Fighters Only

Issue 064

July 2010

One of the most famous clips in our sport, one that has been doing the rounds practically since the Internet was invented, is of a muscular, white-haired Japanese guy grabbing hold of someone’s arm, flipping upside down, and dragging him down to the canvas in one of the most spectacular examples of a flying armbar ever captured on video.

That man was Rumina Sato, a man with the reputation as one of the most entertaining and talented fighters ever to come out of Japan – except, he has never really come out of Japan. He’s a lifelong disciple of the Shooto organization, Japan’s vaunted domestic MMA league.

In Japan, one person will often keep the same job for life, slowly working their way into a comfortable position near the top. There’s something honorable about it, like so many Japanese customs. It is better to toil honestly in relative obscurity than to aim too high or above your station.

Rumina Sato, who made his MMA debut back in 1994, has maintained the same humble goal through his long career: To be the champion of Shooto. Despite displays of dazzling brilliance and potential, it is a goal that still eludes him. To understand his commitment to this task, you need to understand how important Shooto is in the Japanese MMA community. It’s the oldest organization, the network where amateur fighters cut their teeth. In short, it’s the backbone, the hallowed elder, and has a reputation for being a bastion of ‘real’ martial arts. “I’ve only ever wanted to be number one in Shooto, ever since my debut,” he has said. “To be number one in Shooto is my life’s work.”

Sato learned his trade from a number of sources, including Noboru Asahi (a Shooto phenomenon who lost only one fight out of his first 21) and the Kiguchi Dojo, the famous wrestling gym where Takanori Gomi earned his stripes. Sato developed a dynamic and explosive submission wrestling game that earned him a legion of followers in Japan (as well as some hardcore fans across the globe).

His nickname is ‘Moon Wolf’, which seems obscure until you realize that his name, Rumina (itself a variation on the reading of his actual name), contains the sound ‘ru’, which reminded his parents of the Latin words for the moon (luna) and wolf (lupus).

The ‘Moon Wolf’ won his first fight via calf slicer, an indication of things to come. Just to put that in perspective – while Sato was winning via rare and technical submissions like the calf slicer, UFC 2 was being held and American fans (and fighters) were being stunned by simple armbars and chokes.

It was 13 fights into his career before Sato suffered his first loss, and he won nine of those early fights by submission. Sato continued to refine his submission game with showings in various submission grappling tournaments between his Shooto fights, including Combat Wrestling in Japan where he has competed and won a number of times.

In 1998, in his 15th fight and only second loss, Sato succumbed to soccer kicks and punches from Andre Pederneiras, the man who would go on to found Nova Uniao, one of the most successful BJJ and MMA teams in Brazil. The following year Sato faced Charles Diaz, and pulled off the incredible flying armbar that has since been a staple of any MMA clip collector. What should be noted is that it was the first exchange of the fight, giving Sato a record submission win in only six seconds. “I’m always trying these kinds of unpredictable, flying submissions in training, so it comes naturally to me,” he said of the armbar.

Sato has faced stiff competition in his numerous runs at the Shooto lightweight title, including UFC veteran Caol Uno (who has beaten him twice), and the long-time Pride FC lightweight champion Takanori Gomi. He holds a similar place in fans’ hearts as Kazushi Sakuraba; although he may not win every fight, he’s a prime example of the Japanese fighting spirit, and is a charismatic entertainer.

Sato is not known for giving up, and he is still in fighting shape as illustrated by an excellent showing in 2009. The ‘Moon Wolf’ beat Team Quest standout Corey Grant via TKO at Vale Tudo Japan 2009, and soundly submitted standout grappler Ulysses Gomez at the Grapplers Quest UFC 100 Fan Expo event. Testament to his popularity and status within the sport, UFC matchmaker Joe Silva and UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta were present at matside to see him fight, an honor bestowed on few grapplers before or after him.

Rumina Sato is not just a legendary fighter in Japan; he also has his own gym, the Roots academy, in Odawara, a seaside city outside Tokyo. It’s Sato’s hometown, and the place where he’s training the next generation of Shooto fighters. Roots Odawara opened in 2005 and is home to a number of promising Shooto prospects (as well as former Shooto bantamweight champion and current King of the Cage flyweight champ, the afro-sporting Mamoru). While it is unlikely we’ll ever see the ‘Moon Wolf’ fight outside of Japan, fans of the sport owe it to him to follow his progress in his unending quest for the Shooto belt – a quest that is already the stuff of legend.

Career Snapshot

1994

Wins MMA debut at Shooto Vale Tudo Access 2, via calf slicer.

1997

Fights and wins five times in Shooto, all by submission.

1999

First loss to Caol Uno at Shooto 10th Anniversary.

2000

Submits Yves Edwards in Hawaii, his sole MMA fight outside of Japan.

2001

Loses to Takanori Gomi in Shooto.

2005