Sentoryū Henri

{{Short description|Japanese martial artist (1969–2026)}} {{family name hatnote|Sentoryū|lang=Japanese}} {{Infobox sumo wrestler | image = | native_name = 戦闘竜扁利 | name = Sentoryū Henri | birth_name = Henry Armstrong Miller | birth_date = {{Birth date|1969|7|16}} | birth_place = Tokyo, Japan | death_date = {{Death date and age|2026|1|29|1969|7|16}} | death_place = Tokyo, Japan | height = {{height|meters=1.75}} | weight = {{convert|136|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | heya = Tomozuna | record = 403-303-99 | debut = July 1988 | highestrank = Maegashira 12 (September 2000) | retireddate = November 2003 | yushos = 1 (Makushita) 1 (Jonokuchi) | weburl = http://ameblo.jp/sentoryu/ | update = May 26, 2026 }} {{Infobox martial artist | name = Henry "Sentoryū" Miller | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Henry Armstrong Miller | birth_date = {{Birth date|1969|07|16}} | birth_place = Tokyo, Japan | death_date = {{Death date and age|2026|01|29|1969|07|16}} | death_place = Tokyo, Japan | death_cause = | other_names = Sentoryū | residence = | nationality = American Japanese | height = | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 9 | height_m = | height_footnote = | weight = | weight_lb = 300 | weight_kg = | weight_footnote = | weight_class = Super Heavyweight Heavyweight | reach = | reach_in = | reach_footnote = | style = | stance = Orthodox | fighting_out_of = Tokyo, Japan | team = Team Fighting Dragon | trainer = | rank = ''Maegashira in Sumo'' | wrestling = | years_active = 2004–2013 | box_win = | box_kowin = | box_loss = | box_koloss = | box_draw = | box_nc = | kickbox_win = 1 | kickbox_kowin = 1 | kickbox_loss = 2 | kickbox_koloss = 2 | kickbox_draw = 0 | kickbox_nc = | mma_kowin = 5 | mma_subwin = 1 | mma_decwin = | mma_dqwin = | mma_otherwin = | mma_koloss = 13 | mma_subloss = 2 | mma_decloss = 1 | mma_dqloss = | mma_otherloss = | mma_draw = 0 | mma_nc = 1 | occupation = | university = | spouse = | relatives = | students = | club = | school = | website =  | boxrec = | sherdog = 10217 | footnotes = | updated = }}

'''Henry Armstrong Miller''' (July 16, 1969 – January 29, 2026), known under the ''shikona'' {{nihongo|'''Sentoryū Henri'''|戦闘竜扁利}}, was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler and MMA fighter, raised in St. Louis, Missouri. Sentoryū was the first wrestler from the United States mainland to reach the top ''makuuchi'' division.

Sentoryū made his professional debut in 1988 and reached a highest rank of ''maegashira'' 12 before retiring in 2003. He last competed in MMA in 2013, losing to Kazuhiro Nakamura.

==Early life== Henry Miller was born in Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan, the son of a Japanese mother and African-American father.<ref name="henry">{{cite web|url=https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1P2-33073164/sentoryu-from-sen-to-ru-i-su-our-town-s-henry-miller|title=Sentoryu from Sen-to-Ru-I-Su Our Town's Henry Miller Is a Really Big Man as Sumo Wrestler in Japan|last=Lefton|first=Brad|date=17 June 1997|publisher=St Louis Post-Dispatch (MO)|access-date=30 January 2015}}</ref> He was born on the same day that the Apollo 11 lunar mission left Earth and his middle name was given to him by his father in honor of Neil Armstrong.<ref name="henry"/> He lived on Yokota Air Base until the age of six, when he moved with his family to St Louis, Missouri. He grew up in Ferguson.<ref name="henry"/> His dream of becoming a professional football player was ended by a knee injury in his senior year of high school, but he had also been wrestling since elementary school and he had qualified for the state championships. After graduating in 1987 he returned to Japan to try professional sumo.

