Sentoryū Henri
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| Sentoryū Henri | |
|---|---|
| 戦闘竜 扁利 | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | Henry Armstrong Miller Script error: No such module "person date". Tokyo, Japan |
| Died | Script error: No such module "person date". Tokyo, Japan |
| Height | Script error: No such module "person height". |
| Weight | Script error: No such module "Person weight". |
| Web presence | website |
| Career | |
| Stable | Tomozuna |
| Record | 403-303-99 |
| Debut | July 1988 |
| Highest rank | Maegashira 12 (September 2000) |
| Retired | November 2003 |
| Championships | 1 (Makushita) 1 (Jonokuchi) |
Last updated: May 26, 2026 | |
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| Henry "Sentoryū" Miller | |
|---|---|
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| Born | Henry Armstrong Miller Script error: No such module "person date". Tokyo, Japan |
| Died | Script error: No such module "person date". Tokyo, Japan |
| Other names | Sentoryū |
| Nationality | American Japanese |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Weight | 300 lb (136 kg; 21 st 6 lb) |
| Division | Super Heavyweight Heavyweight |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Tokyo, Japan |
| Team | Team Fighting Dragon |
| Rank | Maegashira in Sumo |
| Years active | 2004–2013 |
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| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 3 |
| Wins | 1 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| Losses | 2 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| Draws | 0 |
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| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 23 |
| Wins | 6 |
| By knockout | 5 |
| By submission | 1 |
| Losses | 16 |
| By knockout | 13 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
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Henry Armstrong Miller (July 16, 1969 – January 29, 2026), known under the shikona Script error: No such module "Nihongo"., was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler and MMA fighter, raised in St. Louis, Missouri. Sentoryū was the first wrestler from the United States mainland to reach the top makuuchi division.
Sentoryū made his professional debut in 1988 and reached a highest rank of maegashira 12 before retiring in 2003. He last competed in MMA in 2013, losing to Kazuhiro Nakamura.
Early life
Henry Miller 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
Sentoryū 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 tournament in the jonokuchi division in September 1988, defeating three others in a six-way playoff, including 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
After 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 had six wins and sixteen losses in his first 23 fights.[9] He styled himself Henry "Sentoryu" Miller. He made an agreement with World Victory Road and fought Yoshihiro Nakao. On December 25, 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]
Death
Sentoryū died at a hospital in Tokyo, on the night of January 29, 2026, at the age of 56. He suffered from serious lung disease in his later years.[11]
Sumo career record
| Year | 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 wins–losses–absences Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s) |
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Kickboxing record
Template:Kickboxing record start |- |Template:Dts |style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win |Template:Flagicon Wakashoyo |Survivor: Round 6 |Tokyo, Japan |TKO (3 knockdowns) |align="center"|1 |align="center"|1:09 |1-2 | |- |Template:Dts |style="background: #FFE3E3; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss |Template:Flagicon Tsutomu Takahagi |Big Bang 2: The Way to Unification |Japan |TKO (corner stoppage) |align="center"|2 |align="center"|1:09 |0-2 | |- |Template:Dts |style="background: #FFE3E3; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss |Template:Flagicon Taiei Kin |K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Hong Kong |Hong Kong |KO (right high kick) |align="center"|1 |align="center"|1:43 |0-1 |2007 Hong Kong Grand Prix quarter-final bout. |- |- | colspan=10 | Legend: Page Template:Legend/styles.css has no content. Win Page Template:Legend/styles.css has no content. Loss Page Template:Legend/styles.css has no content. Draw/No contest
|}
Mixed martial arts record
| 23 matches | 6 wins | 16 losses |
| By knockout | 5 | 13 |
| By submission | 1 | 2 |
| By decision | 0 | 1 |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 6–16 (1) | Kazuhiro Nakamura | KO (punch) | DEEP 63 Impact | Template:Dts | 1 | 4:42 | Tokyo, Japan | Openweight bout. |
| Loss | 6–15 (1) | Soa Palelei | TKO (punches) | K-Oz Entertainment: Bragging Rights | Template:Dts | 1 | 1:26 | Perth, Australia | |
