Kayla Isomura

co-founder / all things sumo sundays

Kayla Isomura (they/them) is equal parts photographer, storyteller, community organizer and everything in between. As a multigenerational settler of Chinese and Japanese descent, Kayla’s work has been largely influenced by their family’s story of displacement. It’s through this lens that Kayla aims to explore narratives and build spaces that centre historically resilient voices.

In 2022, Kayla placed first in the women’s sumo division at the Powell Street Festival. While Kayla has participated in a few festival tournaments since 2015 but they credit this win of the big bag of rice (15 lbs to be exact) to previous workshops organized by the festival and informal training in China Creek Park by Shane Pecknold. Through these experiences, Kayla’s goal is to make an inclusive and accessible space for sumo in Vancouver.

Outside of Sumo Sundays, Kayla organizes with Kikiai Collaborative, a grassroots organization facilitating space for young-ish Japanese Canadians.

Lydia Luk

co-founder / powell street festival coordination

Lydia Luk (they/them) and their family have roots in colonized lands of Hong Kong and was raised and nurtured on the unceded and ancestral homelands of the wməθ kwəyəm (Musqueam), sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and selílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations. Lydia continues and is committed to un/learning what it means to be a racialized settler on these lands. Recognized for their work in the community by Xtra West twice, first as a Leader of the Future and the second time as one of Vancouver’s Top 30 Under 30, Celebrated BC’s Brightest Queers and has been nominated twice for the Pride Legacy Awards for creating Safe Spaces in Community and Outstanding Youth Work.

Lydia has been involved with community organizing and peer-led education for 20 years working with youth, seniors, people with disabilities, newcomers, refugees, sexually and gender diverse folks. As a person who lives in intersections of gender, sexuality, race, class and disabilities, Lydia brings their enthusiasm for intersectional community development and experience in community mobilization, engagement with social justice. Sometimes referring themselves as an asian little soup dumpling, you’ll find this small-fat, non-binary, queer, tender PoC bouncing and rolling around having fun while hoping to make changes in the most delicious ways!

Mielle Michaux

instruction

Mielle Michaux (she/her) is an avid sumo fan who has been participating in Sumo Sundays since 2022. Her other martial arts experience includes sambo wrestling and judo. She is passionate about making martial arts spaces welcoming to everyone, and loves being a part of such an inclusive sumo community!

Kristian Castaneda

instruction

Coming soon.

Bryan Chan

admin + operations

Originally from Hong Kong, Bryan Chan (he/him) moved to Vancouver in 2022. Bryan started watching sumo on NHK during the COVID-19 pandemic and immediately fell in love with the culture, so much so that he went to Tokyo to watch it live! He joined Sumo Sundays and the Powell Street Festival in 2023 as a participant, and now wants to help promote sumo to all Vancouverites!

Chris Robertson

admin + operations

Coming soon.

Shane Pecknold

co-founder / instruction

Shane Pecknold’s (he/him) interest in sumo started when he was living in Japan from 2003-2007. Returning to Vancouver in 2007, Shane found the sumo tournament at Powell Street Festival. Over 10 years, he has competed in eight tournaments and has co-coordinated the tournament and workshops since 2016. Having a varied background and a deep passion for martial arts in general, Shane has found unique ways to train getting ready for tournaments over the years. Shane says, “Being a smaller fighter, it was always my goal to normalize sumo as just another wrestling style, that anyone can play, regardless of size.” As a result, Shane’s version of sumo is all-inclusive where all genders, body types and abilities are welcome. “It’s very exciting to have an indoor training space for yearly sumo practice,” he adds. “All those years doing solo or small group training in the park have finally paid off!”

Hugo Mansfield

instruction

Hugo Mansfield (he/him) is a filmmaker, writer, amateur sumo wrestler and martial arts enthusiast. He started training on the beach with friends, and their small club slowly grew into a formidable sumo team now called Vancouver Sumo Tigers. A regular participant of Sumo Sundays since 2022, Hugo has competed at the annual Powell Street Festival and the 2024 basho. Since the fall of 2024, he has provided technique-based instruction for Sumo Sundays’ intermediate drop-in. Hugo continues to lead instruction with Vancouver Sumo Tigers and now hosts the competitive-style drop-in twice a week with Sumo Sundays.