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Key Information

Henry "Sentoryū" Miller
BornHenry Armstrong Miller
(1969-07-16)July 16, 1969
Tokyo, Japan
DiedJanuary 29, 2026(2026-01-29) (aged 56)
Tokyo, Japan
Other namesSentoryū
NationalityAmerican
Japanese
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight300 lb (136 kg; 21 st 6 lb)
DivisionSuper Heavyweight
Heavyweight
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofTokyo, Japan
TeamTeam Fighting Dragon
RankMaegashira in Sumo
Years active2004–2013
Kickboxing record
Total3
Wins1
By knockout1
Losses2
By knockout2
Draws0
Mixed martial arts record
Total23
Wins6
By knockout5
By submission1
Losses16
By knockout13
By submission2
By decision1
Draws0
No contests1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Henry Armstrong Miller (July 16, 1969 – January 29, 2026) was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler, raised in St. Louis, Missouri, who competed under the shikona Sentoryū Henri (戦闘竜 扁利). The first wrestler from the US mainland to reach the top makuuchi division, he 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

[edit]

Henry Miller was born in Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan, the son of a Japanese mother and African-American father.[1] 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.[1] 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.[1] 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

[edit]

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.[2] 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 official tournament in the jonokuchi division in September 1988, defeating a fellow American, Shinnishiki from Los Angeles.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5] He had spent 20 tournaments as a sekitori, by far the most successful career by anyone from the contiguous United States.[6]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

After his retirement from sumo, Sentoryū tried his luck at mixed martial arts.[7] He was recommended for PRIDE in April 2004 by Chiyotaikai Ryūji, who saw Akebono Taro make such transition a year before.[8]

He had six wins and sixteen losses in his first 23 fights.[9] 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.[3] 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).[3] Miller won the match in the first round.[10]

Death

[edit]

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.[11]

Sumo career record

[edit]
Sentoryū Henri[12]
Year January
Hatsu basho, Tokyo		 March
Haru basho, Osaka		 May
Natsu basho, Tokyo		 July
Nagoya basho, Nagoya		 September
Aki basho, Tokyo		 November
Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka
1988 x x x (Maezumo) East Jonokuchi #51
6–1–PPP
Champion
 		 West Jonidan #119
4–3
 
1989 West Jonidan #89
4–3
 		 West Jonidan #59
5–2
 		 East Jonidan #22
2–5
 		 East Jonidan #56
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7		 West Jonidan #126
6–1
 		 East Jonidan #52
3–1–3
 
1990 West Jonidan #72
5–2
 		 East Jonidan #25
6–1
 		 West Sandanme #66
6–1
 		 East Sandanme #18
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7		 East Sandanme #78
5–2
 		 East Sandanme #44
6–1
 
1991 East Makushita #60
1–2–4
 		 West Sandanme #35
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7		 West Sandanme #35
6–1
 		 East Makushita #55
3–3–1
 		 East Sandanme #6
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7		 East Sandanme #6
2–5
 
1992 West Sandanme #34
2–5
 		 West Sandanme #61
5–2
 		 West Sandanme #30
4–3
 		 West Sandanme #18
3–4
 		 East Sandanme #33
3–4
 		 East Sandanme #51
6–1
 
1993 East Sandanme #5
6–1
 		 West Makushita #34
4–3
 		 West Makushita #23
4–3
 		 West Makushita #16
4–3
 		 East Makushita #12
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7		 East Makushita #12
5–2
 
1994 West Makushita #7
2–5
 		 East Makushita #22
6–1
 		 East Makushita #9
5–2
 		 West Makushita #4
5–2
 		 East Makushita #2
6–1
 		 East Jūryō #12
9–6
 
1995 East Jūryō #9
6–9
 		 East Makushita #1
3–4
 		 West Makushita #5
4–3
 		 East Makushita #3
4–3
 		 West Makushita #2
0–2–5
 		 East Makushita #37
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7
1996 East Makushita #37
5–2
 		 East Makushita #21
2–5
 		 West Makushita #40
4–3
 		 East Makushita #31
6–1–P
 		 East Makushita #13
5–2
 		 East Makushita #5
3–4
 
1997 East Makushita #8
6–1
 		 East Makushita #2
2–5
 		 East Makushita #14
2–5
 		 West Makushita #29
6–1
 		 West Makushita #12
4–3
 		 East Makushita #10
6–1
 
1998 East Makushita #2
2–5
 		 West Makushita #13
1–6
 		 West Makushita #36
6–1
 		 East Makushita #16
4–3
 		 West Makushita #12
4–3
 		 East Makushita #8
3–4
 
1999 East Makushita #14
4–3
 		 West Makushita #11
4–3
 		 East Makushita #9
7–0
Champion
 		 West Jūryō #11
8–7
 		 West Jūryō #10
6–9
 		 West Jūryō #13
9–6
 
