Grand Sumo Breakdown Podcasts

The second week of Aki turned out just as weird as the first. Join us to recap the September tournament and what it means going forward. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

***Spoilers thru day 8*** Anyone who claims to know what is going to happen in this "Wacky Aki" basho is a liar. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

Straight from the GSB "delayed due to technical difficulties" Vault, comes a double header of US sumo interviews! Our second episode today is Jake catching up with Stan "Panda" Kocol" out of Washington state's Iron Goat Sumo Club after the Harvest Days tournament in Midvale, Utah. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud…

Straight from the GSB "delayed due to technical difficulties" Vault, comes a double header of US sumo interviews! First up, Jake sits down with Raijin Sumo's Edobor Konyeha and Dallas's Corey Morrison to talk about Edo and his epic run at the 2023 Cowboy Cup. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

The top of the banzuke looks a little beat up this tournament. Who will be left standing when the dust clears? Also towards the end of the episode, check out Ryan's excellent punishment for losing the Nagoya prediction bet. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

Was this a really good banzuke prediction from Ryan or a really bad one? Both? Neither? Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

Ryan and Jake take a look at what's coming in Aki. Check out our Youtube version to follow along visually as we talk through the ranks. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

With Nagoya in the books and Mak finally home from Japan, it's time we looked back on a really weird and fun basho. Stay tuned to the end for Flyric's overdue (but worth it) punishment from last tournament: sumo erotica! Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

*Spoilers thru day 8* With the top 3 wrestlers well out of the running, who will step up to take the yusho in Nagoya? Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

Nagoya brings us a new ozeki and three more potentials waiting in the wings. Join us to break down what we think of their chances and all the other storylines leading up to a very interesting Nagoya basho. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

If the title wasn't a hint, this episode covers the GSBs thoughts on the retiring of Tochinoshin, Ichinojo, and Ishiura. Let us know your favorite highlights and things you will miss from these great rikishi! Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

Kind of a weird one here, does Ryan have to add new rules to his banzuke handbook? Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

Today we sit down with Salt City Sumo's George Ferris ahead of his club's first ever tournament: The Harvest Days Sumo Open, coming up in Salt Lake City on August 5th! Check sumo411.com for details on this and other upcoming tournaments. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

Ryan walks Jake through his prediction for Nagoya, but per his overwhelming competitive nature, we are posting this banzuke prediction AFTER the Guess the Banzuke game has finished accepting submissions. He wants that top rank something fierce. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

This episode has been long overdue. Ryan and Mak sit down with Jason Harris of Jason's All Sumo Channel for some great conversations about the current state of Sumo and thoughts about the future of the sport. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

Natsu is in the books and it kinda went as expected? Regardless, plenty of sumo to break down. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

***Spoilers thru day 8*** Some great sumo so far, let's break down what we've got at the halfway point of the basho. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

Joining us today is Chicago Sumo's Jamal Williams, who tried his hand at live sumo for the first time last month in Dallas. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

There is a lot of potential volatility for the GSB crew to discuss this basho. Returning Yokozuna, desperate Ozeki, and surging Sekiwake. Special thanks to Jared Tadlock, Caleb Baccus, The Sumo Punx, and the GSB extended family for lending their voices to Jake's punishment Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud…

On the anniversary of their spur-of-the-moment transformation from bar patrons to sumo warriors, today we're joined by Dallas Sumo Club's Rick and Bubba Garza! A little over a year ago they stepped in the ring at the first Rollertown event and began their journey into sumo, so it seemed perfect to have them help us cover last weekend's Rollertown S…

Ryan nailed this one, so brace yourself for gloating amongst the data (it's well deserved, but still). Special treat at 44:00 where Jake uses the lessons learned from Ryan's banzuke predictions to create a banzuke based on the recent amateur event, the Rollertown Showdown in Dallas! Plenty more coming on this tournament. Theme music by David Hall v…

Today we check in with friend of the show Mr. JWags, ostensibly to talk about what an ozeki run needs to look like in the modern era, but as always it inevitably evolves into general sumo talk. Find more from JWags on his YouTube channel, @TheDohyo! Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

The next event in US Sumo is the Rollertown Showdown in Dallas! This is a big one, including a team draft, a sumo-themed beer release, and GAGAMARU visiting the USA to lead a training session! Dallas Sumo Oyakata Corey Morrison tells us all about it. Go to dallassumoclub.org to sign up! Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud…

Ryan and Jake take a stab at what the rankings will look like for the May basho. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

