Sentoryū Henri

Henry Armstrong Miller (born July 16, 1969) is a former sumo wrestler, raised in St. Louis, Missouri, who competed under the shikona Sentoryū Henri (戦闘竜 扁利). The first wrestler from the US mainland to reach the top makuuchi division, he made his professional debut in 1988 and reached a highest rank of maegashira 12 before retiring in 2003. He last competed in MMA as recently as 2013, losing to Kazuhiro Nakamura.

In this Japanese name, the surname is Sentoryū.
Sentoryū Henri
戦闘竜 扁利
Personal information
BornHenry Armstrong Miller
(1969-07-16) July 16, 1969
Tokyo, Japan
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight136 kg (300 lb)
Web presencewebsite
Career
StableTomozuna
Record403-303-99
DebutJuly 1988
Highest rankMaegashira 12 (September, 2000)
RetiredNovember, 2003
Championships1 (Makushita)
1 (Jonokuchi)
* Up to date as of November 2007.
Henry ″Sentoryū″ Miller
BornHenry Armstrong Miller
(1969-07-16) July 16, 1969
Tokyo, Japan
Other namesSentoryū
NationalityAmerican
Japanese
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight300 lb (136 kg; 21 st 6 lb)
DivisionSuper Heavyweight
Heavyweight
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofTokyo, Japan
TeamTeam Fighting Dragon
RankMaegashira in Sumo
Years active2004-2013
Kickboxing record
Total3
Wins1
By knockout1
Losses2
By knockout2
Draws0
Mixed martial arts record
Total23
Wins6
By knockout5
By submission1
Losses16
By knockout13
By submission2
By decision1
Draws0
No contests1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Early life

He was born in Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan, the son of a Japanese mother and African-American father.[1] He was born on the same day that the Apollo 11 lunar mission left Earth and his middle name was given to him by his father in honor of Neil Armstrong.[1] He lived on Yokota Air Base until the age of six, when he moved with his family to St Louis, Missouri. He grew up in Ferguson.[1] His dream of becoming a professional football player was ended by a knee injury in his senior year of high school, but he had also been wrestling since elementary school and he had qualified for the state championships. After graduating in 1987 he returned to Japan to try professional sumo.

Sumo career

He joined the Tomozuna stable of wrestlers, also the home of future ozeki Kaio. He was given the shikona of Sentoryū, meaning "fighting war dragon" but also a play on words for his hometown of St. Louis.[2] He was relatively small at 174 cm and 94 kg when he made his debut in July 1988. He won the yusho or tournament championship in his first official tournament in the jonokuchi division in September 1988, defeating a fellow American, Shinnishiki from Los Angeles.[2] In 1991 he reached makushita for the first time but injury problems meant he did not establish himself in the division until 1993. In November 1994 he became a sekitori for the first time but lasted only two tournaments in the jūryō division before being demoted.

It took Sentoryū more than four years of hard toil in the unsalaried makushita division (including a change of name to Kaishinzan in 1997) before he could win promotion back to the second division in July 1999, after an unbeaten 7-0 yusho in May. His final day victory over the former amateur champion Kototamiya (the future ozeki Kotomitsuki) was regarded as one of the high points of his career.[3]

After reverting to the name Sentoryū, a strong 13-2 record in March 2000 sent him to the top of the jūryō division. With an 8-7 mark in May 2000, he finally achieved his goal of promotion to the top makuuchi division in July.[4] It had taken him 72 tournaments from his professional debut to reach makuuchi, which is the slowest amongst foreign-born wrestlers.

Sentoryū came through with a winning record of 8-7 in his debut but was then demoted after only recording a 5-10 score in September 2000. He had to withdraw from the following tournament in November and missed the January 2001 basho. Nevertheless, he managed to hold his own in jūryō and had one more visit to the top division in January 2002. However, he suffered a serious injury and was unable to compete in the March and May 2002 tournaments, falling all the way back to makushita. He refused to give up and fought his way back to sekitori status in September 2003, becoming the fifth oldest wrestler to return to jūryō in the postwar era at 34 years, 1 month. However, another injury convinced him to retire at the end of the year, in the same tournament as Musashimaru. His great fighting spirit, despite all his injuries, won him many admirers.[5] He had spent 20 tournaments as a sekitori, by far the most successful career by anyone from the contiguous United States.[6]

He defeated Asashōryū in their only meeting in November 2000, when both were in the jūryō division. He also had three wins over Kotomitsuki in their four meetings.

Fighting style

Sentoryū favoured pushing and thrusting techniques, winning most of his matches by oshi dashi (push out), hatakikomi (slap down) or hikiotoshi (pull down).