2000 West Jūryō #9
7–8
 		 East Jūryō #11
13–2–P
 		 East Jūryō #2
8–7
 		 East Maegashira #13
8–7
 		 West Maegashira #12
5–10
 		 East Jūryō #1
3–5–7
 
2001 West Jūryō #9
Sat out due to injury
0–0–15		 West Jūryō #9
9–6
 		 West Jūryō #4
7–8
 		 East Jūryō #6
9–6–PP
 		 West Jūryō #2
7–8
 		 West Jūryō #3
8–7
 
2002 East Maegashira #15
6–9
 		 East Jūryō #3
Sat out due to injury
0–0–15		 East Makushita #1
Sat out due to injury
0–0–7		 East Makushita #41
5–2
 		 East Makushita #26
2–5
 		 West Makushita #44
6–1
 
2003 West Makushita #18
5–2
 		 East Makushita #9
4–3
 		 West Makushita #6
4–3
 		 West Makushita #3
5–2
 		 West Jūryō #11
4–11
 		 West Makushita #5
Retired
2–5
Record given as wins–losses–absences    Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation

Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s)
Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi

Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki — Sekiwake — Komusubi — Maegashira

Kickboxing record

[edit]
Kickboxing record
1 win (1 KO), 2 losses
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time Record Notes
December 25, 2010 Win Japan Wakashoyo Survivor: Round 6 Tokyo, Japan TKO (3 knockdowns) 1 1:09 1-2
July 31, 2010 Loss Japan Tsutomu Takahagi Big Bang 2: The Way to Unification Japan TKO (corner stoppage) 2 1:09 0-2
August 5, 2007 Loss Japan Taiei Kin K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Hong Kong Hong Kong KO (right high kick) 1 1:43 0-1 2007 Hong Kong Grand Prix quarter-final bout.
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest

Mixed martial arts record

[edit]
Professional record breakdown
23 matches 6 wins 16 losses
By knockout 5 13
By submission 1 2
By decision 0 1
No contests 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 6–16 (1) Kazuhiro Nakamura KO (punch) DEEP 63 Impact August 25, 2013 1 4:42 Tokyo, Japan Openweight bout.
Loss 6–15 (1) Soa Palelei TKO (punches) K-Oz Entertainment: Bragging Rights September 3, 2012 1 1:26 Perth, Australia
Loss 6–14 (1) Shunsuke Inoue TKO (punches) HEAT 20 December 17, 2011 1 1:43 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 6–13 (1) Myles Tynanes TKO (punches) HEAT 19 September 25, 2011 1 3:29 Nagoya, Japan
Loss 6–12 (1) Takaaki Oban Submission (rear-naked choke) Gladiator 23 September 3, 2011 1 1:40 Hiroshima, Japan
Loss 6–11 (1) Taiei Kin TKO (corner stoppage) HEAT 16 November 6, 2010 1 4:01 Osaka, Japan
Loss 6–10 (1) Yoshihiro Nakao TKO (punches) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 12 March 7, 2010 2 3:27 Tokyo, Japan
Win 6–9 (1) Kim Min-soo KO (punches and knees) The Khan 2 November 27, 2009 1 1:12 Seoul, South Korea
Loss 5–9 (1) Lee Chang-seob TKO (punches) HEAT 12 November 1, 2009 1 0:53 Nagoya, Japan
Loss 5–8 (1) Cristiano Kaminishi TKO (punches) HEAT 11 September 26, 2009 3 3:36 Tokyo, Japan For the inaugural HEAT Heavyweight Championship.
NC 5–7 (1) Cristiano Kaminishi NC (accidental knee to groin) HEAT 10 July 18, 2009 1 0:54 Tokyo, Japan HEAT Heavyweight Tournament Final.
Win 5–7 Ryuta Noji KO (punches) HEAT 9 March 28, 2009 1 1:14 Nagoya, Japan HEAT Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win 4–7 Junpei Hamada KO (punches) HEAT 8 December 14, 2008 1 0:52 Tokyo, Japan HEAT Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Loss 3–7 Cristiano Kaminishi KO (head kick) DEEP 29 Impact April 13, 2007 1 4:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 3–6 Kim Ji-hoon KO (punch) HEAT 3 March 23, 2007 1 4:58 Nagoya, Japan
Loss 2–6 Mostapha al-Turk TKO (punches) Cage Rage 18 August 27, 2006 1 0:56 London, England
Win 2–5 Seiji Ogura Submission (rear-naked choke) Pancrase: Blow 6 August 27, 2006 1 1:37 Yokohama, Japan
Loss 1–5 Robert Berry TKO (punches) Cage Rage 17 July 1, 2006 1 1:06 London, England Return to Heavyweight.
Loss 1–4 Zuluzinho TKO (knees) Pride 30 October 23, 2005 1 1:31 Saitama, Japan Super Heavyweight debut.
Loss 1–3 James Thompson KO (punches) Pride Bushido 8 July 17, 2005 1 1:21 Nagoya, Japan
Loss 1–2 Makoto Takimoto Decision (unanimous) Pride Shockwave 2004 December 31, 2004 3 5:00 Saitama, Saitama, Japan
Win 1–1 Mal Foki KO (punches) Pride Bushido 5 October 14, 2004 1 0:21 Osaka, Japan
Loss 0–1 Paulo César da Silva Submission (kimura) Pride Total Elimination 2004 April 25, 2004 1 4:04 Saitama, Japan Heavyweight debut. 2004 Pride Heavyweight Grand Prix Round of 16.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Sentoryū Henri

