Yukio Sakaguchi, whose father is the "World Eagle" Seiji Sakaguchi, made his way to the wrestling ring after many twists and turns [April 12th, Shinjuku FACE]
At the Korakuen Hall event in March, DDT Pro Wrestling's "last stronghold," Konosuke Takeshita, challenged ZERO1's Masato Tanaka in a one-on-one match to reclaim the KO-D Openweight Championship, DDT's highest belt, which had been lost to other organizations, but was defeated in vain. After the match, when Tanaka was declared the winner, Yukio Sakaguchi appeared before him. Eight years after his debut, Sakaguchi will reclaim the precious belt at Shinjuku FACE on April 12th. We spoke to Sakaguchi of DDT Pro Wrestling ahead of this important battle.
Satoshi Dairaku
|
2020/04/07
--What made you start professional wrestling?
Sakaguchi:His father was a professional wrestler (Seiji Sakaguchi), and he wanted to follow in his footsteps but failed and entered mixed martial arts instead. However, he suffered a series of injuries, including to his neck, and retired from mixed martial arts.
After that, I recovered physically, and by chance I took part in a martial arts tournament called "Hard Hit", hosted by DDT Pro-Wrestling. DDT's president, Takagi Sanshiro, invited me, saying, "You want to do pro wrestling, don't you? Why don't you step into the DDT ring?" This was the beginning of my debut in the DDT ring.
-- You made your debut in mixed martial arts first, but were you interested in professional wrestling?
Sakaguchi:I wanted to do professional wrestling. However, I was in a situation where I couldn't do it even if I wanted to, and even though professional wrestling was right in front of me, I couldn't grasp it. So I thought to myself, "Maybe I shouldn't do professional wrestling."
-- You've been doing judo since you were a student, right?
Sakaguchi:I did judo in middle school and high school. I saw it as the backbone for professional wrestling, and ever since I was old enough to understand, I've always wanted to become a professional wrestler.
When we are kids, we go to the park to play. For me and my younger brother (Kenji Sakaguchi), that place was a dojo or a wrestling ring, and the older brother who lived nearby was a wrestler, so we grew up in that environment. At some point, I felt that wrestling was "like a family business."
However, due to my short height and some mental issues, I gave up on becoming a professional wrestler in my 20s. After that, I tried mixed martial arts (MMA) and had a few opportunities to try out professional wrestling, but...
The situation of "seemingly reaching the target but not reaching it" was repeated many times. When I was 39 years old, I met Takagi-san and he invited me, but because of my past experiences, I thought "I can't do pro wrestling."
Unlike before, I have experience in mixed martial arts, and I am mentally prepared to step into the ring. However, for various reasons, my path to professional wrestling was closed just one step away. However, with DDT, that path was still connected to me.
--As a wrestler, debuting at 39 years old is rather late, so did you have any worries?
Sakaguchi:I didn't feel any age-related feeling at all. I also made my general debut when I was 33, so I guess I was a late bloomer. It's something you should do in your early 20s, but I was just having fun in my 20s. (laughs)
However, it was because of those times that I was able to make my MMA debut in my 30s and my pro wrestling debut in my late 30s, so I never had any concerns about my age.
--After many twists and turns in your pro wrestling debut, you won the DDT KO-D Openweight title, the highest belt in the sport, in 2015. How did you feel at that time?
Sakaguchi:My mind went blank. It was a tough fight both mentally and physically. It was the main event at a big venue like Ryogoku Kokugikan, so at first I didn't really feel like I'd won.
I was using my techniques and getting pinfalls, but I didn't feel it. The belt was right in front of me, but my mind was blank... As time went on, it started to sink in, and when I saw the belt again, I was overwhelmed with emotion.
I was able to stand in the wrestling ring, something I had never done before, and wear the KO-D Openweight belt. It was a pretty shitty life, but when I got the KO-D belt, I thought, "If I keep trying my best, people who want to watch me will watch me." It was one of those moments that made me think it was good that I didn't give up on wrestling and kept going.