| Loss | 6–14 (1) | Shunsuke Inoue | TKO (punches) | HEAT 20 | Template:Dts | 1 | 1:43 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 6–13 (1) | Myles Tynanes | TKO (punches) | HEAT 19 | Template:Dts | 1 | 3:29 | Nagoya, Japan | |
| Loss | 6–12 (1) | Takaaki Oban | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Gladiator 23 | Template:Dts | 1 | 1:40 | Hiroshima, Japan | |
| Loss | 6–11 (1) | Taiei Kin | TKO (corner stoppage) | HEAT 16 | Template:Dts | 1 | 4:01 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Loss | 6–10 (1) | Yoshihiro Nakao | TKO (punches) | World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 12 | Template:Dts | 2 | 3:27 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 6–9 (1) | Kim Min-soo | KO (punches and knees) | The Khan 2 | Template:Dts | 1 | 1:12 | Seoul, South Korea | |
| Loss | 5–9 (1) | Lee Chang-seob | TKO (punches) | HEAT 12 | Template:Dts | 1 | 0:53 | Nagoya, Japan | |
| Loss | 5–8 (1) | Cristiano Kaminishi | TKO (punches) | HEAT 11 | Template:Dts | 3 | 3:36 | Tokyo, Japan | For the inaugural HEAT Heavyweight Championship. |
| NC | 5–7 (1) | Cristiano Kaminishi | NC (accidental knee to groin) | HEAT 10 | Template:Dts | 1 | 0:54 | Tokyo, Japan | HEAT Heavyweight Tournament Final. |
| Win | 5–7 | Ryuta Noji | KO (punches) | HEAT 9 | Template:Dts | 1 | 1:14 | Nagoya, Japan | HEAT Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 4–7 | Junpei Hamada | KO (punches) | HEAT 8 | Template:Dts | 1 | 0:52 | Tokyo, Japan | HEAT Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Loss | 3–7 | Cristiano Kaminishi | KO (head kick) | DEEP 29 Impact | Template:Dts | 1 | 4:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 3–6 | Kim Ji-hoon | KO (punch) | HEAT 3 | Template:Dts | 1 | 4:58 | Nagoya, Japan | |
| Loss | 2–6 | Mostapha al-Turk | TKO (punches) | Cage Rage 18 | Template:Dts | 1 | 0:56 | London, England | |
| Win | 2–5 | Seiji Ogura | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Pancrase: Blow 6 | Template:Dts | 1 | 1:37 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Loss | 1–5 | Robert Berry | TKO (punches) | Cage Rage 17 | Template:Dts | 1 | 1:06 | London, England | Return to Heavyweight. |
| Loss | 1–4 | Zuluzinho | TKO (knees) | Pride 30 | Template:Dts | 1 | 1:31 | Saitama, Japan | Super Heavyweight debut. |
| Loss | 1–3 | James Thompson | KO (punches) | Pride Bushido 8 | Template:Dts | 1 | 1:21 | Nagoya, Japan | |
| Loss | 1–2 | Makoto Takimoto | Decision (unanimous) | Pride Shockwave 2004 | Template:Dts | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 1–1 | Mal Foki | KO (punches) | Pride Bushido 5 | Template:Dts | 1 | 0:21 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Loss | 0–1 | Paulo César da Silva | Submission (kimura) | Pride Total Elimination 2004 | Template:Dts | 1 | 4:04 | Saitama, Japan | Heavyweight debut. 2004 Pride Heavyweight Grand Prix Round of 16. |
See also
- List of male mixed martial artists
- Glossary of sumo terms
- List of past sumo wrestlers
- List of non-Japanese sumo wrestlers
References
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- ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.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.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Sharnoff, Lora (1993). Grand Sumo. Weatherhill. p. 170.
- ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Gunning, John (24 December 2010). "Saint no more: Miller seeks revenge on Christmas". Daily Yomiuri Online. Archived from the original on 27 December 2010.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Akebono wins despite last day upset". BBC News Online. 2000-07-23. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Pourquie, Bastian (December 2003). "Rikishi that have retired". Le Monde du Sumo. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Gunning, John (24 January 2020). "Sentoryu embodied colorful sumo nickname". Japan Times. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Henry "Sentoryu" Miller". Pride Fighting Championships. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Pride: The Secret Files (in 日本語). Kamipro. 2008.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Sherdog Fightfinder: Henry "Sentoryu" Miller". Sherdog. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Sentoryu has his revenge". Daily Yomiuri Online. 27 December 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."元幕内・戦闘竜が死去、56歳、03年に引退し格闘家へ転身、元大関魁皇の浅香山親方は29日にお見舞いも体調急変し会えず：中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ" (in 日本語). Chunichi Sports. 30 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Sentoryu Henri Rikishi Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
External links
- Official biography of Sentoryū Henri at the Grand Sumo Homepage
- Official website
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