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from Grokipedia
Sentoryū Henri (born Henry Armstrong Miller; July 16, 1969) is a retired American professional wrestler and mixed martial artist raised in , . He was the first wrestler from the contiguous United States to reach sumo's top division, debuting professionally in July 1988 and retiring in November 2003 after achieving a highest rank of maegashira 12 in the Tomozuna stable. His (ring name), Sentoryū Henri (戦闘竜 扁利), translates to "fighting dragon" and was selected partly because its pronunciation evokes his hometown of . At a height of 175.5 cm (5 ft 9 in) and fighting weight of 136 kg (299 lb), Sentoryū was notably undersized for but compensated with an aggressive style emphasizing (thrusting) and oshi (pushing) techniques. Over his 15-year career, he earned admiration for his tenacity, including a notable victory over future yokozuna Asashōryū during their time in the juryō division. Following his retirement, Miller transitioned to and , competing primarily under the name Henry "Sentoryu" Miller. He debuted in MMA with in April 2004 and compiled a professional record of 6 wins and 16 losses, with 5 victories by or TKO and 1 by submission. His MMA bouts showcased the durability honed in , though he faced challenges against larger opponents in promotions like and K-1.

Early life

Birth and family background

Sentoryū Henri, born Henry Armstrong Miller on July 16, 1969, in , , is the son of an African-American father who was a member of the U.S. stationed at nearby and a Japanese mother. His middle name, Armstrong, honors astronaut , as Miller's birth coincided with the launch of the mission that day. This mixed heritage positioned him at the intersection of American and Japanese cultures from infancy. Due to his parentage, Miller acquired dual American-Japanese nationality at birth, reflecting the legal provisions for children of U.S. citizens born abroad and Japanese nationals. His father's military posting in shaped the family's early circumstances, providing access to the community while immersing the household in a bilingual, bicultural environment. Until the age of six, Miller resided in the area, gaining early exposure to , customs, and daily life alongside the structured world of a U.S. . The family's dynamics were influenced by his father's service obligations, which eventually prompted their relocation to , , following the completion of the posting.

Childhood in Japan and move to the United States

Sentoryū Henri, born Henry Armstrong Miller in , spent his early childhood in , living on where his father, an African-American member of the U.S. , was stationed. He attended local Japanese schools during this period, receiving his initial education in the until the age of six. In 1975, the family relocated to , , due to his father's military posting back in the . The move presented significant adjustment challenges for the young Henri, who, as a mixed-race child of Japanese and African-American heritage, navigated language barriers and cultural differences in American society. Growing up in , he attended local public schools, where he gradually adapted to the new environment and integrated into the community, balancing his bicultural background amid the of 1970s . This formative period shaped his unique perspective, bridging Japanese and American influences from an early age.

Early athletic interests and return to Japan

During his teenage years in , , Sentoryū Henri, then known as Henry Armstrong Miller, pursued as his primary athletic interest, playing as a lineman at his high school, but he had also been wrestling since junior high school. A knee injury sustained in 1986 during his senior year ended his aspirations for a football career, prompting a reevaluation of his future path. Exposed to through family ties to his Japanese mother and media coverage of the sport, Miller found inspiration in the discipline and physical demands of sumo wrestling, leading him to return to in 1987 at the age of 18. Upon arrival, he was recruited by the Tomozuna stable, where he began initial preparations for training, including adapting to the rigors of stable life and basic sumo techniques.

