cjung

Thank you!

Thank you for the pics! Is there a link to the article?

Why? (I missed a few days of the basho...)

Where, how, and with whom are they "still training?"

Can someone explain (or point me to a reference) if there is a significance to the color of a rikishi's mawashi? (Holiday feeling...)

Nice rant! (and I mean that sincerely) You have stated the problem very well. This issue goes beyond what the rikishi did or didn't do. It's about honor, dignity, and respect. I trained in martial arts for over 20 years and had my own dojo. I saw this problem with some aspiring students. There is more to the "art" than the physical side. Rules are rules for a reason, and not always for the most obvious reason. They, too, are a part of training. Again, I don't mean just the physical aspect of training. When I first began watching sumo, I liked Roho but over the past several basho, I was disappointed in his performance, not just physically, but in the way he always seemed angry or sullen or whatever term fits best. I think his physical sumo suffered in part, because he had not the emotional or spiritual balance to sumo. cj

Someone mentioned that Roho was competing better after his suspension. I tried searching and was brought to a brief mention on Day 9 of the Nagoya basho. But I couldn't find any information on why Roho was suspended. (I haven't been able to follow the basho as closely as I would like...) Can someone please tell me why Roho was suspended and for how long? Also, why does Baruto not wear his hair like the others? I think I saw a comment on this ages ago but I can't remember what the comment was. (I'm not talking about the recent comments about his sideburns.) And is it just me, or are Kokkai and Kotooshu's hair getting darker and darker...? cjung