==Sumo career== Sentoryū joined the Tomozuna stable of wrestlers, also the home of future ''ozeki'' Kaio. He was given the ''shikona'' of Sentoryū, meaning "fighting war dragon" but also a play on words for his hometown of St. Louis.<ref name="Sharnoff">{{cite book|author=Sharnoff, Lora|title=Grand Sumo|publisher=Weatherhill|year=1993|pages=170}}</ref> He was relatively small at 174 cm and 94 kg when he made his debut in July 1988. He won the ''yusho'' or tournament championship in his first tournament in the ''jonokuchi'' division in September 1988, defeating three others in a six-way playoff, including a fellow American, Shinnishiki from Los Angeles.<ref name="Sharnoff"/> In 1991 he reached ''makushita'' for the first time but injury problems meant he did not establish himself in the division until 1993. In November 1994 he became a ''sekitori'' for the first time but lasted only two tournaments in the ''jūryō'' division before being demoted.

It took Sentoryū more than four years of hard toil in the unsalaried ''makushita'' division (including a change of name to Kaishinzan in 1997) before he could win promotion back to the second division in July 1999, after an unbeaten 7–0 ''yusho'' in May. His final day victory over the former amateur champion Kototamiya (the future ozeki Kotomitsuki) was regarded as one of the high points of his career.<ref name="saint">{{cite web|last=Gunning|first=John|title=Saint no more: Miller seeks revenge on Christmas|url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/T101223002046.htm|publisher=Daily Yomiuri Online|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227090025/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/T101223002046.htm|archive-date=27 December 2010|url-status=dead|date=24 December 2010}}</ref>

After reverting to the name Sentoryū, a strong 13–2 record in March 2000 sent him to the top of the ''jūryō'' division. With an 8–7 mark in May 2000, he finally achieved his goal of promotion to the top ''makuuchi'' division in July.<ref>{{cite web | title=Akebono wins despite last day upset| publisher=BBC News Online | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/847833.stm| date=2000-07-23| access-date=2007-06-25}}</ref> It had taken him 72 tournaments from his professional debut to reach ''makuuchi'', which is the slowest amongst foreign-born wrestlers.

Sentoryū came through with a winning record of 8–7 in his debut but was then demoted after only recording a 5–10 score in September 2000. He had to withdraw from the following tournament in November and missed the January 2001 ''basho''. Nevertheless, he managed to hold his own in ''jūryō'' and had one more visit to the top division in January 2002. However, he suffered a serious injury and was unable to compete in the March and May 2002 tournaments, falling all the way back to ''makushita''. He refused to give up and fought his way back to ''sekitori'' status in September 2003, becoming the fifth oldest wrestler to return to ''jūryō'' in the postwar era at 34 years, 1 month. However, another injury convinced him to retire at the end of the year, in the same tournament as Musashimaru. His great fighting spirit, despite all his injuries, won him many admirers.<ref>{{cite web | author= Pourquie, Bastian| title=Rikishi that have retired| publisher=Le Monde du Sumo | url=http://www.lemondedusumo.com/english/MDS1_intai_rikishi.php?mag=mds&num=1| date=December 2003| access-date=2007-06-25}}</ref> He had spent 20 tournaments as a ''sekitori'', by far the most successful career by anyone from the contiguous United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/01/24/sumo/sentoryu-embodied-colorful-sumo-nickname/#.XitPbeSWymQ|title=Sentoryu embodied colorful sumo nickname|last=Gunning|first=John|date=24 January 2020|work=Japan Times|access-date=24 January 2020}}</ref>

He defeated Asashōryū in their only meeting in November 2000, when both were in the ''jūryō'' division. He also had three wins over Kotomitsuki in their four meetings.

===Fighting style=== Sentoryū favoured pushing and thrusting techniques, winning most of his matches by ''oshi dashi'' (push out), ''hatakikomi'' (slap down) or ''hikiotoshi'' (pull down).

==Mixed martial arts and kickboxing career== After his retirement from sumo, Sentoryū tried his luck at mixed martial arts.<ref>{{cite web | title=Henry "Sentoryu" Miller| publisher=Pride Fighting Championships| url=http://www.pridefc.com/pride2005/index.php?mainpage=fighters&fID=301| access-date=2007-06-25}}</ref> He was recommended for PRIDE in April 2004 by Chiyotaikai Ryūji, who saw Akebono Taro make such transition a year before.<ref name=Files>{{cite book|title=Pride: The Secret Files|date=2008|publisher=Kamipro|language= ja}}</ref>