Sumo career

Professional debut and rise in lower divisions

Sentoryū Henri, born Henry Armstrong Miller, entered professional in July 1988 during the basho, initially competing as a maezumo wrestler in the and adopting the Sentoryū Henri, which evokes "fighting war dragon" while nodding to his roots. His first official followed in the Aki basho of September 1988, where he debuted in the jonokuchi division at the rank of jonokuchi 51 east, securing a 6-1 record and clinching the division's ( championship) by defeating fellow American debutant Shinnishiki in the playoff. This immediate success, built on his prior athletic foundation in , propelled a rapid promotion to the jonidan division for the ensuing basho. In jonidan from late 1988 through early 1990, Sentoryū demonstrated steady progress with multiple kachi-koshi records, including 6-1 victories in the Aki 1989 and Haru 1990 tournaments, though he encountered challenges such as a 2-5 make-koshi in Natsu 1989 and several absences due to injury or other factors. These performances earned him promotion to the sandanme division starting in the Natsu basho of 1990, where he again excelled with a 6-1 record at sandanme 66 west, followed by another 6-1 in 1990 at sandanme 44 east. Sentoryū first reached the makushita division in the Hatsu basho of January 1991 at makushita 60 east, a notable achievement after consistent 5-2 or better showings in the divisions below, despite occasional demotions back to sandanme amid absences and make-koshi results like 0-0-7 in 1990 and Aki 1991. He stabilized in sandanme through 1992 with kachi-koshi records such as 6-1 in 1992, before re-entering makushita on a more permanent basis with a 4-3 in the Haru 1993 basho at makushita 34 west. During his time in makushita, he temporarily adopted the Kaishinzan Henri in 1997 before reverting to Sentoryū in 1999. By the close of 1993, Sentoryū's lower-division career—spanning jonokuchi through makushita—yielded an overall record of 101 wins, 62 losses, and 51 absences over 32 tournaments, underscoring his resilience and gradual ascent despite inconsistencies.

Promotion to sekitori and top-division appearances

Sentoryū Henri achieved promotion to the jūryō division for the November 1994 Kyushu basho, becoming the first African-American wrestler to reach status in professional sumo. Debuting at the rank of jūryō 12 east, he secured a solid 8-7 record in his inaugural salaried tournament, demonstrating resilience against more experienced opponents. However, a subsequent 5-10 performance in the following January basho resulted in his demotion back to the makushita division after just two tournaments. Following years of consistent effort in the lower divisions, including a makushita with a 7-0 record in the Natsu 1999 basho, Sentoryū reclaimed a spot in jūryō after posting an impressive 13-2 record in makushita during the March 2000 Haru basho. This performance promoted him to jūryō for the May 2000 Natsu basho, where he recorded 8-7, earning promotion to the top division for the July 2000 basho at the rank of maegashira 13 east. In his makuuchi debut, Sentoryū recorded another 8-7, marking a personal milestone after 72 tournaments since his professional start in 1988. He advanced to his career-high rank of maegashira 12 for the September 2000 Aki basho but struggled with a 5-10 outcome, leading to his return to jūryō. Across 20 sekitori tournaments from November 1994 to May 2002, Sentoryū amassed a cumulative record of 132 wins against 131 losses, along with 37 absences due to injury or other reasons.

Injuries, retirement, and legacy in sumo

Sentoryū endured a series of injuries from 2000 to 2003, which hampered his ability to compete consistently at the elite level. These health challenges culminated in a tournament withdrawal in 2002, resulting in his to the jūryō division. His subsequent attempt to reclaim a spot in the top division later that year failed amid persistent physical setbacks. Following a dismal 0-7 record in the November 2003 basho, Sentoryū announced his retirement at age 34, officially concluding his career in November 2003 after 15 years in the sport. A formal retirement ceremony, known as a danpatsu-shiki, was held for him on February 12, 2004, at Ryogoku Kokugikan in , where his topknot was cut in the traditional manner, attended by family, friends, and fellow wrestlers including Akebono and Konishiki. Over his career from 1988 to 2003, Sentoryū compiled a record of 402 wins, 303 losses, and 99 absences or draws, marking him as a durable competitor despite the rigors of the sport. As the first wrestler from the U.S. mainland to reach and the first African-American to reach —born to an African-American father and Japanese mother—he broke cultural barriers and paved the way for future foreign and diverse wrestlers, demonstrating longevity and victories against prominent Japanese opponents in an era when international representation was rare. His journey highlighted the challenges of adapting to 's traditions while overcoming prejudice, leaving a lasting impact on the sport's global inclusivity.

Fighting style

Preferred techniques and strengths

Sentoryū Henri was classified as an oshi-zumo practitioner, specializing in pushing and thrusting techniques rather than yotsu-zumo belt-grabbing methods. This style allowed him to maintain distance from opponents and leverage his agility against larger rivals. His primary included oshidashi (frontal push-out), which accounted for 99 of his career wins or approximately 29%, hatakikomi (slap-down) with 50 wins, and hikiotoshi (hand-pull force-out) with 38 wins. These techniques highlighted his preference for explosive, open-hand engagements that disrupted opponents' balance without close . Sentoryū's strengths derived significantly from his American football background, where he developed explosive power and quick starts during high school play in , , before a ended that pursuit. At a of 175.5 cm (5 ft 9 in) and fighting of 136 kg (299 lb), he was relatively compact for , enabling effective leverage in thrusts and superior speed to compensate for his size disadvantage against bulkier wrestlers. This agility shone in sekitori bouts, where his rapid tachiai initiations often led to early dominance.

