“Starting Sumo” Interview with Justin Kizzart
List your Sumo experience, awards, accolades, etc.
Multiple U.S. National medals. 2018 U.S. National team member.
What made you start sumo?
Started watching sumo with my wife’s grandma in Japan and got hooked. I wondered if there was sumo outside of Japan, googled it, and found out one of the largest training centers in the U.S. was right in Los Angeles…been in it ever since.
What advice do you have for new sumōtori in the USSF?
Reach out to guys like Tom Zabel and Ed Suczewski for basic form and knowledge, and practice all the basics. Also get a real mawashi from Andrew Freund. Also find a friend/coworker in the beginning and basically start anywhere or way you can with space to fall safely.
How did you find a place for your club to practice?
I preach about sumo to anyone who will listen, and that energy gets people excited. I got lucky in meeting the owner of an Aikido gym, and I guess my enthusiasm pushed him to want to see my idea flourish. We worked out a deal since I didn’t have funds to pay a set rent every month with no students. I pay $10 per head that comes into train.
What does a typical practice look like at your club?
I have my keiko broken into 3rds, with a total being 2 hours:
1/3 (45min) traditional shiko, then 30min stretches (including matawari), and suriashi variations.
1/3(45min) strength/stamina training drills, and then on to technique of the day where we focus on a single move and drill it
1/3 (35min) open matches
Closing - shiko and chirichozu
How did you find training partners and build a team?
ALOT of facebook and Instagram micro targeting ads. You must think outside the box as far as who might be into sumo or fitness in general.