--At the time, you were crowned with the KO-D Openweight belt three years after your debut as a professional wrestler, but was that the most memorable moment of your career?
Sakaguchi:Since I was a child. I wanted to be a wrestler as long as I could remember, but I couldn't. I loved MMA, but a lot of things happened and I quit.
After that, there were various talks, but I couldn't do professional wrestling. But I was finally able to stand in the ring as a professional wrestler. It was the most memorable day of my entire life.
-- It seems like it was a memorable day, but the main part of the Ryogoku Kokugikan was the fight against pressure. What do you think about that?
Sakaguchi:Before the Ryogoku tournament in August 2015, I won the tournament in June and was set to challenge for the KO-D Openweight Championship. That really took a toll on me mentally. The pressure was on me.
To be honest, there were days when I couldn't sleep or eat. When I was struggling with that pressure, I felt like "Any normal person would be crushed by this pressure and would be ruined." That's how much I was pushed to the brink.
I also experienced weight loss during the MMA, couldn't sleep and had to sit cross-legged in a dark room... (laughs) But there's a different kind of pressure.
--So, does that mean that pro wrestling isn't just about fighting, but also about entertaining the audience?
Sakaguchi:In the "fighting" aspect, MMA and pro wrestling are the same, but I think they are completely different sports. In a sense, in pro wrestling, you're fighting not only your opponent but also the audience...
I was hit with so much pressure that I thought any normal person would be completely crushed.
--Under those circumstances, eight years have passed since you became a professional wrestler. How do you feel looking back on it?
Sakaguchi:That's right. I feel like "I've only been doing this for eight years," but I also feel like "What am I doing after eight years?" It's been eight years with a mixture of different feelings. So I stopped counting from around the sixth year. (laughs)
--You've now established a company, and while working, you're also wrestling and training. Do you drink alcohol?
Sakaguchi:I drink. I drink too much (laughs). It hasn't changed since my days in general. But because of the rank system, I was careful not to drink or eat too much. Of course, I still am careful now.
Since I started wrestling, my training methods have changed. To be more specific, I even changed the way I kick the pads. Unlike mixed martial arts, wrestling is an open-weight event, and you fight against wrestlers with larger physiques.
When I was in mixed martial arts, I weighed 70kg, so physically my opponents were the same size as me. But now I'm fighting wrestlers who are over 50kg heavier than me, so I've gained 7-8kg. If I gain any more weight, my body won't be able to move.
When I was in the mixed martial arts class, I was in the 70kg class, so I feel comfortable moving around at around 72.3kg. Now I'm fluctuating between 72.8kg and 77.8kg. I feel that this weight is the limit of my physical ability.
Some wrestlers force themselves to get bigger, but after eight years of wrestling, I've come to realise that this weight (72-78kg) is best for me when I consider the strain on my body and my speed in the ring.
--Your kicks and joint locks based on MMA, as well as your speedy and agile movements, are characteristic of you. Was this a style you had in mind before your pro wrestling debut?
Sakaguchi:I've learned a lot since I started wrestling. When I was working with KUDO and Takanashi of the now-on-hiatus unit "Shuten-doji," I learned a lot about how to practice and the style of matches while drinking, and I tried it out little by little in matches. Even now, I'm not yet in my perfect form, and I think about and try out various things as I step into the ring.
--You're constantly trying new things. That reminds me, I once saw you on the street. You were with a younger senior wrestler, and I got the impression that you were very considerate towards him.
Sakaguchi:Age isn't that important to me. If someone debuted before me, then they're my senior.
As a way of life, I don't agree with the idea of "acting superior just because I'm in my first year at the company and I'm older than others," and even if a 20-year-old kid speaks harshly to me, if I have less experience than him, then I should just work hard and surpass him.
I really don't care about age at all, and I think it's important to always follow what you're given and approach it with an open mind. People who have strange pride won't be successful (laughs).
＜Information＞
In the KO-D Openweight Championship, Sakaguchi Yukio will challenge the reigning champion Tanaka Masato.