Adaptations and weaknesses

Sentoryū Henri's relatively shorter stature of 175.5 cm (5 ft 9 in) and weight of 136 kg (299 lb) rendered him vulnerable in (belt) battles, as taller and heavier opponents often gained superior leverage in yotsu (gripping) exchanges. His signature tsuki/oshi (thrusting and pushing) style emphasized oshidashi (frontal push-out), responsible for 29% of his victories, but he experienced lower success with tsukiotoshi (thrust-down) at 7%, especially against defensive opponents who mitigated his initial thrusts by advancing quickly. To counter taller foes in later career stages, Sentoryū adapted by incorporating yotsu techniques such as yorikiri (frontal belt force-out), though these proved less effective, accounting for just 9.68% of his wins overall. In the top division, where power disparities were more pronounced, he evolved toward more aggressive slapping, with hatakikomi (slap-down) comprising a notable portion of his successes.

Post-sumo combat sports

Transition to mixed martial arts

Following his retirement from professional in 2003 due to chronic knee injuries, Sentoryū Henri sought to extend his combat sports career by exploring other disciplines that could capitalize on his formidable physique and wrestling background. Initially, he announced plans to compete in K-1 , a striking-based promotion that combined elements of and , following the path blazed by fellow retired sumo grand champion Akebono, who had successfully transitioned to the sport a year earlier. Instead, Sentoryū made his professional debut with on April 25, 2004, at the event PRIDE Total Elimination 2004 in Saitama, . At 1.75 meters tall and competing in the class at around 110 kilograms, he adapted his sumo-honed strength, balance, and takedown abilities to the multifaceted ruleset of MMA, which incorporated striking, , and submissions.

MMA career highlights and record

Sentoryū Henri, competing under the ring name Henry "Sentoryu" Miller and fighting out of Tokyo, Japan, made his professional debut on April 25, 2004, at PRIDE Total Elimination 2004 against Paulo César Silva (), where he suffered a first-round submission loss via at 4:04. This marked the beginning of a career that spanned from 2004 to 2013, during which he competed across multiple promotions, including PRIDE FC, DEEP, Heat FC, Sengoku (SRC), , and Cage Rage. Throughout his tenure, Miller faced a mix of contenders, often leveraging his sumo-honed physicality in stand-up exchanges, though his transitions to the ground frequently proved challenging. Among his career highlights, Miller secured a rapid victory over Mal Foki just 21 seconds into the first round via punches at 5 on October 14, 2004, showcasing his explosive power early in his run. Another standout win came on August 27, 2006, at Pancrase Blow 6, where he submitted Seiji Ogura with a rear-naked choke at 1:37 of the first round, demonstrating improved ground control in one of his few submission triumphs. He also notched wins against Ji Hoon Kim (round 1, 4:58, Heat 3, March 23, 2007), Junpei Hamada (round 1, 0:52, Heat 8, December 14, 2008), Ryuta Noji (round 1, 1:14, Heat 9, March 28, 2009), and Min Soo Kim (round 1, 1:12, TK The Khan 2, November 27, 2009), often ending bouts quickly with punches or knees under the Heat banner. However, his record was marred by defeats to established fighters, including a first-round loss to James Thompson via punches at 8 on July 17, 2005; a TKO by knees to () at 30 on October 23, 2005; a second-round TKO to at Sengoku 12 on March 7, 2010; and a final career loss by punch to Kazuhiro Nakamura at DEEP 63 Impact on August 25, 2013. Miller's overall professional MMA record stands at 6 wins, 16 losses, and 1 no contest, with all victories coming via finishes—five by TKO or and one by submission—and no decisions in his favor. His style, rooted in explosiveness, evolved to incorporate aggressive striking, as evidenced by his knockout-heavy wins, but grappling weaknesses were repeatedly exposed, contributing to two submission losses and multiple TKOs on the ground. A no contest occurred against Cristiano Kaminishi at Heat 10 on July 18, 2009, due to an accidental to the at 0:54 of the first round. Despite the lopsided record, Miller's participation in high-profile events highlighted his resilience as a crossover athlete in the division.

