The news broke last month NJPW was opening a new Dojo in Los Angeles this month to allow US wrestlers to learn the Japanese wrestling techniques from the best professional wrestlers. Two NJPW 5-day Camps were announced, starting March 19 and March 26, and received an amazing response.NJPW announced earlier this week Katsuyori Shibata will undertake the post of head coach of the dojo. Ring of Honor’s own Scorpio Sky joins camp as assistant coach.
Last year, at Sakura Genesis 2017, Shibata collapsed after his match and was rushed to hospital, where it was discovered that he had a subdural hematoma, which required emergency surgery. As he was expecting not to wrestle again, NJPW was looking to sign him full-time as a coach.
Shibata is looking forward to training young talents, teach them the techniques and philosophy of Japanese pro-wrestling. “With rehab and training, I’ve been sensing it’s time to move past the struggle of finding what I am capable of doing. These days, I’ve had a burning desire to take on a new challenge.”
“By some twist of fate, my thoughts happened around the time the new NJPW dojo was being set up in LA. While getting the dojo ready, I had the chance to assemble the ring with some of the young wrestlers and train with them, and I found myself doing wrestling moves I haven’t been able to do before.”
“As I continue with my rehabilitation and training, I have a desire to pass down the fundamentals, the know-how and techniques and the philosophy that I have built up through my own experience in pro-wrestling to the younger generation here in Los Angeles. This is the best thing “I can do” right now, and I believe it will benefit the young wrestlers of the next generation and the wrestling world as a whole.”
“The good, classic Japanese pro-wrestling is starting to disappear from the current wrestling world. But we must never lose that fighting attitude and spirit of traditional Japanese pro-wrestling. I have accepted the mission to open the gates and transcend the cultural differences to pass down our knowledge to the younger generation.”
Scorpio Sky is a 17-year ring veteran. Currently a member of “Socal Uncensored” stable alongside Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian in Ring of Honor, he has worked for many promotions like Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Championship Wrestling from Hollywood, Impact Wrestling, among others. He’s also a MMA competitor, achieving a record of 4-1. Scorpio Sky is described by NJPW as “a very explosive and unique athlete with a wealth of knowledge.”
Pics courtesy of NJPW website.