| Baruto Kaito | |
|---|---|
| 把瑠都 凱斗 | |
 Baruto in 2011 | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | Kaido Höövelson (1984-11-05)5 November 1984 (age 41) Väike-Maarja,Lääne-Viru County,Estonian SSR[1] |
| Height | 1.99 m (6 ft6+1⁄2 in) |
| Weight | 183 kg (403 lb; 28.8 st) |
| Career | |
| Stable | Mihogaseki →Onoe |
| Record | 431-213-102 |
| Debut | May 2004 |
| Highest rank | Ōzeki (May 2010) |
| Retired | September 2013 |
| Championships | 1 (Makuuchi) 3 (Jūryō) 1 (Makushita) 1 (Jonidan) 1 (Jonokuchi) |
| Special Prizes | Fighting Spirit (5) Outstanding Performance (1) Technique (1) |
Kaido Höövelson (born 5 November 1984), known professionally asBaruto Kaito (把瑠都 凱斗), is anEstonian politician and former professionalsumowrestler.[2] Making his debut in May 2004, he reached thetop division after just two years in sumo in May 2006. After suffering a number of injury problems in 2007 which delayed his progress, he reached the third-highest rank ofsekiwake in November 2008, and was promoted toōzeki rank after finishing the March 2010 tournament with a score of 14–1.[3] He was a tournament runner-up four times before recording a top division championship in the 2012 January tournament. During his career Baruto also earned fivespecial prizes for Fighting Spirit, one for Outstanding Performance and one for Technique. He lost hisōzeki rank after more injury problems at the end of 2012, and having fallen greatly in rank after withdrawing from the May 2013 tournament, he announced his retirement in September of that year at the age of 28.[4]
After retirement from sumo, Höövelson has been involved in different business ventures,mixed martial arts, acting, and politics. In March 2019 hewas elected to theRiigikogu.
Höövelson was born inVäike-Maarja, but grew up in the nearbyRohu village in currentVinni Parish.[2] His family owned a cattle farm and he became accustomed to hard physical labour as a child.[5] His father died when Höövelson was sixteen years old and he worked as a nightclubbouncer to earn a living.[6]
He playedbasketball as a teenager and also won a nationaljudo championship in Estonia.[7]
He was introduced to amateur sumo when he was a little boy through his judo coach Riho Rannikmaa, and an official from theKagoshima Prefecture Sumo Association, Kazuo Kurazono, encouraged him to join the professional sport.[7] Due to the restrictions on foreigners entering sumo, the onlystable with a place available wasMihogaseki.[7] He came to Japan with a friend from Estonia, Ott Juurikas, who enteredIrumagawa stable and fought under the name of Kitaoji but quit after only one tournament.[8] Höövelson was given theshikona or fighting name of Baruto, a reference to the Japanese name of theBaltic Sea, and made his professional debut in May 2004. He moved very quickly up the rankings, reaching thejūryō division after only eight tournaments (tied for the third-fastest rise tosekitori status since 1958 when the current six-tournament-a-year format was adopted) and compiling a record of 41–8 on the way.
Baruto won thejūryō division March 2006honbasho tournament with a perfect 15–0 result. This was only the fourth time ever that ajūryō wrestler has won the championship with such a record. He was the first to achieve this sinceKitanofuji, who ultimately reached the topyokozuna rank, in 1963.[9] As a result of this performance he was promoted tomakuuchi, the highest division, for the first time in his career in May 2006. It is likely that Baruto could have achieved a more rapid rise to the top division, were it not for him suffering fromappendicitis in November 2005, the resulting absence from the tournament sending him back down to the third-highestmakushita division temporarily. Despite this, his rise to the top division in two years is equal to the second-fastest ever.
In his first tournament in the top division Baruto scored a strong 11–4 record and won thekantō-shō (or Fighting Spirit Prize). After a second winning record in July and another promotion, Baruto's quick ascent through the ranks halted atmaegashira 1. He withdrew from the September tournament with an injury, which lowered his standing tomaegashira 6 in the November tournament. The result of 10–5 there took him up tomaegashira 3, but he was again injured in the January2007 tournament. He suffered a rupturedanterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He was unable to compete in the March tournament as well and his ranking suffered, resulting in a return to thejūryō ranks. In May he won thejūryō championship with a 14–1 record, resulting in an immediate return tomakuuchi in July to the position ofmaegashira 14 East. However, he re-injured his knee on the opening day and decided to withdraw from the tournament.[10] It was the third time he had injured the knee, each time in a different place. He opted against surgery, which would have required a lengthy lay-off.
