Makato showing his style on the Side Horse with a high sciss,ors.
THE SAKAMOTO BROTHERS Not since Dick and Jack Beckner were going strong as a brother team in Gymnastics (1956 Olympic team) has there been a family around to compare with the sensational Sakamoto Brothers of Southern California. Between Sam, Tad, Mikio and Makato you can be almost sure to see a Sakamoto on the victory stand at any competition in the area. Sam - 23. H e started it all ... took up Gymnastics at Belmont High School under coach Tom Arima. In his first year he took second in the city in F. X. and in hi s second (senior ) year he won the Long Horse and placed 3rd All Around . In 1961 he won the All Around and Lon g Horse and placed high in all even ts in the Jr. College CHampionships. Tad - 20. T op man on th e LACC Gym T eam , started Gymn路astics when he was 16. Made the ci ty finals on the P. Bars his first year of competition, then did not compete for a couple- of years, but is now ~o in g stron g again. . Mikio - 18. A senior in high school. Started rings when he ~vas 14. Two years later
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was competing in All Around. Won the Los Angeles City High School championship on the Rin gs as a 11th grader,' will be competin g with hi s brother Makato for top honors in the Hi gh School Championships this year. Makato - the youngest Sakamoto, .a tenth grader in high school ( just turned 16) , start ed in gymnastics when 路 he w~.s ten years old. Makato has of late been givin g not just hi s brothers, but all the other top gym na sts around a rough t.im e. At t.he Pasadena Invitational (results in nex t M. G.) Nlakato took top hon ors on the Horizontal har and placed thi rd in the All Around just a fra cti on hehind S hurlock (lst) and Vega (2 nd ). Tad, Mikio and Makato all say they were in sp ired by big broth er Sam and with the aid of books, film s and L. A. High coach John Muir they have gone forward in Gymnastics. They are now all training with the hope that at least one of them will make the 64 Olympi c tea m and more than one make the USA tea m for the 1966 World Championships in P ortugal.
The Sakamoto Brothers Makato, Mikio , Sam and Tad
Pictured on following double page : Maka-
to Sakamoto's Horizontal
Bar Routine-
Undergrip cast stoop through , dislocate shoot full twist reach under (Takamoto), back uprise full twist (pirouette), stoop through, back kip, German giant, rock backward and forward to straddle cut catch, kip to handstand, giant swing to overgrip stalder shoot (straddle in and out), giant swing, cross change, reverse giant, reverse stalder, reverse grip giant, fl y ing straddle hetch dismount.