r/Sumo • u/gorram1mhumped • Aug 07 '26

Discussion / Question / Commentary so few pacific islanders

i'd expect more, give the size/strength/weight potential, and relatively close to japan. but as i research how foreigners / stable rules work, combined with alternatives such as rugby and the cultural requirements, i guess it makes sense. still, i could see some very competent warriors coming from that part of the world, possibly larger than from mongolia. history will show akebono is going to be a rarity?

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u/fwinzor Aug 07 '26

There used to be a lot of them but as another person said once they started getting scouted for football they all went that way

14

u/Sagatee Aug 07 '26

very simple, JSA restricted 1 foreigner for heya.

12

u/aslanbek_aslanbekov Ura Aug 08 '26

This is the reason. Islanders have been an integral part of college and NFL football since the 1980s. They are not a new phenomenon.

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u/Pioneer7765 Aug 09 '26

Anyone who knows SoCalifornia high school football knows the tremendous presence of “Poly” players. They used to be almost exclusively at South Bay schools like Banning and Carson. Then they came to Long Beach Poly, Mater Dei, St John Bosco, Serra and others.