Kickboxing involvement

Following his retirement from in 2003 and amid his mixed martial arts career, Sentoryū Henri competed in , emphasizing stand-up striking to channel his sumo-honed power into punches and leverage his physical advantages in the ring. Henri's verified record stands at 1-1 across two professional bouts contested under K-1 rules or similar formats. His debut came on August 5, 2007, at the in , where he suffered a first-round loss to Taiei Kin via right high kick at 1:43. A highlight of his brief phase occurred on December 25, 2010, during the Survivor Round 6 event in , when faced fellow former Yoichi Babaguchi (known as Wakashoyo in ). In the first-ever match between two ex- professionals, secured a victory via three knockdowns at 1:09 of the opening round, showcasing his explosive punching power derived from training. This short-lived involvement, motivated by a desire to diversify beyond MMA amid career setbacks, ended soon after due to accumulating health issues and the physical toll of his sumo and combat sports history. No further professional bouts occurred after 2010.

Personal life and later years

Nationality, family, and residence

Sentoryū Henri, born Henry Armstrong Miller in Tachikawa, Tokyo, on July 16, 1969, is an American citizen born to an American father and a Japanese mother, making him of mixed heritage. His mother, Toshiko Miller, resides in the United States. Henri is married, with his wife providing support during his later years; no children are publicly documented. Following his return to in 1987 to join professional , Henri has resided primarily in the area, including during and after his wrestling career. He maintains ties to his family in , , with occasional visits to the .

Health challenges and current status

Sentoryū Henri was diagnosed with , a chronic inflammatory disease, during his adulthood, which progressively damaged his . By 2025, the condition had advanced to severe scarring, rendering his unable to function independently and necessitating constant supplemental oxygen. In July 2025, his mother Toshiko Miller initiated a campaign to fund escalating medical expenses, including hospital care, treatments, medications, and travel for potential transplant evaluation. The fundraiser described Henri's dire situation, noting his recent hospitalization from May 5 to 15, 2025, in intensive care and his ongoing dependence on a specialized oxygen machine, underscoring that a transplant represents his only viable path forward after exhausting other therapies. Toshiko highlighted the financial strain on Henri and his wife, as his health prevents him from working, leaving his wife to manage household costs while commuting long distances to support him. As of November 16, 2025, no further public updates on Henri's recovery, transplant , or health improvements have emerged. Retired from professional fighting since his final MMA bout in 2013, he now resides in and devotes his efforts to managing daily symptoms and medical needs amid this life-threatening battle.

Media presence and public activities

Sentoryū Henri has maintained a personal blog on the Ameba platform since the 2000s, where he shares reflections on his sumo career and elements of his daily life in Japan. In 2023, he launched a YouTube channel dedicated to instructional videos on sumo techniques and autobiographical stories from his time as a professional wrestler, attracting a niche audience of over 2,300 subscribers. He has appeared in Japanese media outlets discussing the challenges and insights of foreign wrestlers in , including a 2020 feature in that highlighted his career as one of the early American entrants to the sport. Following his retirement, Sentoryū has made occasional public appearances at -related events and provided informal support to aspiring wrestlers through his online content, though he has not pursued major commercial endorsements.

