Kotooshu Henka

[maxim 0]

Surely his nerves should be settled by now?

Being an ozeki is not just about talent; it's about will and demeanor. Kotooshu played his hit-off-center-at-the-tachi-ai-and-grab-the-migi-uate-and-use-his-leverage-to-move-the-opponent game very effectively to get to ozeki. I've never been a fan, but I cheered for him then because it was good sumo. Why can't he do that now? Nerves? Even though he's already demonstrated he can handle a fair amount of pressure (remember how close he came to the yusho)?

Maybe he needs a new goal, something to work for. Maybe his opponents got wise to his game and he needs to come up with a new one. Maybe he's content just coasting along. I don't know. But however you slice it, it's a disappointing waste of talent.

I don't know. From the interviews I've seen in Bulgarian media you can never guess he's a champion - he's always stressed. He probably seems bashful to Japanese people when they hear him speak Japanese, but when he speaks his mother tongue it's the same. This leads me to believe that he's not yet accustomed to life as a sumo wrestler in Japan. I remember he once said that the most difficult thing for him was not to show any emotion on the dohyo. Maybe it's the customs that are getting to him. Maybe it's the knee injury. Maybe he's thinking too much. Whatever it is it's killing his game (actually stopping him from developing it) and giving a lot of people the opportunity to talk trash about him. Someone before me made a great suggestion: Kotooshu needs a psychologist.

I'm serious. Sports psychology is surprisingly effective.

[sildan 0]

Someone before me made a great suggestion: Kotooshu needs a psychologist.

I'm serious. Sports psychology is surprisingly effective.

He needs something, surely. But would ozumo, with it's only grudging acceptance of sports medicine, accept sports psychology?

[Jejima 1,488]

Did anyone else enjoy watching Takekaze's henka win against Chiyotaikai today?

I can't tell if you're joking or not.

In any case, that was just about the worst sumo one could possibly see at a honbasho. In other words, it simply was NOT sumo.

The bout reminded me of Charlie Brown (Chiyotaikai) going to kick the American football being held by Lucy (Takekaze) - but face first (naturally).

[sildan 0]

Nerves? Even though he's already demonstrated he can handle a fair amount of pressure (remember how close he came to the yusho)?

If anything that basho demonstrated that Kotooshu completely cracks under pressure. Two wins ahead of Asashoryu with three days left and he still lost.

Your recollections are no doubt more accurate than mine.

[maxim 0]

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new henka king - KAIO. ;-)

[Doitsuyama 1,259]

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new henka king - KAIO. ;-)

Well, your announcement is quite prematurely. There still is a long way for Kaio to catch up with Roho and Kotooshu on the henka banzuke.

Edited July 16, 2007 by Doitsuyama

[Asashosakari 20,225]

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new henka king - KAIO. ;-)

Well, I snickered like I haven't snickered since Hakuho henka'ed Asashoryu four months ago. Couldn't have happened to a more deserving target.

Shame's only that Osh will probably limp to a kachi-koshi record anyway...well, I can hope for wins by both yokozuna and the Ajigawa duo, I guess.

[Asojima 2,874]

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new henka king - KAIO. ;-)

Not as classy as the one Kasugao pulled on Kise, but better than the one Asa tried on Miyabi. (Henka!!!)

[Biri 0]

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new henka king - KAIO. ;-)

absolutely agree

[nirumaruyama 0]

Most of the top ranking rikishi should be ashamed of their performances today and over the basho concerning the number and quality of henkas. Kaio jumped to the side nearly as far as Kotooshu had against Wakanosato. Its pathetic to see Asashoryu jump out of the way of Miyabiyama.

the last basho I was able to attend was September 2005 and I left the stadium fed up due the number of henkas and back pedalling sumo. Something should be done grumble, grumble, mutter.... etc.

[Tikozan 4]

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new henka king - KAIO. ;-)

Yes, this also was not ozeki-like from Kaio.

Or: Kotooshu's opponents are striking back!

:-( They give him back, what he has done with them at the last bashos.

[maxim 0]

Or: Kotooshu's opponents are striking back!

:-D They give him back, what he has done with them at the last bashos.

Well, I snickered like I haven't snickered since Hakuho henka'ed Asashoryu four months ago. Couldn't have happened to a more deserving target.

Shame's only that Osh will probably limp to a kachi-koshi record anyway...well, I can hope for wins by both yokozuna and the Ajigawa duo, I guess.

Deserving target for henka? No such thing. Anyway, Kotooshu was the most henka'd guy in Natsu. Kaio "henka'd" Kotooshu in May and July, Ama did it in January and May. Henkas against Kotooshu have become a common tactic to beat him (not that he's invincible otherwise). Personally I smelled Kaio's henka a mile away.

I don't agree with this "poetic justice" thing. It happens all too often nowadays.

[Kotonosato 1]

Well, I snickered like I haven't snickered since Hakuho henka'ed Asashoryu four months ago. Couldn't have happened to a more deserving target.

Deserving target for henka? No such thing. Anyway, Kotooshu was the most henka'd guy in Natsu.

I don't agree with this "poetic justice" thing. It happens all too often nowadays.

In the past, I would have agreed with Maxim, but not any more. 'Shoryu henka'd to get to the playoff against Hakuho. Hakuho merely gave him a taste of his own medicine.

For 'Shoryu, I'd say that he only deserved it that one time. There are others that really should change their ways, or expect it every time. These are folks like Miyabiyama and Dejima whose only strategy in the past had been to charge straight forward like bulls in a china shop. Those are the guys that used to get henka'd all the time. And rightly so! You gotta watch your opponent and you gotta be prepared for anything. If you can't adjust, then you deserve to be henka'd.

As for 'Oshu being henka'd, I'd like to see the stats. Is Lon Howard on this Forum? It would be interesting to find out how often rikishi who normally don't henka henka those who henka. (Does anybody understand this sentence?)