He had six wins and sixteen losses in his first 23 fights.<ref>{{cite web | title=Sherdog Fightfinder: Henry "Sentoryu" Miller| publisher=Sherdog| url=http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?FighterID=10217| access-date=2007-06-25}}</ref> He styled himself '''Henry "Sentoryu" Miller'''. He made an agreement with World Victory Road and fought Yoshihiro Nakao. On December 25, 2010 he faced Yoichi Babaguchi (former sekiwake Wakashoyo) in the first ever K-1 kickboxing match between former sekitori.<ref name="saint"/> There was an edge to the match because Miller blamed Babaguchi for an injury he sustained in a sumo bout between the two in November 1994 (his debut juryo tournament).<ref name="saint"/> Miller won the match in the first round.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sentoryu has his revenge|url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/sports/T101226000593.htm|work=Daily Yomiuri Online|access-date=29 December 2010|date=27 December 2010}}</ref>

==Death== Sentoryū died at a hospital in Tokyo, on the night of January 29, 2026, at the age of 56. He suffered from serious lung disease in his later years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/1201479|title=元幕内・戦闘竜が死去、56歳、03年に引退し格闘家へ転身、元大関魁皇の浅香山親方は29日にお見舞いも体調急変し会えず：中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ|date=30 January 2026|publisher=Chunichi Sports|access-date=30 January 2026|language=ja}}</ref> {{clear right}}

==Sumo career record== {{Sumo record box start|Sentoryū Henri<ref>{{cite web|title=Sentoryu Henri Rikishi Information|publisher=Sumo Reference|url=http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?r=138|access-date=18 October 2012}}</ref>}} {{Sumo record year start link|1988}} {{Basho}} {{Basho}} {{Basho}} {{Basho|MAEZUMOU}} {{Basho|jk|51|e|6|1|PPP Champion}} {{Basho|jo|119|w|4|3}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1989}} {{Basho|jo|89|w|4|3}} {{Basho|jo|59|w|5|2}} {{Basho|jo|22|e|2|5}} {{Basho|KYUJO|rank=jo|r-no=56|tozai=e}} {{Basho|jo|126|w|6|1}} {{Basho|jo|52|e|3|1|3}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1990}} {{Basho|JO|72|w|5|2}} {{Basho|JO|25|e|6|1}} {{Basho|sa|66|w|6|1}} {{Basho|KYUJO|rank=sa|r-no=18|tozai=e}} {{Basho|sa|78|e|5|2}} {{Basho|sa|44|e|6|1}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1991}} {{Basho|ma|60|e|1|2|4}} {{Basho|KYUJO|rank=sa|r-no=35|tozai=w}} {{Basho|sa|35|w|6|1}} {{Basho|ma|55|e|3|3|1}} {{Basho|KYUJO|rank=sa|r-no=6|tozai=e}} {{Basho|sa|6|e|2|5}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1992}} {{Basho|sa|34|w|2|5}} {{Basho|sa|61|w|5|2}} {{Basho|sa|30|w|4|3}} {{Basho|sa|18|w|3|4}} {{Basho|sa|33|e|3|4}} {{Basho|sa|51|e|6|1}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1993}} {{Basho|sa|5|e|6|1}} {{Basho|ma|34|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|23|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|16|w|4|3}} {{Basho|KYUJO|rank=ma|r-no=12|tozai=e}} {{Basho|ma|12|e|5|2}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1994}} {{Basho|ma|7|w|2|5}} {{Basho|ma|22|e|6|1}} {{Basho|ma|9|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|4|w|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|2|e|6|1}} {{Basho|j|12|e|9|6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1995}} {{Basho|j|9|e|6|9}} {{Basho|ma|1|e|3|4}} {{Basho|ma|5|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|3|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|2|w|0|2|5}} {{Basho|KYUJO|rank=ma|r-no=37|tozai=e}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1996}} {{Basho|ma|37|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|21|e|2|5}} {{Basho|ma|40|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|31|e|6|1|P}} {{Basho|ma|13|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|5|e|3|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1997}} {{Basho|ma|8|e|6|1}} {{Basho|ma|2|e|2|5}} {{Basho|ma|14|e|2|5}} {{Basho|ma|29|w|6|1}} {{Basho|ma|12|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|10|e|6|1}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1998}} {{Basho|ma|2|e|2|5}} {{Basho|ma|13|w|1|6}} {{Basho|ma|36|w|6|1}} {{Basho|ma|16|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|12|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|8|e|3|4}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|1999}} {{Basho|ma|14|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|11|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|9|e|7|0 Champion}} {{Basho|j|11|w|8|7}} {{Basho|j|10|w|6|9}} {{Basho|j|13|w|9|6}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2000}} {{Basho|j|9|w|7|8}} {{Basho|j|11|e|13|2|P}} {{Basho|j|2|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|13|e|8|7}} {{Basho|m|12|w|5|10}} {{Basho|J|1|e|3|5|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2001}} {{Basho|KYUJO|rank=j|r-no=9|tozai=w}} {{Basho|j|9|w|9|6}} {{Basho|j|4|w|7|8}} {{Basho|j|6|e|9|6|PP}} {{Basho|j|2|w|7|8}} {{Basho|j|3|w|8|7}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2002}} {{Basho|m|15|e|6|9}} {{Basho|KYUJO|rank=j|r-no=3|tozai=e}} {{Basho|KYUJO|rank=ma|r-no=1|tozai=e}} {{Basho|ma|41|e|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|26|e|2|5}} {{Basho|ma|44|w|6|1}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record year start link|2003}} {{Basho|ma|18|w|5|2}} {{Basho|ma|9|e|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|6|w|4|3}} {{Basho|ma|3|w|5|2}} {{Basho|j|11|w|4|11}} {{Basho|INTAI|rank=ma|r-no=5|tozai=w|win=2|loss=5}} {{Sumo record year end}} {{Sumo record box end}}

