Ura- becoming famous wprld-wide, bodybuilding
Moti Dichne
The "physique" of popular rikishi Ura is attracting attention in the United States, the home of bodybuilding. Ura, known for his acrobatic sumo style, is also known for his incredible strength, one of the strongest in the sumo world. In a past regular health checkup held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, his grip strength was measured at over 100 kg in both hands, an astonishingly impossible measurement. The Instagram account "Historic Moments," with 1.4 million followers, posted a photo of Ura's well-trained lower body with the caption "The size of professional sumo wrestler Ura Kazuki's legs." As of the 10th, this had received 22,000 "likes," attracting attention from all over the world.
Amid this, the American bodybuilding media outlet "Generation Iron" featured Ura's incredible physique. "Ura, nicknamed 'The Acrobatic,' is known as one of the most agile sumo wrestlers in professional sumo. Despite weighing well over 300 pounds (approximately 136 kg), he uses explosive movements, original techniques, quick footwork, and incredible flexibility as his weapons. This combination of 'size' and 'athletic ability' is what makes Ura's physique special," the article analyzed, revealing the secret to his strength. The media outlet also stated that "traditional sumo training is very different from typical bodybuilding leg training. Much of the training consists of high-repetition bodyweight exercises performed from a deep squatting position," and focused on the basic sumo movements such as suriashi and shiko.
Dr. Mike Israel, an exercise physiologist, recently analyzed sumo training and pointed out that rikishi perform 200 to 300 bodyweight squats every day. While he suggested that further muscle improvement could be expected by reducing the number of repetitions and combining them with weight training, he highly praised the 'building a strong foundation' that sumo emphasizes. He also explained that suriashi is an excellent exercise that continuously loads the quadriceps muscles while improving balance, range of motion, and lower body endurance." Based on the expert's opinion, the article explained how rikishi build their powerful physiques. The media outlet concluded, "Ura's legs are not just huge. It is because of those legs that he possesses speed, control, and explosive movements, and continues to be one of the most captivating sumo wrestlers." The world is showing interest in Japan's "macho rikishi."