This match, "DDT UNIVERSE LIVE! MAX BUMP 2020", will be held as a no-people TV match on April 12th at Shinjuku FACE in Shinjuku, Tokyo. You can watch it on the video streaming service "DDT UNIVERSE" will broadcast the event.
For more information, see the followingDDT Pro-Wrestling Official WebsitePlease refer to the.
URL:https://www.ddtpro.com/ddt
Sakaguchi:His father was a professional wrestler (Seiji Sakaguchi), and he wanted to follow in his footsteps but failed and entered mixed martial arts instead. However, he suffered a series of injuries, including to his neck, and retired from mixed martial arts.
After that, I recovered physically, and by chance I took part in a martial arts tournament called "Hard Hit", hosted by DDT Pro-Wrestling. DDT's president, Takagi Sanshiro, invited me, saying, "You want to do pro wrestling, don't you? Why don't you step into the DDT ring?" This was the beginning of my debut in the DDT ring.
-- You made your debut in mixed martial arts first, but were you interested in professional wrestling?
Sakaguchi:I wanted to do professional wrestling. However, I was in a situation where I couldn't do it even if I wanted to, and even though professional wrestling was right in front of me, I couldn't grasp it. So I thought to myself, "Maybe I shouldn't do professional wrestling."
-- You've been doing judo since you were a student, right?
Sakaguchi:I did judo in middle school and high school. I saw it as the backbone for professional wrestling, and ever since I was old enough to understand, I've always wanted to become a professional wrestler.
When we are kids, we go to the park to play. For me and my younger brother (Kenji Sakaguchi), that place was a dojo or a wrestling ring, and the older brother who lived nearby was a wrestler, so we grew up in that environment. At some point, I felt that wrestling was "like a family business."
However, due to my short height and some mental issues, I gave up on becoming a professional wrestler in my 20s. After that, I tried mixed martial arts (MMA) and had a few opportunities to try out professional wrestling, but...
The situation of "seemingly reaching the target but not reaching it" was repeated many times. When I was 39 years old, I met Takagi-san and he invited me, but because of my past experiences, I thought "I can't do pro wrestling."
Unlike before, I have experience in mixed martial arts, and I am mentally prepared to step into the ring. However, for various reasons, my path to professional wrestling was closed just one step away. However, with DDT, that path was still connected to me.
--As a wrestler, debuting at 39 years old is rather late, so did you have any worries?
Sakaguchi:I didn't feel any age-related feeling at all. I also made my general debut when I was 33, so I guess I was a late bloomer. It's something you should do in your early 20s, but I was just having fun in my 20s. (laughs)
However, it was because of those times that I was able to make my MMA debut in my 30s and my pro wrestling debut in my late 30s, so I never had any concerns about my age.
--After many twists and turns in your pro wrestling debut, you won the DDT KO-D Openweight title, the highest belt in the sport, in 2015. How did you feel at that time?
Sakaguchi:My mind went blank. It was a tough fight both mentally and physically. It was the main event at a big venue like Ryogoku Kokugikan, so at first I didn't really feel like I'd won.
I was using my techniques and getting pinfalls, but I didn't feel it. The belt was right in front of me, but my mind was blank... As time went on, it started to sink in, and when I saw the belt again, I was overwhelmed with emotion.
I was able to stand in the wrestling ring, something I had never done before, and wear the KO-D Openweight belt. It was a pretty shitty life, but when I got the KO-D belt, I thought, "If I keep trying my best, people who want to watch me will watch me." It was one of those moments that made me think it was good that I didn't give up on wrestling and kept going.
--At the time, you were crowned with the KO-D Openweight belt three years after your debut as a professional wrestler, but was that the most memorable moment of your career?
Sakaguchi:Since I was a child. I wanted to be a wrestler as long as I could remember, but I couldn't. I loved MMA, but a lot of things happened and I quit.
After that, there were various talks, but I couldn't do professional wrestling. But I was finally able to stand in the ring as a professional wrestler. It was the most memorable day of my entire life.