Professional records

Sumo career statistics

Sentoryū Henri participated in 93 during his sumo career, spanning from his maezumo debut in July 1988 to his retirement in November 2003, compiling a total record of 402 wins, 303 losses, and 99 absences across 702 bouts. His division-specific records were as follows: 21–24 (45 bouts in 3 basho); jūryō 113–105–37 (217 bouts in 17 basho); makushita 175–123–31 (296 bouts in 47 basho, including 1 ); sandanme 54–30–21 (84 bouts in 15 basho); jonidan 35–18–10 (53 bouts in 9 basho); and jonokuchi 6–1 (7 bouts in 1 basho, including 1 ). He secured tournament championships (yūshō) in jonokuchi during the September 1988 basho and in makushita during the May 1999 basho, and also earned division runner-up honors (kantōshō or similar special prizes were not recorded in his career). Promotion milestones included his elevation to jūryō in November 1994 at J12e, his debut in the top makuuchi division in May 2000 at maegashira 16 east, and reaching his career-high rank of maegashira 12 in September 2000. The table below details his performance in every basho, including division, rank, record, and notable achievements.
BashoDivisionRankRecordNotes
1988.07Mz--Debut
1988.09Jk51e6–1Yūshō
1988.11Jd119w4–3
1989.01Jd89w4–3
1989.03Jd59w5–2
1989.05Jd22e2–5
1989.07Jd56e0–0–7
1989.09Jd126w6–1
1989.11Jd52e3–1–3
1990.01Jd72w5–2
1990.03Jd25e6–1
1990.05Sd66w6–1Promotion
1990.07Sd18e0–0–7
1990.09Sd78e5–2
1990.11Sd44e6–1
1991.01Ms60e1–2–4Promotion
1991.03Sd35w0–0–7
1991.05Sd35w6–1
1991.07Ms55e3–3–1
1991.09Sd6e0–0–7
1991.11Sd6e2–5
1992.01Sd34w2–5
1992.03Sd61w5–2
1992.05Sd30w4–3
1992.07Sd18w3–4
1992.09Sd33e3–4
1992.11Sd51e6–1
1993.01Sd5e6–1
1993.03Ms34w4–3
1993.05Ms23w4–3
1993.07Ms16w4–3
1993.09Ms12e0–0–7
1993.11Ms12e5–2
1994.01Ms7w2–5
1994.03Ms22e6–1
1994.05Ms9e5–2
1994.07Ms4w5–2
1994.09Ms2e6–1
1994.11J12e9–6Promotion to jūryō
1995.01J9e6–9
1995.03Ms1e3–4Demotion
1995.05Ms5w4–3
1995.07Ms3e4–3
1995.09Ms2w0–2–5
1995.11Ms37e0–0–7
1996.01Ms37e5–2
1996.03Ms21e2–5
1996.05Ms40w4–3
1996.07Ms31e6–1Promotion
1996.09Ms13e5–2
1996.11Ms5e3–4
1997.01Ms8e6–1
1997.03Ms2e2–5
1997.05Ms14e2–5
1997.07Ms29w6–1
1997.09Ms12w4–3
1997.11Ms10e6–1
1998.01Ms2e2–5
1998.03Ms13w1–6
1998.05Ms36w6–1
1998.07Ms16e4–3
1998.09Ms12w4–3
1998.11Ms8e3–4
1999.01Ms14e4–3
1999.03Ms11w4–3
1999.05Ms9e7–0Yūshō
1999.07J11w8–7Promotion to jūryō
1999.09J10w6–9
1999.11J13w9–6
2000.01J9w7–8
2000.03J11e13–2Promotion to makuuchi
2000.05M16e8–7Makuuchi debut
2000.07M13e8–7
2000.09M12e5–10Demotion
2000.11J8e8–7
2001.01J6w6–9
2001.03J9e7–8
2001.05J10w5–10
2001.07J12e6–9
2001.09Ms1w4–3Demotion
2001.11Ms3e3–4
2002.01Ms6w4–3
2002.03Ms3w5–2
2002.05Ms1e3–4
2002.07Ms4w4–3
2002.09Ms2e5–2
2002.11Ms1w2–5
2003.01Ms5e3–4
2003.03Ms8w4–3
2003.05Ms5e3–4
2003.07Ms8e2–5
2003.09Ms13w3–4
2003.11Ms5w2–5Retirement
(Note: Records reflect completed matches; absences include injuries and withdrawals. D denotes yūsho-doten, a perfect or near-perfect record leading to promotion.) Regarding promotion history, Sentoryū's key advancements are summarized in the following table:
PromotionDateRank
To sandanmeMay 1990Sd66w
To makushitaJanuary 1991Ms60e
To jūryōNovember 1994J12e
To makuuchiMay 2000M16e
Highest rankSeptember 2000M12e
Sentoryū utilized 23 different (winning techniques) across his career, with oshidashi (frontal push out) being the most frequent at 99 wins (approximately 25% of total victories), followed by hatakikomi (slapping down) with 50 wins and yorikiri (frontal belt force out) with 33 wins in aggregate data. Other notable techniques included hikiotoshi (hand pull down) with 38 wins and tsukidashi (thrust out) with 31 wins, reflecting his preference for pushing and thrusting styles suited to his build.