==Kickboxing record== {{Kickboxing record start|notes=y|title=Kickboxing record|record='''1 win (1 KO), 2 losses'''}} |- |{{dts|2010|December|25}} |{{yes2}}Win |{{flagicon|JPN}} Wakashoyo |Survivor: Round 6 |Tokyo, Japan |TKO (3 knockdowns) |align="center"|1 |align="center"|1:09 |1-2 | |- |{{dts|2010|July|31}} |{{no2}}Loss |{{flagicon|JPN}} Tsutomu Takahagi |Big Bang 2: The Way to Unification |Japan |TKO (corner stoppage) |align="center"|2 |align="center"|1:09 |0-2 | |- |{{dts|2007|August|5}} |{{no2}}Loss |{{flagicon|JPN}} Taiei Kin |K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Hong Kong |Hong Kong |KO (right high kick) |align="center"|1 |align="center"|1:43 |0-1 |2007 Hong Kong Grand Prix quarter-final bout. |- |- | colspan=10 | '''''Legend''''': {{legend2|#CCFFCC|Win |border=1px solid #CCFFCC}} {{legend2|#FFBBBB|Loss |border=1px solid #FFBBBB}} {{legend2|#c5d2ea|Draw/No contest |border=1px solid #c5d2ea}} {{end}}

