For someone who can translate Japanese...

[Nighthawkx29]

I found Sakuraba's official website (http://www.saku39.com) and there's a diary on there and I wanted to know what was written regarding his thoughts on the Gracie rematch in LA. Here's the text from two entries:



昨日、LAから日本に戻ってきました。

LAメモリアル・コロシアムでは
やはり桜庭さんへの声援が一番大きいものでした。
アメリカでも桜庭さん人気は絶大です。

少し疑問符は残りましたが、判定で試合には負けてしまいました。
ですが、桜庭さん本人は次に向けて意欲を見せています。
次の試合が決まったら、
皆さん、応援よろしくお願いします。

------------------------

『Dynamite!! USA』の翌日、空き時間があったので、
LAで開催された、パンアメリカングラップリングという
組み技の大会を見学してきました。
会場の中はとても活気があり、
アメリカでの格闘技人気の一端が垣間見えました！
大会自体はレベルが高いもので、
アメリカには強い奴は結構いるんだなと感じるものでした。

写真はHERO'Sルールディレクターの礒野さんが
『Dynamite!! USA』の激務で疲れが残っているはずの翌日なのに、
試合にエントリーして見事に入賞したときのものです。
柔術黒帯から普通に一本取って勝ったのはビックリしました！
礒野さん強いです！

[cartman]

Originally Posted by Nighthawkx29

昨日、LAから日本に戻ってきました。

LAメモリアル・コロシアムでは
やはり桜庭さんへの声援が一番大きいものでした。
アメリカでも桜庭さん人気は絶大です。

少し疑問符は残りましたが、判定で試合には負けてしまいました。
ですが、桜庭さん本人は次に向けて意欲を見せています。
次の試合が決まったら、
皆さん、応援よろしくお願いします。

------------------------

『Dynamite!! USA』の翌日、空き時間があったので、
LAで開催された、パンアメリカングラップリングという
組み技の大会を見学してきました。
会場の中はとても活気があり、
アメリカでの格闘技人気の一端が垣間見えました！
大会自体はレベルが高いもので、
アメリカには強い奴は結構いるんだなと感じるものでした。

写真はHERO'Sルールディレクターの礒野さんが
『Dynamite!! USA』の激務で疲れが残っているはずの翌日なのに、
試合にエントリーして見事に入賞したときのものです。
柔術黒帯から普通に一本取って勝ったのはビックリしました！
礒野さん強いです！

im no language expert but that doesnt look like japanese.

[hugs_for_thugs]

I'm was never good with reading Japanese, and I'm rusty, but basically He just got back from LA, He surprised to see the popularity of grappling in the US and Very Surprised at his own popularity. He was very fatigued and something about the intense skill level he in the match, I kinda lose it around there.

Once again, I suck at this.

[Nighthawkx29]

Thanks!!

if my bro was here he could probably translate it... too bad hes in japan

[myjohnson9]

This is a pretty poor translation but you can get the jist of it.

In English:
Yesterday, it returned to Japan from LA. At the LA memorial colloseum being potato after all encouragement to the cherry tree garden most largely, it did. Cherry tree garden popularity is tremendous even in America. A little, the question mark remained, but it was defeated to the tournament with decision. But, main person of cherry tree garden directing next, shows desire. When the following tournament is decided, everyone, support we ask may. ------------------------ ' Dynamite! ! Because USA ' the next day, there was a being less crowded time, the conference of the uniting skill, which was held with LA, パンアメリカングラップリング was observed. In the meeting place there was a vigor very, one end of the grapple skill popularity in America could peep! Because the conference itself level is high, as for the strong person well enough it is in America, it is being something which is felt the shelf, it did. As for photograph Isono of HERO'S rule director ' Dynamite! ! Although USA ' it is the next day of the expectation where the fatigue remains from intense duty, entry doing in the tournament, when winning beautifully, it is the thing. Softly one taking normally from the technique black band, as for winning you were surprised! Isono it is strong, is!

[hugs_for_thugs]

I wish I could give you a better translation, but I haven't had much need to read japanese since I came back here in 2002, and I never learned all the Kanji anyway. Kanji are hard.

[hugs_for_thugs]

That sounds like a computer tranlations, but it is as good as mine, really, LOL. cherry tree garden is Sakuraba, for those who don't know.

[The Korean]

I sure can.

"So I escaped from Japan to evade the Yakuza. They threatened that they would cut off my feet if I beat Royce Gracie. I went to Chute Boxe in Curitiba to seek protection from Wanderlei Silva and friends. However, when I spoke to Wanderlei, he told me "I'm sorry Sakuraba there's not much I can do for you....the Yakuza threatened to hurt Shogun if I beat Dan Henderson so I had to lose too...we're in the same situation here rofl." So I just trained with them a bit to prepare for the match. I told myself...I will withold my honor...I AM SAKURABA!!! During the fight with Royce, I was prepared to lay down my vengeance upon Royce. I secured the kimura on Royce but just as I was about to power him into submission...I felt all my strength sap away. In a state of confusion, I looked across the ring to see what was going on. Then I saw HELIO GRACIE using his VOODOO WITCHCRAFT on me to sap all my strength!!! The look of Gracie wrath was burning deep in his eyes. I was like lol I am going to lose...I could no longer fight as I wanted to. People booed me and all I could think about was damn the Gracies and damn the Yakuza.

Well I guess in the end, it all kind of worked out. I still have both feet, the Yakuza is no longer bothering me, and the Gracies promised that they would no longer seek vengeance upon me."

[hiroshi_nielsen]

Sorry for my poor English.
Well all the diary on that website is written by Minoru Toyonaga, Saku's old team mate. He is now a referee of MMA, grappling, kick boxing.

http://www.saku39.com/02diary/diary.html

<b>June 7 (Thu.) "Pan American Grappling"</b>
<img src="http://www.saku39.com/02diary/img/ph070607_3.jpg">
The day after Dynamite!! USA, I(=Minoru) went to see the grappling tournament "Pan American Grappling" in LA. I could see a part of martial arts boom of US because people around that event had passion and vigor. The athletes had really good skills. I understood that there were lots of tough fighters in US.

The right side of the third photo shows Gen Isono(Wajutsu Keishukai), K-1/HERO'S rule director. Despite he was very tired with working very hard at Dynamite!, he participated in the tournament and got 2nd place. I was surprised that Gen submitted a BJJ blackbelt as usual. Gen is great!<hr>
<b>June 6 (Wed.) "Cheers"</b>
<img src="http://www.saku39.com/02diary/img/ph070606.jpg">
I (and Saku?) came back to Japan from LA yesterday.

At the colloseum Saku got the biggest cheers. Saku's popularity is really high in US, too.

Saku was defeated by decision, although I'm not satisfied with the decision.
But now Saku shows motivation toward the next fight.
I would like all of you to root for Saku at the next match, which is not yet scheduled.