Mixed martial arts record

Sentoryū Henri, competing under the ring name Henry "Sentoryu" Miller, had a professional spanning 2004 to 2013, during which he compiled a record of 6 wins, 16 losses, and 1 no contest. Of his six victories, five came by or technical knockout and one by submission. He primarily fought in Japanese promotions such as , Deep, Heat FC, , and Sengoku Raiden Championship, as well as Cage Rage in the . The table below details his complete professional MMA fight history in chronological order.
DateEventOpponentResultMethodRoundTime
Apr 25, 2004 FC - Total Elimination 2004Paulo Cesar SilvaLossSubmission ()14:04
Oct 14, 2004 - 5Mal FokiWinKO (Punches)10:21
Dec 31, 2004 FC - Shockwave 2004Makoto TakimotoLossDecision (Unanimous)35:00
Jul 17, 2005 - 8James ThompsonLossKO (Punches)11:31
Oct 23, 2005 30 - Fully LoadedWagner da Conceicao MartinsLossTKO (Knees)11:31
Jul 01, 2006Cage Rage 17 - Ultimate ChallengeRobert BerryLossTKO (Punches)11:06
Aug 27, 2006 - Blow 6Seiji OguraWinSubmission (Rear-Naked Choke)11:37
Sep 30, 2006Cage Rage 18 - BattlegroundLossTKO (Punches)10:56
Mar 23, 2007 - Heat 3Ji Hoon KimWinKO (Punch)14:58
Apr 13, 2007Deep - 29 ImpactCristiano KaminishiLossKO (Head Kick)14:00
Dec 14, 2008 - Heat 8Junpei HamadaWinKO (Punches)10:52
Mar 28, 2009 - Heat 9Ryuta NojiWinKO (Punches)11:14
Jul 18, 2009 - Heat 10Cristiano KaminishiNCNo Contest (Accidental Knee to Groin)10:54
Sep 26, 2009 - Heat 11Cristiano KaminishiLossTKO (Punches)33:36
Nov 01, 2009 - Heat 12Chang Seob LeeLossTKO (Punches)10:53
Nov 27, 2009TK - The Khan 2Min Soo KimWinKO (Punches and Knees)11:12
Mar 07, 2010SRC - Sengoku Raiden Championship 12LossTKO (Punches)23:27
Nov 06, 2010 - Heat 16Taiei KinLossTKO (Corner Stoppage)14:01
Sep 03, 2011Gladiator - Gladiator 23Takaaki ObanLossSubmission (Rear-Naked Choke)11:40
Sep 25, 2011 - Heat 19Myles TynanesLossTKO (Punches)13:29
Dec 17, 2011 - Heat 20Shunsuke InoueLossTKO (Punches)11:43
Jan 21, 2012K-Oz Entertainment - Bragging RightsLossTKO (Punches)11:22
Aug 25, 2013Deep - 63 ImpactKazuhiro NakamuraLossKO (Punch)14:42

Kickboxing record

Sentoryū Henri's kickboxing career was brief, consisting of three professional bouts conducted under K-1 rules that emphasize stand-up striking and prohibit or . He compiled a record of 1 win and 2 losses, with his sole victory coming by knockout. These matches represented occasional forays into amid his primary focus on . His kickboxing bouts are summarized in the table below.
DateOpponentResultMethodRound/TimeEventNotes
August 5, 2007Taiei Kin (Japan)LossKO (head kick)1 / 1:43K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Quarterfinal bout; Kin advanced in the tournament. https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/bouts/528947-k-1-taiei-kin-chan-kin-vs-henry-sentoryu-miller http://onthemat.com/fujimoto-defends-k-1-asia-gp-title-in-hong-kong/
July 31, 2010Tsutomu Takahagi ()LossTKO (corner stoppage)2 / 1:30Big Bang 2: The Way to UnificationStand-up rules match in .
December 25, 2010Yoichi Babaguchi (Wakashoyo) ()WinTKO (3 knockdowns)2 / 1:09Survivor Round.6First kickboxing bout between two former sekitori sumo wrestlers; Babaguchi had sidestepped Henri in a 1994 sumo match during Henri's makuuchi debut, adding personal rivalry to the encounter. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/01/24/sumo/sentoryu-embodied-colorful-sumo-nickname/

References

  1. https://www.sumo.or.jp/EnSumoDataRikishi/profile/1004/
  2. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/05/15/sumo/sumo-101-americans-sumo/
  3. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2004/02/12/sumo/american-sumo-wrestler-sentoryu-retires/
  4. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/01/24/sumo/sentoryu-embodied-colorful-sumo-nickname/
  5. https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Henry-Miller-10217
  6. https://thespun.com/wrestling/prayers-pouring-in-for-beloved-wrestler-fighting-for-his-life
  7. https://itvs.org/articles/sumo-east-and-west/
  8. https://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?r=138
  9. https://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi_basho.aspx?r=138
  10. https://mixedmartialarts.fandom.com/wiki/Henry_Armstrong_Miller
  11. https://sumocards.blogspot.com/p/1994-sumo-world-magazine-archive.html
  12. https://hojishinbun.hoover.org/?a=d&d=thh19941202-01.1.6&l=ja
  13. http://www.lemondedusumo.com/english/MDS2_foreigners.php
  14. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/victoria-s-brodi-henderson-set-to-enter-japan-s-elite-sumo-ranks-1.3146231
  15. https://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi_kim.aspx?r=138
  16. https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/8/Pride-GP-Total-Elimination-2004-Preview-1606
  17. https://www.pancrase.co.jp/en/fighters/en/sentoryu.html
  18. https://middleeasy.com/mma-news/big-in-japan-a-history-of-mmas-amazing-sumo-super-hulks/
  19. http://k-1sport.de/en/database/show_fighter.php?id=1431
  20. https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-sentoryu-henrys-fight-for-life
  21. https://patch.com/missouri/eureka-wildwood/social-media-maintains-connection-to-st-louis-native-915c5bd1cf
  22. https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/henry-miller-sentoryu
  23. https://ameblo.jp/sentoryu/
  24. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4waURwDyLT7CsQH-xun1JQ
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