News-July 2nd-kyujos and not

[Kintamayama 47,132]

Musashimaru has announced he is in."The wrist isn't 100%, but he'll be OK", said Musashigawa Oyakata. This, after he went 13-2 in keiko, and was oshidashied by Juryo Kakizoe, and again, almost no using of the left hand.

Dejima has announced he is out. His recovery from surgery was "falling behind schedule". "He hasn't done any keiko, his injury is still there, so what can we do?", said Musashigawa Oyakata.

Kotomitsuki went to degeiko at Taiho-beya and had a few lively bouts with Makushita Rohou the Russian. "No pain when I'm hit. Last basho, every time I was hit the pain was immense. I'll be fine", he said, radiantly.

[Fujisan 533]

I wouldnt like to bet against either Kotomitsuki or Maru going Fusen sho before the end-I hope not though especially Maru.

[Chinonofuji 35]

So, another beginner question! It seems to me as though the keiko reports (which are really, really great, thank you!) mostly refer to the higher-ranked rikishi against lower-ranked juryo or makushita. I understand that when coming back from injury, one is likely to start out against lighter oppostion. But when healthy, do Musashimaru, Musoyama, and Dejima (for example) practice against each other often, and does the public get to hear the results of these practice bouts? Since we don't get to see them square off often in a basho setting, I wonder what the results are in practice?

Thanks!!

--C.

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

Rikishi from the same heya frequently keiko against each other. So it wouldn't be unusual to see Musashimaru - Musoyama keiko at Musashigawa. While the occasional lower-ranked rikishi gets in, I don't think a healthy ozeki/yokozuna would spend much time with non-makuuchi opponents.

Going outside the heya is slightly different. It's done often, especially within the same ichimon. And the high-ranking wrestlers do fight. I think I just read another post from Kintamayama-zeki a couple of days ago, an interview with Chiyotaikai mentioning how he looked forward to practice againast Kaio.

I don't recall ever hearing of a yokozuna - yokozuna keiko, but I wouldn't be shocked if it happened in the past, e.g. Takanohana-Wakanohana.

[Fujisan 533]

Yes I would say also Waka vs Taka happened fairly regular but I dont think it was Keiko-If tales of their feud are true though.

[Chinonofuji 35]

Thank you for the information Yoavoshimaru! ;-)

I would love to know, for example, how Musoyama or Dejima fare against Musashimaru (and same for other heyas). It seems like degeiko is covered more than keiko. Is there any way to get this kind of information in english? (Am I dreaming to even ask?) It seems as though english information of this type is almost impossible to get here! (In a state of confusion...) Unless this kind of thing is seen in Japan like batting practice in american baseball, (i.e. sometimes watched by fans but generally not reported on at all). It seems different to me, since we don't get to see these rikishi squaring off against each other in tournaments....

[Zentoryu 154]

One must remember to take the keiko results with a grain of salt also.

The rikishi don't often go all out against each other (particularly same heya rikishi) for fear of causing injury or further injuring their heya mates.

Keiko is sometimes better for simply judging the actual health of the rikishi involved.

There are exceptions to this. Asasahoryu, for example, is one rikishi who is known to go full speed in practice. Chiyotaikai is another who I've heard really gives everything he has during training.

I would love to know, for example, how Musoyama or Dejima fare against Musashimaru

When healthy, Maru usually dominates, as befitting of a Yokozuna.

Musoyama always does well too, but it's been hard to tell with him lately. Some suspect that his heya mates may not be giving their best against him because of his injury problems, as I noted above. (In a state of confusion...)

[Chinonofuji 35]

Thank you all again for your answers/guidance. I'm getting pulled deeper and deeper into sumo... (Laughing...)

Couple more questions (apologies if these are too off-topic):

1) Do individual heyas feature different styles, and try to mold their wrestlers into that style? For example, does Musashigawa stress oshi-dashi style approach, or is it more coincidental right now that their wrestlers share that? Do most wrestlers reflect their oyakatas in this regard?

2) If this is true, how much choice do wrestlers have at the beginning of their careers to choose a stable that they think reflects their style? Said another way, if Asashoryu had gone to Musashigawa instead of Takasago, would he likely be a very different wrestler, or is his style more something he personally controls?

3) Last (and most vague) Since Chiyonofuji was such a great champion, why doesn't he have more up and coming wrestlers/wolf cubs in his stable??? (Punk rocker...)

Thanks!!

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

My answers are based only on vague and sporadic observations and memories of mine so they might be quite far from truth (if there's one to be found) but undoubtedly more knowledgeable forum members will correct me.

1) I wouldn't say that some heyas exclusively prefer some particular sumo style but there seem to be some inclinations. Many Musashigawa guys seem to prefer oshi & tsuki whereas, say, Sadogatake and Naruto might be supporters of yotsu.

2) Each rikishi is an individual with inherent abilities, some more advantageous over his rivals, some less. The same with weaknesses, of course. An oyakata can try to mold his deshi to reflect some ideal rikishi type and/or wrestling style he has in his mind (possibly based on himself) but this will work only if the rikishi in question is naturally moldable to that direction. There's not much point to try a 200+ kg guy learn techniques whose success is based on speed and agility. Asashoryu most likely wouldn't have turned out much different in Musashigawa as he is now in Takasago. Rikishi as such have (insofar as I've understood) full freedom to join any heya that accepts them.

3) Mr Akimoto can't be the easiest of persons to work with and be coached under as Kokonoe-beya has witnessed at least one (or two?) mass exoduses of toriteki in recent years. Naturally I'm writing this only after reading second or third hand hearsays but still... Kokonoe appears to me as a troublesome heya internally.

[Fujisan 533]

Anyway its like any sport isnt it,great Rikishi doesnt necessarily mean great oyakata-Not that Im saying The Wolf isnt,you just cant take it for granted.

[Yubiquitoyama 4]

Anyway its like any sport isnt it,great Rikishi doesnt necessarily mean great oyakata-Not that Im saying The Wolf isnt,you just cant take it for granted.

No, Kitanoumi and Taiho should have made that pretty clear by now...

Anyway, I stick with my theory that the rikishi who themselves had to fight a lot to get to the top are the once who will be the best coaches since they know more than just how to win when better than everybody else... (Punk rocker...)

That notwithstanding, there are of course different aspects of training rikishi. It's fully possible Chiyonofuji is good for someone like Chiyotaikai but notsogood for the run-of-the-mill youngsters in the heya. Maybe someone like Kotonowaka would really have needed a rougher coach to become a great rikishi. We will never know...

Edited July 4, 2003 by Yubiquitoyama

[Fujisan 533]

Yes I agree Yubi and despite the Wolfs 31 yusho it doesnt tell the full story,if you read his early records he probably had the hardest trip to the top of any of the great(10 yusho+) Yokozuna-I think your right about him being good for Taikai aswell.