==Mixed martial arts record== {{MMArecordbox |draws= |nc=1 |ko-wins=5 |ko-losses=13 |sub-wins=1 |sub-losses=2 |dec-wins= |dec-losses=1 |dq-wins= |dq-losses= |other-wins= |other-losses= }} {{MMA record start}} |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|{{nowrap|6–16 (1)}} |Kazuhiro Nakamura |KO (punch) |DEEP 63 Impact |{{dts|2013|August|25}} |align=center|1 |align=center|4:42 |Tokyo, Japan |Openweight bout. |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|6–15 (1) |Soa Palelei |TKO (punches) |K-Oz Entertainment: Bragging Rights |{{dts|2012|September|3}} |align=center|1 |align=center|1:26 |Perth, Australia | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|6–14 (1) |Shunsuke Inoue |TKO (punches) |HEAT 20 |{{dts|2011|December|17}} |align=center|1 |align=center|1:43 |Tokyo, Japan | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|6–13 (1) |Myles Tynanes |TKO (punches) |HEAT 19 |{{dts|2011|September|25}} |align=center|1 |align=center|3:29 |Nagoya, Japan | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|6–12 (1) |Takaaki Oban |Submission (rear-naked choke) |Gladiator 23 |{{dts|2011|September|3}} |align=center|1 |align=center|1:40 |Hiroshima, Japan | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|6–11 (1) |Taiei Kin |TKO (corner stoppage) |HEAT 16 |{{dts|2010|November|6}} |align=center|1 |align=center|4:01 |Osaka, Japan | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|6–10 (1) |Yoshihiro Nakao |TKO (punches) |World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 12 |{{dts|2010|March|7}} |align=center|2 |align=center|3:27 |Tokyo, Japan | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|6–9 (1) |Kim Min-soo |KO (punches and knees) |The Khan 2 |{{dts|2009|November|27}} |align=center|1 |align=center|1:12 |Seoul, South Korea | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|5–9 (1) |Lee Chang-seob |TKO (punches) |HEAT 12 |{{dts|2009|November|1}} |align=center|1 |align=center|0:53 |Nagoya, Japan | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|5–8 (1) |Cristiano Kaminishi |TKO (punches) |HEAT 11 |{{dts|2009|September|26}} |align=center|3 |align=center|3:36 |Tokyo, Japan |{{small|For the inaugural HEAT Heavyweight Championship.}} |- | {{nocontest}}NC |align=center|5–7 (1) |Cristiano Kaminishi |NC (accidental knee to groin) |HEAT 10 |{{dts|2009|July|18}} |align=center|1 |align=center|0:54 |Tokyo, Japan |{{small|HEAT Heavyweight Tournament Final.}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|5–7 |Ryuta Noji |KO (punches) |HEAT 9 |{{dts|2009|March|28}} |align=center|1 |align=center|1:14 |Nagoya, Japan |{{small|HEAT Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.}} |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|4–7 |Junpei Hamada |KO (punches) |HEAT 8 |{{dts|2008|December|14}} |align=center|1 |align=center|0:52 |Tokyo, Japan |{{small|HEAT Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.}} |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|3–7 |Cristiano Kaminishi |KO (head kick) |DEEP 29 Impact |{{dts|2007|April|13}} |align=center|1 |align=center|4:00 |Tokyo, Japan | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|3–6 |Kim Ji-hoon |KO (punch) |HEAT 3 |{{dts|2007|March|23}} |align=center|1 |align=center|4:58 |Nagoya, Japan | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|2–6 |Mostapha al-Turk |TKO (punches) |Cage Rage 18 |{{dts|2006|August|27}} |align=center|1 |align=center|0:56 |London, England | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|2–5 |Seiji Ogura |Submission (rear-naked choke) |Pancrase: Blow 6 |{{dts|2006|August|27}} |align=center|1 |align=center|1:37 |Yokohama, Japan | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|1–5 |Robert Berry |TKO (punches) |Cage Rage 17 |{{dts|2006|July|1}} |align=center|1 |align=center|1:06 |London, England |{{small|Return to Heavyweight.}} |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|1–4 |Zuluzinho |TKO (knees) |Pride 30 |{{dts|2005|October|23}} |align=center|1 |align=center|1:31 |Saitama, Japan |{{small|Super Heavyweight debut.}} |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|1–3 |James Thompson |KO (punches) |Pride Bushido 8 |{{dts|2005|July|17}} |align=center|1 |align=center|1:21 |Nagoya, Japan | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|1–2 |Makoto Takimoto |Decision (unanimous) |Pride Shockwave 2004 |{{dts|2004|December|31}} |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Saitama, Saitama, Japan | |- |{{yes2}}Win |align=center|1–1 |Mal Foki |KO (punches) |Pride Bushido 5 |{{dts|2004|October|14}} |align=center|1 |align=center|0:21 |Osaka, Japan | |- |{{no2}}Loss |align=center|0–1 |Paulo César da Silva |Submission (kimura) |Pride Total Elimination 2004 |{{dts|2004|April|25}} |align=center|1 |align=center|4:04 |Saitama, Japan |{{small|Heavyweight debut. 2004 Pride Heavyweight Grand Prix Round of 16.}} |- {{end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Goo Sumo|A=|1004}} * {{Official website|http://www.sentoryu.com/maineng.htm}} * {{Sherdog}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sentoryu, Henri}} Category:1969 births Category:2026 deaths Category:People from Tachikawa Category:American male mixed martial artists Category:American male kickboxers Category:American sumo wrestlers Category:American people of Japanese descent Category:Sportspeople of Japanese descent Category:Japanese male kickboxers Category:Japanese male mixed martial artists Category:Japanese people of African-American descent Category:Japanese sumo wrestlers Category:Kickboxers from Missouri Category:Mixed martial artists from Missouri Category:Martial artists from St. Louis Category:Martial artists from Tokyo Category:Sumo wrestlers from Tokyo Category:Heavyweight kickboxers Category:Super heavyweight mixed martial artists Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing Sumo Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing kickboxing Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:20th-century Japanese sportsmen Category:Tomozuna stable sumo wrestlers