In September 2007, despite being clearly still troubled by his knee, he took his thirdjūryō division championship with a 13–2 record. This was enough to earn promotion back to the top division for November. He was in contention for the championship until the final days of the tournament when he was defeated byōzekiChiyotaikai andkomusubiAma. He finished with an 11–4 record and was awarded his second Fighting Spirit Prize.
In the January2008 tournament Baruto produced a 7–8 score, the first time in his career that he has completed a tournament and finished with more losses than wins. He performed much better in March, finishing as joint runner-up with 12 wins and being awarded another Fighting Spirit Prize. In the May 2008 tournament he was unable to defeat any of the top rankers and could only manage five wins. In the July 2008 tournament, Baruto finished with a 10–5 score, assuring akomusubi debut in September.
In his first appearance askomusubi in the September tournament, Baruto managed an 8–7 score, while having a less than perfect start to the tournament. He was just 2–7 after 9 bouts where he competed with only the titled ranks ofsan'yaku wrestlers. His last six matches were against wrestlers from themaegashira ranks and there Baruto managed to hold his ground. He was promoted tosekiwake rank for the Kyushu Basho in November, as the westsekiwakeToyonoshima could not hold his position after a 6–9 finish in the Aki Basho, thus leaving an opening for the position. He came through with a winning record in hissekiwake debut.
Baruto had an excellent start to the January2009 tournament, winning his first six matches. However, he began losing in the second week and finished on 9–6. By contrast, he struggled during the first week of the March tournament in facing the top ranked wrestlers and stood at 3–6 after nine days, but he maintained his rank with akachi-koshi victory on the final day. He is the firstsekiwake to hold his rank for four straight tournaments since his debut sinceAsashōryū in 2002.[11] He lost the rank in May 2009, but fighting from themaegashira 3 position in July he produced a strong 11–4 record and returned to thekomusubi rank for the September tournament. There he became the first non-yokozuna sinceHoshi in 1986 to defeat fiveōzeki in one tournament. He finished with a fine 12–3 record, guaranteeing his return tosekiwake, and was awarded his fourth Fighting Spirit prize. He scored nine wins in the next tournament.
On the seventh day of the January 2010 tournament he finally managed to defeat ayokozuna,Hakuhō, bysukuinage, or beltless arm throw, his first win over ayokozuna in nineteen attempts. This earned him his first Outstanding Performance award, and he finished on 12–3. He became only the third wrestler to compile 33 wins over three tournaments in asan'yaku rank and not be promoted toōzeki, followingKotogahama in 1957 andMiyabiyama (twice) in 2006. At the March tournament inOsaka it was indicated by Sumo Association officialTomozuna Oyakata that he would need to win at least 13 bouts and be in contention for theyūshō to earnōzeki promotion.[12] Baruto was nursing an injury to his left thumb throughout thebasho,[13] which he picked up in a training session withAran. However, he produced his best score in the top division to date of 14–1, and lost only to Hakuhō on Day 11. He was in contention for the championship until the final bout of the tournament, which Hakuhō won overHarumafuji to complete an undefeated 15–0 performance. Baruto was rewarded with special prizes for Fighting Spirit and Technique, the first time sinceKotomitsuki in July 2007 that one wrestler has received two prizes in the same tournament.[3]
Baruto's promotion was officially confirmed by the Sumo Association on March 31. Speaking to reporters at his Onoe stable, he said, "I want to be cheerful and be anōzeki that can live up to the expectations of the fans." He also made clear his determination to win theyūshō, as "unless I win a championship I can't move up toyokozuna."[9] However, for a significant period he was not able to challenge for the championship as anōzeki, his best score never being higher than 11–4. This changed in January 2012, when after he recorded 13 straight wins and his nearest challengeryokozuna Hakuhō suffered three losses in four bouts, he took the championship with two days left to spare.