Started off with some circuit training, followed by some Freestyle Wrestling then onto some Pro-style. Found myself a











































































 

















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