Mixed martial arts and kickboxing career

Since his retirement from sumo, Sentoryū tried his luck at mixed martial arts.[7] He was recommended for PRIDE in April 2004 by Chiyotaikai Ryūji, who saw Akebono Taro make such transition a year before.[8]

He has six wins and sixteen losses in his 23 fights to date.[9] He styles himself Henry "Sentoryu" Miller. He made an agreement with World Victory Road and fought Yoshihiro Nakao. On 25 December 2010 he faced Yoichi Babaguchi (former sekiwake Wakashoyo) in the first ever K-1 kickboxing match between former sekitori.[3] There was an edge to the match because Miller blamed Babaguchi for an injury he sustained in a sumo bout between the two in November 1994 (his debut juryo tournament).[3] Miller won the match in the first round.[10]

Sumo career record
Sentoryū Henri[11]
Year in sumo January
Hatsu basho, Tokyo		 March
Haru basho, Osaka		 May
Natsu basho, Tokyo		 July
Nagoya basho, Nagoya		 September
Aki basho, Tokyo		 November
Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka
1988 x x x (Maezumo) East Jonokuchi #51
6–1–PPP
Champion
 		 West Jonidan #119
4–3
 
1989 West Jonidan #89
4–3
 		 West Jonidan #59
5–2
 		 East Jonidan #22
2–5
 		 East Jonidan #56
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7		 West Jonidan #126
6–1
 		 East Jonidan #52
3–1–3
 
1990 West Jonidan #72
5–2
 		 East Jonidan #25
6–1
 		 West Sandanme #66
6–1
 		 East Sandanme #18
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7		 East Sandanme #78
5–2
 		 East Sandanme #44
6–1
 
1991 East Makushita #60
1–2–4
 		 West Sandanme #35
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7		 West Sandanme #35
6–1
 		 East Makushita #55
3–3–1
 		 East Sandanme #6
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7		 East Sandanme #6
2–5
 
1992 West Sandanme #34
2–5
 		 West Sandanme #61
5–2
 		 West Sandanme #30
4–3
 		 West Sandanme #18
3–4
 		 East Sandanme #33
3–4
 		 East Sandanme #51
6–1
 
1993 East Sandanme #5
6–1
 		 West Makushita #34
4–3
 		 West Makushita #23
4–3
 		 West Makushita #16
4–3
 		 East Makushita #12
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7		 East Makushita #12
5–2
 
1994 West Makushita #7
2–5
 		 East Makushita #22
6–1
 		 East Makushita #9
5–2
 		 West Makushita #4
5–2
 		 East Makushita #2
6–1
 		 East Jūryō #12
9–6
 
1995 East Jūryō #9
6–9
 		 East Makushita #1
3–4
 		 West Makushita #5
4–3
 		 East Makushita #3
4–3
 		 West Makushita #2
0–2–5
 		 East Makushita #37
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7
1996 East Makushita #37
5–2
 		 East Makushita #21
2–5
 		 West Makushita #40
4–3
 		 East Makushita #31
6–1–P
 		 East Makushita #13
5–2
 		 East Makushita #5
3–4
 
1997 East Makushita #8
6–1
 		 East Makushita #2
2–5
 		 East Makushita #14
2–5
 		 West Makushita #29
6–1
 		 West Makushita #12
4–3
 		 East Makushita #10
6–1
 
1998 East Makushita #2
2–5
 		 West Makushita #13
1–6
 		 West Makushita #36
6–1
 		 East Makushita #16
4–3
 		 West Makushita #12
4–3
 		 East Makushita #8
3–4
 
1999 East Makushita #14
4–3
 		 West Makushita #11
4–3
 		 East Makushita #9
7–0
Champion
 		 West Jūryō #11
8–7
 		 West Jūryō #10
6–9
 		 West Jūryō #13
9–6
 
2000 West Jūryō #9
7–8
 		 East Jūryō #11
13–2–P
 		 East Jūryō #2
8–7
 		 East Maegashira #13
8–7
 		 West Maegashira #12
5–10
 		 East Jūryō #1
3–5–7
 
2001 West Jūryō #9
Sat out due to injury
0–0–15		 West Jūryō #9
9–6
 		 West Jūryō #4
7–8
 		 East Jūryō #6
9–6–PP
 		 West Jūryō #2
7–8
 		 West Jūryō #3
8–7
 
2002 East Maegashira #15
6–9
 		 East Jūryō #3
Sat out due to injury
0–0–15		 East Makushita #1
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7		 East Makushita #41
5–2
 		 East Makushita #26
2–5
 		 West Makushita #44
6–1
 
2003 West Makushita #18
5–2
 		 East Makushita #9
4–3
 		 West Makushita #6
4–3
 		 West Makushita #3
5–2
 		 West Jūryō #11
4–11
 		 West Makushita #5
Retired
2–5
Record given as win-loss-absent    Top Division Champion Top Division Runner-up Retired Lower Divisions

Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: ★=Kinboshi(s); P=Playoff(s)
Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki — Sekiwake — Komusubi — Maegashira

Kickboxing record
Kickboxing record
1 win (1 KO), 2 losses
Result Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 1-2 Wakashoyo TKO (3 knockdowns) Survivor: Round 6 December 25, 2010 1 1:09 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 0-2 Tsutomu Takahagi TKO (corner stoppage) Big Bang 2: The Way to Unification July 31, 2010 2 1:09 Japan
Loss 0-1 Taiei Kin KO (right high kick) K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Hong Kong August 5, 2007 1 1:43 Hong Kong 2007 Hong Kong Grand Prix quarter-final bout.

Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest

Mixed martial arts record
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 6-16 (1) Kazuhiro Nakamura KO (punch)[12] DEEP: 63 Impact August 25, 2013 1 4:42 Tokyo, Japan Openweight bout.
Loss 6-15 (1) Soa Palelei TKO (punches) K-Oz Entertainment: Bragging Rights September 3, 2012 1 1:26 Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Loss 6-14 (1) Shunsuke Inoue TKO (punches) HEAT 20 December 17, 2011 1 1:43 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 6-13 (1) Myles Tynanes TKO (punches) HEAT 19 September 25, 2011 1 3:29 Nagoya, Japan
Loss 6-12 (1) Takaaki Oban Submission (rear-naked choke) Gladiator 23 September 3, 2011 1 1:40 Hiroshima, Japan
Loss 6-11 (1) Taiei Kin TKO (corner stoppage) HEAT 16 November 6, 2010 1 4:01 Osaka, Japan
Loss 6-10 (1) Yoshihiro Nakao TKO (punches) Sengoku Raiden Championships 12 March 7, 2010 2 3:27 Tokyo, Japan
Win 6-9 (1) Kim Min-Soo KO (punches and knees) The Khan 2 November 27, 2009 1 1:12 Seoul, South Korea
Loss 5-9 (1) Lee Chang-Seob TKO (punches) HEAT 12 November 1, 2009 1 0:53 Nagoya, Japan
Loss 5-8 (1) Cristiano Kaminishi TKO (punches) HEAT 11 September 26, 2009 3 3:36 Tokyo, Japan Openweight bout.
NC 5-7 (1) Cristiano Kaminishi No contest (groin strike) HEAT 10 July 18, 2009 1 0:54 Tokyo, Japan
Win 5-7 Ryuta Noji KO (punches) HEAT 9 March 28, 2009 1 1:14 Nagoya, Japan
Win 4-7 Junpei Hamada KO (punches) HEAT 8 December 14, 2008 1 0:52 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 3-7 Cristiano Kaminishi KO (head kick) DEEP: 29 Impact April 13, 2007 1 4:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 3-6 Kim Ji-Fun KO (punch) HEAT 3 March 23, 2007 1 4:58 Nagoya, Japan
Loss 2-6 Mostapha al-Turk TKO (punches) Cage Rage 18 August 27, 2006 1 0:56 London, England
Win 2-5 Seiji Ogura Submission (rear-naked choke) Pancrase August 27, 2006 1 1:37 Yokohama, Japan
Loss 1-5 Robert Berry TKO (punches) Cage Rage 17 July 1, 2006 1 1:06 London, England
Loss 1-4 Zuluzinho TKO (knees) PRIDE 30 October 23, 2005 1 1:31 Saitama, Saitama, Japan Super Heavyweight bout.
Loss 1-3 James Thompson KO (punch) PRIDE Bushido 8 July 17, 2005 1 1:21 Nagoya, Japan
Loss 1-2 Makoto Takimoto Decision (unanimous) PRIDE Shockwave 2004 December 31, 2004 3 5:00 Saitama, Saitama, Japan
Win 1-1 Mal Foki KO (punches) PRIDE Bushido 5 October 14, 2004 1 0:21 Osaka, Japan
Loss 0-1 Giant Silva Submission (kimura) PRIDE Total Elimination 2004 April 25, 2004 1 4:04 Saitama, Saitama, Japan 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix Opening Round.

See also

References
  1. Lefton, Brad (17 June 1997). "Sentoryu from Sen-to-Ru-I-Su Our Town's Henry Miller Is a Really Big Man as Sumo Wrestler in Japan". St Louis Post-Dispatch (MO). Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  2. Sharnoff, Lora (1993). Grand Sumo. Weatherhill. p. 170.
  3. Gunning, John (24 December 2010). "Saint no more: Miller seeks revenge on Christmas". Daily Yomiuri Online. Archived from the original on 29 December 2010.
  4. "Akebono wins despite last day upset". BBC News Online. 2000-07-23. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
  5. Pourquie, Bastian (December 2003). "Rikishi that have retired". Le Monde du Sumo. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
  6. Gunning, John (24 January 2020). "Sentoryu embodied colorful sumo nickname". Japan Times. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  7. "Henry "Sentoryu" Miller". Pride Fighting Championships. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
  8. Pride: The Secret Files (in Japanese). Kamipro. 2008.
  9. "Sherdog Fightfinder: Henry "Sentoryu" Miller". Sherdog. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
  10. "Sentoryu has his revenge". Daily Yomiuri Online. 27 December 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
  11. "Sentoryu Henri Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  12. http://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/bouts/deep-kazuhiro-kaz-nakamura-vs-henry-sentoryu-miller


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