Gospodin

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Posts posted by Gospodin

  3. Posted · Edited by Gospodin
    editorial corection

    15 minutes ago, Hankegami said:

    I won't over-dramatise the situation, but I feel confused at the moment. Terunofuji won't last long (he can stand his own, but his suffering from oshi wrestlers in not good at all), and we don't have any valid substitute yet.

    IMHO it is impossible to overstate what Terunofuji achieved, coming back from those injuries to make the rank in the first place (there´s a poll on this very well informed forum about how far he´d make it back, and very few voted for Yokozuna).

    As for hopefuls I see none who will be able to, again, achieve the dominance we were "treated" to with Asa, Hakuho and Harumafuji, which is not the norm. But there are several who just need to make the next step.

    We are in a transitional period, which I enjoy to watch.

    • Like 3

  4. Posted · Edited by Gospodin

    20 minutes ago, Hankegami said:

     A successful Yokozuna would have gotten his rope before reaching 25 years old (Hakuho, Asashoryu, Takanohana, Akebono and so on).

    I respectfully disagree. Most Yokozuna have achieved that rank in the later half of their 20s or early 30s. Those referenced are all exceptions that come around in a generation, on average. 

    We were treated with exceptionally strong Yokozuna over the last 20 years, but nobody can expect a dai-Yokozuna every five years.

    • Like 1

  7. Posted

    1 hour ago, Leo C said:

    I was wondering the same thing. I was rooting for Hoshoryu before it started, but after this somewhat dumb display I found it quite funny when Takakeisho swatted him out of the dohyo with a slap basically.

    I think he did quite well, that was a very valuable experience for the up and coming star. He just learned the hard way to never forget about Takakeisho´s left paw. I don´t think he will fall for it again.

  8. Posted

    On 28/04/2022 at 01:30, Godango said:

    This is so interesting, for a fair while now it's been apparent that Tochinoshin had lost his more muscular physique. You'd have to imagine a large part of this loss is muscle mass -- which to me indicates he's ditched the strength training to the level he was doing it during his ozeki run/tenure. Seems as clear an indication as any he's winding down.

    Though he is clearly not as strong as once was, to me it looks he has lost most of the weight around his waist.  My guess is he is trying to extend his career by reducing the pressure on what is left of his knee.

    • Like 3

  9. Posted

    4 hours ago, jsolo said:

    Terunofuji is absent from the tournament, the first time since he became the new yokozuna in the autumn tournaments of last year.

    God bless his stubbornness seems to have mellowed. The memory of his 2-13 basho as ozeki, when he was badly in jured, still makes me cringe.

    • Like 3

  11. Posted · Edited by Gospodin
    editorial correction

    Nodowa seems to become more popular, but at least - it seems - in its original purpose of old, putting the opponent in an upright position, and not as a kind of throat punch.

    OTOH  I´d really like to see a rikishi developing a technically sound K(ai)otenage. Or have we been spoiled here ?

  12. Posted

    12 hours ago, Benevolance said:

    [spoilers] Terunofuji already won the tournament. [/spoilers]

    Seen a couple spirited jonokuchi bouts so far, but what's the German word "when two low ranked sumo wrestlers create a spirited bout due more to their mediocrity than their actual fighting spirit"? 

    Perhaps the phrase "Not gegen Elend".

    • Like 1

  14. Posted

    The penalties for Ryuden, Abi and Asanoyama are the longest suspensions I remember, all others were one basho for gambling and two for a Yokozuna (so no issues with dropping from a rank here), or outright expulsion/forced retirement. Is there any precedent for the suspensions of the former three ?

  15. Posted · Edited by Gospodin
    editorial correction

    21 minutes ago, lackmaker said:

    I'm not sure anything regarding Shodai will be shocking from this point. 

    Shodai is simply puzzling for some time. I am wondering why he cannot employ his, basically fine, read-and-react style consistently. One valid argument that was already brought up is him getting in upright position too easily. But other than that, perhaps one of the more technically knowlegeable members here can chime in. It would be greatly appreciated.

  16. Posted

    28 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

    As someone who loves a good pattern, Mitakeumi has to win tomorrow to finish this one.

    a%3E

    Reminds me the ol´ game "three in a row" or whatever it´s in English, we played clandestinely during boring lessons. Black is ahead 3-1, but Mitakeumi can still tie it with a win :-) 

    Apologies for going off-topic.

     

  17. Posted

    2 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

    If Mitakeumi had been promoted and put up the same numbers as he had, he wouldn't be a great ozeki, somewhat Kaio-esque in his results... 

    I suppose you are referring to the 33+ yo, post-2004 version of Kaio, who overall is probably the most successful ozeki ever.

  18. Posted

    The NFL playoffs, the Australian Open, perhaps ? ;-)

    Seriously, I don´t either, but a probable Ozeki corps of a current Shodai and Takakeisho, together with a talented rikishi but not known for his great training habits, that´s something I am going to need a few days to let it sink in.

    We have been really spoiled for a very long time.

  19. Posted · Edited by Gospodin

     

    6 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

    Unfortunately Terunofuji has been scared straight after that infamous henka over Kotoshogiku. And he's now a yokozuna too. Won't be worth the scolding he will get from the YDC. 

    I know, just a little game theory :-). Having been the arch villain already once, I think Terunofuji would weather that storm. He was injured then, and supposedly is now.

    And if Hakuho could pull that off..

  22. Posted

    8 hours ago, robnplunder said:

    Compare to his 1st run at Makuuchi division, Ura's current sumo style is almost orthodox.   Back then, he was like a headless chicken running around and bumping into walls.  

    IIRC it was his first basho in Makuuchi where he once crouched all the way back at the tawara to start a bout.

  23. Posted · Edited by Gospodin

    1 hour ago, Seiyashi said:

    Might still be doable.

    It´s not his fault, but with one ozeki out and the second struggling, the field is even weaker than usual. I think this and a loss to a maegashira will be held against Mitakeumi. I doubt he will be promoted. Also, his past record isn´t exactly an endorsement as well. He´s performing on ozeki-maintenance level for some time now, as somebody here (can´t remember who, apologies) coined it, without any outstanding results. 

  25. Posted

    2 hours ago, MumboJumbo said:

    As I've watched Mitakeumi through the years, I've always thought he fights well against oshi guys. He resists the thrusts/slaps very efficiently and is able to force himself beneath the strikes. Looking at his record against some notable oshi specialists (that pop into my head), he seems to match up favorably. Maybe his domination of Tamawashi has skewed my view a bit.

    7-2 Abi

    4-4 Aoiyama

    13-7 Daieisho

    12-10 Hokutofuji

    10-3 Onosho

    11-10 Takakeisho

    26-3 Tamawashi (!)

     

    It´s clear Tamawashi is going nowhere against Mitakeumi, yet he tries the same thing all over again, making it boring to watch. Why doesn´t he change something ? ;-)

    • Like 1