Funk’s Corner - My First Wrestling Student

By Dory Funk Jr. - www.dory-funk.com

It was the beginning of my week off during my time as NWA Champion. I was not working but went to Channel 10 Television to see if I could be of help with the production of the weekly Amarillo TV show. I met the new wrestler Mr. Baba had discovered who had competed in the Olympics in Greco Roman wrestling. Mr. Baba liked this kid, and had sent him to Amarillo to learn the finer points of professional wrestling.

As I entered the dressing room I was happy to see the familiar faces of the Amarillo Territory, Larry Lane, Dick Murdoch, , Stan Hanson, Bobby Backlund, Ricky Romero, Scott Casey, Sputnik Monroe, JC Dykes and his Infernos.

"Mr. Funk," I heard someone say from behind. I turned and there he was, Tall, lean, and wearing a crew cut. I had to look up to him even though he was slightly slumped over. He said, "Mr. Funk, My name is Jumbo Tsuruta. He said, “I have never wrestled a professional match before in my life. This is my first time, please take care of me."

That Saturday at the TV taping, Jumbo Tsuruta was wrestling El Gran Tapia, a good wrestler out of Mexico. I told Jumbo that anything he had learned in amateur wrestling and Greco Roman wrestling he could use in professional wrestling and it would serve him well.

I looked right at him and said, "Don't worry Jumbo, you'll do fine.

Jumbo went into the ring scared to death, but had a good match against El Gran Tapia and captured the victory in about eleven minutes. From that day, I took Jumbo under my wing. He went on the become the best student of professional wrestling I have ever had. Tsuruta learned fast. He had the basic experience in amateur wrestling with a mix of his Greco Roman wrestling (Upper body throws) and great coordination from competing in basketball and swimming while still in school.

Tsuruta became the only wrestler ever outside the family to master the spinning toe hold, and was the only one who can throw the same fore arm blow every bit as hard as I do. He learned his moves so perfect that we did a special slow motion production of his three best suplexes, belly to belly, German suplex, and double arm suplex to use as an open for
the television show.

Though his time in Amarillo was short, Jumbo Tsuruta made many friends who never forgot his kindness.. He worked hard to learn all he could about professional wrestling. He told me his English was not so good and he really didn't want to do interviews. I told him, you must, you are going to be on camera and the announcer is going to ask you about your opponent, "you must say something."

Tsuruta's interview went like this. “I know my opponent has a good heart, and I have a good heart too. I am going to do my best.” He was wrestling our top heel Sputnik Monroe who had just said, “He would whup that puke just like eatin' boardin' house pie.” I don't know what boardin' house pie is, but Sputnik was always going to whup somebody that way.

People in Amarillo loved Tsuruta for his sincerity, athletic ability, and kindness. He didn't have a bad word to say about anybody and his skills in the ring were unmatched. In his first year in professional wrestling, Tsuruta became a top star in the United States, something accomplished by only a few Japanese wrestlers including his boss, Giant Baba.

The Official Home Page of Dory Funk Jr.