[14] This made him the ninth foreigner, and the second from Europe afterKotoōshū, to win a top division championship.[14] He finished on 14–1, denied a perfect record by Hakuhō on the final day.[15] He was told he had to win the next tournament or be in contention until the final day to earn a shot atyokozuna promotion, but Baruto told reporters the day after celebrating his victory, "If I can wrestle at the spring basho like I did at the New Year meet, results will follow. Once you win one tournament, you want to win a second, a third, a 10th and a 30th."[16] At the Osaka tournament in March he stood at 9–1 after ten days, but lost four of his last five matches to finish on a disappointing 10–5, putting any hopes foryokozuna promotion back to square one. Baruto had been suffering from a fever during the tournament and said afterwards that talk ofyokozuna was just "journalistic chatter ... that wasn't my goal in this tournament."[17]
Baruto waskadoban, or in danger of demotion fromōzeki, after he pulled out of the Aki basho in September 2012 on the 4th day after injuring the big toe on his right foot before the tournament.[18] Needing at least eight wins to preserve his rank in the Kyushu tournament in November, he instead had to withdraw once again on Day 3 after injuring a thigh muscle, and was demoted back tosekiwake.[19] Needing ten wins in the January 2013 tournament, he lost his chance of an immediate return toōzeki on Day 13 when he fell to his sixth defeat.[20] He would have had to win 32 or 33 bouts in three consecutive tournaments inmakuuchi to earn promotion toōzeki again.[21] Because he sat out the summer tournament 2013 due to injury, he was demoted to thejūryō division in September 2013 and chose to retire on September 11.[4]
Baruto had a solid and straightforwardyotsu-sumo style, concentrating on techniques which involved grabbing the opponent'smawashi or belt. He preferred amigi-yotsu grip, with his right hand inside and left hand outside his opponent's arms. His most common winningkimarite or technique was overwhelminglyyori-kiri, or force out. Due to his great strength he was known for usingtsuri-dashi, or lift out, a technique which has declined in recent years because of the increasing weight of wrestlers. Baruto used this technique three times in the July 2009 tournament alone. His great height meant he could reach over his shorter opponents' back to do this, but this unorthodox way of lifting placed a strain on his joints and eventually led to knee problems.[8] He also frequently useduwatenage, or overarm throw. He was forced to change his yotsu style in his successfulōzeki promotionbasho of March 2010, as his thumb injury meant he was less effective on themawashi, and he used a more aggressive slapping and thrusting attack instead.[22]
At 188kilograms (414pounds; 29.6stone), Baruto was the second-heaviest man in the top division at the time, afterGagamaru. He was popular among other wrestlers due to his friendly character and was known for always smiling, win or lose.[5] His stablemasterOnoe Oyakata commented, "All wrestlers have their unique personalities. Baruto is friendly and gentle and he shouldn't change that. He has to win to get promoted but outside the ring I don't want him to forget to smile."[23] Baruto was also known for taking great care not to injure his opponents.[23]
After retirement Baruto became involved in several different business ventures, involving holiday accommodation, cattle breeding, vehicle repair and maintenance, beverage sale, and tourism.[24]
In October 2015 he announced that he would become amixed martial arts fighter, joining theRizin Fighting Federation.[25] He told a press conference that he had lost 25 kg (55 lb; 3.9 st) in weight and that he wanted to be "the strongest fighter in the world."[25] On December 31, 2015, he had his first match, defeatingPeter Aerts at theSaitama Super Arena. On September 25, 2016, he won by unanimous decision against 45-year-old veteranKazuyuki Fujita, who announced his retirement afterwards.[26] After four fights, Baruto had three wins against one loss, the single loss being againstMirko Filipović,[27] and said that he "wanted to fix sumo's reputation in the MMA world" after the lack of success of some other ex-sumo professionals who switched to MMA.[28] He is also involved in several charities, includingADHD awareness.[28]
