The Next Generation

With well over a dozen National Championships to his name, Kena Heffernan is working to develop the next generation of sumo champions. In February, Heffernan took members of the youth team he coaches in Hawaii to the 9th annual Hakuho Cup in Japan. Last year’s competition featured 1,500 competitors from 8 different countries.

All of Kena's boys won matches, but most importantly, the team had the opportunity to train with Hakuho and other rikishi from Miyagino, Tomozuna, and Musashigawa beya. Kena says the team has developed "a very tight relationship with Musashimaru and his boys. He treats them like family, and the team all looks up to him. Musashikuni is their sumo big brother for life."

Still a highly successful competitor himself, Heffernan is not ready to pass the torch just yet, but his commitment to youth sumo ensures that when he does, it will be in good hands.