Kotogouryuu

With videos being annihilated and all things sumo in these part awry: Does anyone have good clips of exceptional feats of strength in sumo matches? Utchari, a really heavy shitatinage, or maybe one of Barutor's polite pick-up-from-the-waist-and-just-move-them-outside -moves?

Well that was fun. For some basho now, I've found myself drifting off a bit. I'd catch up days of matches because I just forgot to watch them. But this time I was glued to the screen, especially on the last day. I do like the emotion of Hoshoryu's face at the end. He worked hard for that yusho.

I liked the fact that he posted the matches separately, and pukulu added valuable comments to each video. I could really take it in, and I learned a lot about the sport that way.

Definitely. There was such a clear level difference between the two, and Tobizaru is no pushover. If Hoshoryu keeps this up, he certainly has a chance of getting the rope.

Well, I hope so. It did really look like he just couldn't move those very heavily armored knees to put his leg forward, but we'll see...

I wonder if this is within line of the forum content rules, but I feel I have to point out that as a Finn, this is somewhat amusing. The word "Kakka" means "poo" in Finnish.

Tochimusashi J06E

I wast thinking exactly this as I watched the match. Hoshoryu was aggressive and moved fast. But it's not like Kotozakura just stood there, he maintained his position with skill and deflected Hoshoryu's attack, until the latter was made to overexert himself. Kotozakura used a lot of skill and power, even if it wasn't as flashy as Hoshoryu's offence.

Something just seems off with him sometimes. It's how he lost his ozeki rank, and after a couple of much better basho, he's lost again. I can't claim that someone at sekiwake rank doesn't try, but that's what I see on the footage.

I can't imagine this didn't occur to him. It isn't the first time in head to head sports something like this happens; there would have been some serious prestige available had he won over Onosato straight up. The first thing that comes to mind is in UFC when Frank Mir tried to outbox Junior Dos Santos. Sometimes a top level athlete just has to back themselves up and believe they can beat the best at their own game. Of course, history will only remember the winners..

Abi could have brought a gun and he still would have lost. Onosato is going to make things interesting in the near future. Unless, of course, he gets horribly injured. I'm getting a little cautious with the hype trains...

If anybody wonders why they sometimes give what seems like an extra push when their opponent appears to be on the way out already, Kirishima showed today what happens if you don't.

As I understand it, he had to be persuaded to have a professional sumo career in the first place. His main weapon, leg movement, is gone with injuries. I don't see him hanging on if he drops.

I wouldn't judge him based on this match alone. His tachiai was tentative, and he didn't really have time to do anything after that. Who knows what he could have done had he gone for the belt straight away.

I wouldn't be surprised. He's managed to hang in there for a long time for his size and style. He's clearly slowing down, which has made his weapons dull. Time catches us all.

Yamada, Ms2W

That was a flash of what Endo did so well before his injury. His legwork is phenomenal.

Yeah I was wondering about that. There was a very distinct head-meets-hard surface -sound when Ura fell. Their attitude towards head injuries is still shamefully lax.

Just a guess: Something in between. Probably not a full reset, but they'd have to be impressive in their next outing.

Oshoma J3W

How would you say he compares to others with a total of six basho of experience in sumo?

Agreed. Terunofuji only pushed Takayasu when the match was still very much on. Like he's supposed to do.

Weeeellll... Hokuseiho has shot up the ranks faster than his skillset has developed. He'll get to work on a bit of mobility and speed before his Jyryo debut.

Oh that is a good point. Is what they'll never say.

No. I'm predicting what what the whingers will use as argument. I think Kisenosato's promotion was well deserved, and have no question over Terunofuji's.