In December 2017,NHK, the Japan Broadcasting Corporation, announced that it would air a three-episode series based on authorGengoroh Tagame'smanga seriesMy Brother's Husband. The series tells the story of a man named Yaichi, who is struggling to deal with the death of hisgay twin brother, Ryoji. Yaichi and his young daughter Kana's lives become disrupted when they meet Ryoji's Canadian husband, Mike Flanagan. ActorRyuta Sato was cast to play Yaichi and Baruto Kaito was cast for the role of Mike Flanagan. The series premiered in March 2018 on NHK's BS Premium.[29]
Baruto has also taken part in amateur sumo competitions, winning the open weight category at the Estonian national championships in 2018, and he was planning to compete in theEuropean Sumo Championships inTallinn in April 2019.[30]
On September 7, 2018, Höövelson announced that he had joined theEstonian Centre Party and had applied for the2019 Estonian parliamentary election.[31] He ran for election inHarju andRapla counties, and received 642 votes. Höövelson was elected to theRiigikogu after candidate Vladimir Arhipov declined his seat. One of his goals as an MP was to promote economic relations between Estonia and Japan.[32][33] Running for a different constituency in the 2023 elections, he was defeated.[34]
While in Japan Baruto's interests away from thedohyō includedcoin collecting andpachinko.[8]
In February 2009, Höövelson married Elena Tregubova, a 26-year-old Russian fromVladivostok. They had met four years earlier. The couple was married in Japan.[35] In January 2017, a son was born in their family.[36]
Höövelson is fluent inEstonian,Russian,English,German andJapanese.[37]
Höövelson received theOrder of the White Star, 3rd Class in 2012.[38][39]
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | x | x | (Maezumo) | East Jonokuchi #40 7–0 Champion | East Jonidan #30 7–0–PPP Champion | West Sandanme #33 5–2 |
| 2005 | East Sandanme #6 6–1 | West Makushita #32 5–2 | East Makushita #22 6–1 | West Makushita #6 5–2 | West Jūryō #14 12–3 | West Jūryō #4 Sat out due to injury 0–1–14 |
| 2006 | West Makushita #3 6–1–PPP Champion | East Jūryō #11 15–0 Champion | West Maegashira #11 11–4 F | West Maegashira #4 9–6 | East Maegashira #1 4–7–4 | West Maegashira #6 10–5 |
| 2007 | West Maegashira #3 2–2–11 | West Maegashira #13 Sat out due to injury 0–0–15 | West Jūryō #11 14–1 Champion | East Maegashira #14 0–2–13 | West Jūryō #9 13–2 Champion | East Maegashira #16 11–4 F |
| 2008 | West Maegashira #6 7–8 | East Maegashira #7 12–3 F | West Maegashira #1 5–10 | West Maegashira #5 10–5 | East Komusubi #1 8–7 | West Sekiwake #1 9–6 |
| 2009 | East Sekiwake #1 9–6 | East Sekiwake #1 8–7 | East Sekiwake #1 4–11 | West Maegashira #3 11–4 | East Komusubi #1 12–3 F | East Sekiwake #1 9–6 |
| 2010 | East Sekiwake #1 12–3 O | East Sekiwake #1 14–1 FT | West Ōzeki #3 10–5 | East Ōzeki #1 8–7 | East Ōzeki #2 9–6 | West Ōzeki #1 11–4 |
| 2011 | West Ōzeki #1 9–6 | East Ōzeki #2 Tournament Cancelled Match fixing investigation 0–0–0 | East Ōzeki #2 10–5 | East Ōzeki #1 11–4 | West Ōzeki #1 10–5 | East Ōzeki #1 11–4 |
| 2012 | East Ōzeki #1 14–1 | East Ōzeki #1 10–5 | West Ōzeki #1 9–6 | East Ōzeki #2 9–6 | West Ōzeki #2 1–3–11 | East Ōzeki #3 1–2–12 |
| 2013 | West Sekiwake #1 8–7 | West Sekiwake #1 9–6 | West Sekiwake #1 3–5–7 | East Maegashira #6 Sat out due to injury 0–0–15 | East Jūryō #3 Retired – | x |
| Record given aswins–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) | ||||||
| 4 matches | 3 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 0 | 1 |
| By decision | 3 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 3–1 | Mirko Cro Cop | TKO (knee to the body) | Rizin World Grand-Prix 2016: Final Round | December 31, 2016 | 1 | 0:49 | Saitama, Japan | 2016 Rizin Openweight Grand Prix Semifinal. |
| Win | 3–0 | Tsuyoshi Kohsaka | Decision (unanimous) | Rizin World Grand-Prix 2016: 2nd Round | December 29, 2016 | 2 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | 2016 Rizin Openweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 2–0 | Kazuyuki Fujita | Decision (unanimous) | Rizin World Grand-Prix 2016: 1st Round | September 25, 2016 | 2 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | 2016 Rizin Openweight Grand Prix First Round. |
| Win | 1–0 | Peter Aerts | Decision (unanimous) | Rizin World Grand-Prix 2015: Part 2 – Iza | December 31, 2015 | 3 | 3:00 | Saitama, Japan |