Been traveling with Kyle so much this year we figured we better have him on the show again to help us cover all of March's events. Full video of both 2023 Nationals and the Kuma Sumo Bash on the Grand Sumo Breakdown YouTube channel! Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

With today's bombshell announcement, GSB couldn't help but offer our 2 cents. Let us know what you think as well! Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

Ah yes, exactly what we predicted on our midway... Even if it took till the second week to heat up, the Haru basho absolutely delivered. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

***SPOILERS THRU DAY 7*** Does this basho deserve a midway episode? Well, yes, but we're still going to whine about it. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

We go quite a ways off the rails on our coverage of the March tournament, but stick with it. There's gotta be some actual sumo content in there somewhere. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

Another basho with a wild upper banzuke. Ryan's predictions for this one start off great but end up bordering on dumpster fire. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

Are you a new wrestler looking to compete at your first nationals? Are you a veteran looking to get an idea who your competition is? Kyle and Ryan fill us in on all the details for Orlando. More info and signups here: Smoothcomp Link Event will stream live on the Grand Sumo Breakdown YouTube channel March 11. Theme music by David Hall via SoundClou…

So this next banzuke will have a normal-looking san'yaku, right? RIGHT? Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

Our second installment of the GSB Hall of Fame, where we revisit stories that are worth talking about but might not be worth a full bonus episode. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

As Midwesterners, there's no place GSB would rather be in February than Southern California, and though we can't make it there in person, Honu Sumo's Justin "JJ" Jones and Mengkin Ragan give us the next best thing: a US sumo tournament! The SoCal Open takes place February 25th in San Diego, so find Honu Sumo on Instagram or go to bit.ly/socalopensd…

Tom Zabel and Caleb Baccus join us to talk about the next US sumo event: February 11th's Mighty Eagle Team Tournament in San Antonio. Go to mightyeaglesumo.com for more info and make sure to watch the stream at noon central on the Lonestar Sumo YouTube channel! Theme Music by David Hall via SoundCloud…

To promote, or not to promote? That is the question that we spend far too long debating. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

***Spoilers thru day 8*** Pretty solid basho so far. Some great technical battles, some brutal striking matches, and best of all HENKAS! Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

2023 looks to be an interesting year. Will we get any new yokozuna or ozeki? Will we even keep the ones we have? Ryan, Mak, Flyric, and Hakuh- I mean Jake discuss. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

This was a rough one. Ryan tries to pick up the pieces while Jake tries to podcast and parent. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

2022 was a wild year in sumo. Every tournament had a different champ, covid demolished the July basho, Mitakeumi gained and subsequently lost ozeki status, Takayasu broke a million hearts... Join the GSB crew to discuss the best and worst of the year! Stay tuned after the credits for our punishment of the year replay. Also make sure to check out ou…

With 2022 coming to a close, all of us US sumo enthusiasts should look back with pride on one of the biggest growth years our sport has ever seen. Mak and Jake are joined by Caleb Baccus - sumo black belt and Sake & Sumo podcast host - as well as the SUMO PUNX! Congratulations to all our award winners and thank you to everybody who helped make 2022…

After hundreds of responses, the 2022 popularity poll results are in! Find out who are the most and least liked rikishi of the year in GSB's 4th annual event. Oh also Jake's baby is here. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

Five junior san'yaku slots? Eight?! Who the hell knows? Ryan takes his best guess. Also Jake apologizes in advance... Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

It's time for the Kyushu Review-shu! The guys scrape the depressed pile of Jake off the floor and discuss the final heartbrea- I mean basho of 2022! Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud Ad music: "Easy Lemon" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License…

Sometimes an event feels cursed, like the whole universe is conspiring to keep a good thing from happening. The Houston Open was one such event, but the sumo way is to keep moving forward! Nick Ton and Shogeki Sumo powered through to make the tournament a great one no matter what. First-time competitor Nate Hudson joins us to talk about how it went…

***SPOILERS THROUGH DAY 8*** Which of the co-leaders can continue their dominance into week 2? We have some shoddy guesses for you. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud Ad music: "Epic Unease" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

GSB's better-late-than-never preview is here! Enjoy our long, meandering opinions that even manage to stay on topic some of the time. Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

Ahead of this Saturday's Houston Open, Jake and Mak are joined by Brandon and Al to preview the next US sumo event: December 3rd's Ronin Sumo Tournament! Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

Ryan and Jake review the first ever... Christmas Tree banzuke? Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud

Jake sits down with Nick Ton and Paul Gutierrez, two of the founding members of Houston's Shogeki Sumo. Watch for the Houston Open on GSB's YouTube channel Saturday November 12th! Theme music by David Hall via SoundCloud