When push comes to shove, the brothers Henderson are a tough trio to move around.
Langford siblings Brodi, Kolton and Kodiak Henderson recently took part in the U.S. Sumo Open at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in Los Angeles, a rarity for any Canadian, let alone three from the same family.
Brodi, 17, is a veteran of such wars, having won a bronze medal for Canada at last year's event and capturing the fighting spirit award in his first attempt in 2010 at the event held in Noguchi Plaza in L.A., also known as Little Tokyo. Kolton and Kodiak joined in on the fun last month.
"We thought, why not have the other boys go into it?" said their father Lee, who has supported his entire family through their sporting ventures.
When they're not shoving around their competition in the sumo ring, Brodi and 15-year-old Kolton weigh in on some football as members of the Belmont Bulldogs. Both will be in the lineup this afternoon for the 1-1 'Dogs as they host Holy Cross at 3 p.m. at Goudy Field in Langford. Kodiak, 20, also played high school football for Belmont
"This was my first time. It was a lot of fun and I would love to do it again," said Kolton, who at six-foot-one, 187 pounds is the baby of the bunch, competing in the lightweight division in California, where he did win one of his matches.
"This year we decided to go down as brothers. It was a lot of fun, a great experience and this guy got a win," the veteran Brodi said, pointing proudly to younger brother Kolton. "Same as my older brother."
Brodi wasn't as fortunate this time around, drawing some tough competition, but the towering six-foot-seven, 332-pound offensive lineman (who used to weigh in at upwards of 370 pounds) has previous sumo wins under his belt.
"Football definitely helps with keeping it low," he explained of the sumo execution. "A lot of it is technique, but a lot of it is strength, too. Even if I was way stronger than, say, the world champion, his technique is immaculate.
"He can do the splits, touch his head or chest to the ground. Extremely flexible," Brodi explained of three-time world champion Byam-bajava Ulambayar, known simply as Byamba. "He hasn't lost in like 140 matches."
Byamba used to compete in Japan before moving to the U.S. where he has become a legend. Brodi has thought about making the move to Japan as well.
"It's hard to practice at home because there's nothing here, sumo wise, in Canada," explained Brodi, who took part in training with his brothers the day before the U.S. Sumo Open. "I think we're the only ones [competing in Canada]."
Brodi competed in the heavyweight class, while Kodiak participated in the middleweight division.
"It was quite a blast," said Kodiak. "We thought we would give it a go as a family. I'd probably do it again, it was quite fun and similar to wrestling."
The eldest Henderson brother used to wrestle and also played hockey at the Junior B level.
Brodi is still known to take the odd twirl on the ice as well, wearing what are considered to be the largest skates in the world at size 15EEEEE.
"I had to have them specially made. They cost me a G note [$1,000]," said dad Lee, with a chuckle.
