Welcome to Lonestar Sumo

Tom Zabel first became interested in sumo as a young airman in the United States Air Force during his initial assignment at Yokota Air Base, Japan in 1982. A professional rikishi by the name of Chiyonofuji had just become the 58^th Yokozuna and was at the beginning of his dominance as Japan’s highest ranking wrestler for the next ten years. He watched as Chiyo accumulated 53 consecutive wins in 1988.

After transferring to Misawa Air Base in northern Japan, he became an active sumotori. An American friend at work knew that Tom loved sumo and asked if he wanted to give it a try. There was an American team that trained off base at Misawa City Budokan (Martial Arts Center). Tom attended a practice and was hooked. That was in 1988. That first year the Americans had a full 5-man Misawa Base team.

Before the next season started Tom left Japan for an assignment in the States but returned in 1994 to continue his amateur sumo career. That first year back he was the only American on the Misawa City team but in subsequent years was able to recruit one or two other American GIs to join him on the dohyo. The remainder of the city team was supplemented by his coaches Maeda and Machia or other local men.

Tom’s brief amateur sumo career in Japan lasted a total of five seasons. His record in 24 tournaments, 124 matches, was 38 wins against 86 loses for a .306 average. The highlights were winning the Kantosho (Fighting Spirit Award) at the Hachinohe tournament in 1994 and 1995. Tom, while not a stand-out wrestler in Japan, had an awesome experience being able to learn the sport first hand from the Japanese. Maeda, his main trainer, was ranked 3rd in Japan while he attended college so he was learning from one of the best.

Not only that, but Tom was able to travel around the local area for tournaments to places such as Aomori, Towada, Hachinohe, Takko, Johoji, Sannohe, Nango, and Katsuro. Blackie (Rokozu Sawagashira), who was his "manager", was instrumental in allowing Americans to be able to participate in Japan’s national sport with the city of Misawa. Tom wishes to thank Maeda and Blackie for all their support, understanding, and their cultural sharing. In November 1997, Tom was awarded Sho-dan (1st degree black belt) from the Japan Sumo Kyokai which enhanced his passion to share the sport of sumo with others.

Tom did not find the United States Sumo Federation (USSF) until 2004, a full six years after he returned from Japan. Since joining the USSF, he has been a five-time medal winner at the US National Championships, six-time Texas State Champion, and has been awarded the ranks of Ni-dan (2nd degree) and San-dan (3rd degree). Tom is the current President of the USSF and had the honor of coaching the U.S. Sumo Team at the World Sumo Championships in Warsaw, Poland in 2010. He is also a founding member and current President of the non-profit Lone Star Sumo organization.