-- It seems like it was a memorable day, but the main part of the Ryogoku Kokugikan was the fight against pressure. What do you think about that?
Sakaguchi:Before the Ryogoku tournament in August 2015, I won the tournament in June and was set to challenge for the KO-D Openweight Championship. That really took a toll on me mentally. The pressure was on me.
To be honest, there were days when I couldn't sleep or eat. When I was struggling with that pressure, I felt like "Any normal person would be crushed by this pressure and would be ruined." That's how much I was pushed to the brink.
I also experienced weight loss during the MMA, couldn't sleep and had to sit cross-legged in a dark room... (laughs) But there's a different kind of pressure.
--So, does that mean that pro wrestling isn't just about fighting, but also about entertaining the audience?
Sakaguchi:In the "fighting" aspect, MMA and pro wrestling are the same, but I think they are completely different sports. In a sense, in pro wrestling, you're fighting not only your opponent but also the audience...
I was hit with so much pressure that I thought any normal person would be completely crushed.
--Under those circumstances, eight years have passed since you became a professional wrestler. How do you feel looking back on it?
Sakaguchi:That's right. I feel like "I've only been doing this for eight years," but I also feel like "What am I doing after eight years?" It's been eight years with a mixture of different feelings. So I stopped counting from around the sixth year. (laughs)
--You've now established a company, and while working, you're also wrestling and training. Do you drink alcohol?
Sakaguchi:I drink. I drink too much (laughs). It hasn't changed since my days in general. But because of the rank system, I was careful not to drink or eat too much. Of course, I still am careful now.
Since I started wrestling, my training methods have changed. To be more specific, I even changed the way I kick the pads. Unlike mixed martial arts, wrestling is an open-weight event, and you fight against wrestlers with larger physiques.
When I was in mixed martial arts, I weighed 70kg, so physically my opponents were the same size as me. But now I'm fighting wrestlers who are over 50kg heavier than me, so I've gained 7-8kg. If I gain any more weight, my body won't be able to move.
When I was in the mixed martial arts class, I was in the 70kg class, so I feel comfortable moving around at around 72.3kg. Now I'm fluctuating between 72.8kg and 77.8kg. I feel that this weight is the limit of my physical ability.
Some wrestlers force themselves to get bigger, but after eight years of wrestling, I've come to realise that this weight (72-78kg) is best for me when I consider the strain on my body and my speed in the ring.
--Your kicks and joint locks based on MMA, as well as your speedy and agile movements, are characteristic of you. Was this a style you had in mind before your pro wrestling debut?
Sakaguchi:I've learned a lot since I started wrestling. When I was working with KUDO and Takanashi of the now-on-hiatus unit "Shuten-doji," I learned a lot about how to practice and the style of matches while drinking, and I tried it out little by little in matches. Even now, I'm not yet in my perfect form, and I think about and try out various things as I step into the ring.
--You're constantly trying new things. That reminds me, I once saw you on the street. You were with a younger senior wrestler, and I got the impression that you were very considerate towards him.
Sakaguchi:Age isn't that important to me. If someone debuted before me, then they're my senior.
As a way of life, I don't agree with the idea of "acting superior just because I'm in my first year at the company and I'm older than others," and even if a 20-year-old kid speaks harshly to me, if I have less experience than him, then I should just work hard and surpass him.
I really don't care about age at all, and I think it's important to always follow what you're given and approach it with an open mind. People who have strange pride won't be successful (laughs).
＜Information＞
In the KO-D Openweight Championship, Sakaguchi Yukio will challenge the reigning champion Tanaka Masato.
This match, "DDT UNIVERSE LIVE! MAX BUMP 2020", will be held as a no-people TV match on April 12th at Shinjuku FACE in Shinjuku, Tokyo. You can watch it on the video streaming service "DDT UNIVERSE" will broadcast the event.
For more information, see the followingDDT Pro-Wrestling Official WebsitePlease refer to the.
URL:https://www.ddtpro.com/ddt
