Takamisakari- punching bag?

[Kintamayama 47,186]

After the week of keiko and humiliation Sakari went through, and all of this all over the media in great detail, it seems everyone is having a go at him. At Soken, Rijicho shouted at him, " Hey you!! Get serious and put in some more effort!!". It is extremely rare for someone to shout at a certain rikishi from the stands during soken, whoever you are. An Oyakata was heard shouting, "All your strength is going into the faces you are making! What good is that?" Then, it became evident that Sakari was crying.

The soken calls for all rikishi from Maegashira 7 and upwards to participate. Some Makushita rikishi are participating as well. Sadogatake Oyakata: "In our days, we were giving it our all, and at the end of the soken we could hardly stand!".

But, Sakari of the keiko-ba is very weak. He was even seen being pushed around by Makushita wrestlers. Watanabe-san of the YDC: " This is worrying", he said, holding his head..

OTOH, the Kyokai shouldn't forget that those facial features and expressions are THE direct reason (together with Asa's problems..) for the brisk ticket sales, not seen for quite a while.

Everyone is clamoring around Sakari to make use of that face. A brewery has given Sakari a new kesho-mawashi. He will be doing another commercial. He is the Sumo world's undisputed Yokozuna of commercials.

But, it seems it's not going to be easy for him. Everyone ,led by Asashouryuu it seems, will be trying harder than ever not to lose to this high profile rikishi. "I will speak only about Sumo", said Sakari, running from the reporters after keiko. In any case, running or not, his pain was obvious.

I think the Kyokai is killing its golden-egg laying hen yet again. It was a question of time before some jealous small minded people reared their ugly heads, and the time is now.

http://sports.yahoo.co.jp/sumo/headlines/f...f_00000018.html

[Yubiquitoyama 4]

I think the Kyokai is killing its golden-egg laying hen yet again. It was a question of time before some jealous small minded people reared their ugly heads, and the time is now.

I agree. Its quite worrisome that not only Asashoryu, but parts of the Kyokai seem intent on breaking the guy rather than using his personality

I just hope he still comes through and shows them all that training and basho are two different things, and gets into his own as usual comes Kyushu.

Now, personally I think its quite interesting that at least over the last few basho, the "strong-minded" Asashoryu seems to have had more difficulty handling reality than the "weak-minded" Takamisakari...

Edited September 2, 2003 by Yubiquitoyama

[Asashosakari 20,225]

I agree. Its quite worrisome that not only Asashoryu, but parts of the Kyokai seem intent on breaking the guy rather than using his personality

Especially the Kyokai getting involved in it is what worries me, too. It's debatable whether Asashoryu has been so hard on him during training because he genuinely wants to help him get better, or possibly because he's still pissed about losing to him in July, but whatever the case, I'm sure Azumazeki Oyakata or Akebono will make sure it won't get to the point of breaking Takamisakari's spirit. I'm not so sure they'll have enough of that power when it's the Kyokai doing the psychological warfare on 'sakari though.

I just hope he still comes through and shows them all that training and basho are two different things, and gets into his own as usual comes Kyushu.

I'm sure Rijicho (no, not ours :-D) will find a way to put the worst-possible spin on Takamisakari's performance in Aki, no matter if he goes 10-5 or 2-13. :-S

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

I think it was inappropriate for Rijicho to yell publicly like that during soken, but what's done is done.

I wonder if there's a physical injury that Takamisakari is hiding, or if it's really all mental?

[Kaikitsune Makoto 210]

But, Sakari of the keiko-ba is very weak. He was even seen being pushed around by Makushita wrestlers

I think he always has been. Breaking the rules of physiology and mocking the people who don't believe in mind over matter-principle in any level. Takamisakari's matter is rock solid body with great deal of power but his keiko is pathetic day after day. It frustrates everyone including himself. He is one of a kind.

I just hope he still comes through and shows them all that training and basho are two different things,

Two different things indeed but Sakke makes the distinction underlined with black blood coloured 34mm thick paint brush. He doesn't go all out in training. He doesn't know how to go all out. He simply doesn't know how! For many people it would be tempting to just exclaim "Oh silly man! Just go all out in keiko too!" but he just can't do that. It is not as uncommon as one might think but again, Sakke is an extreme example in this. In skill-sports this can be easier understood and whereas sumo is about skill too, the major puzzlement in Sakke's case is his physical weakness in keiko. It is mysterious. Javelin thrower can throw 70m in bad training day even though his standard is 85+ metres but that is because of technique mainly. Sakke's muscles seem much weaker in keiko and that is rather strange. He'll give a good bout to Shoryu in Aki basho and can even beat him. Now that is entertainment value!! He is a golden egg laying hen definitely! Robokinhen.

I wonder if there's a physical injury that Takamisakari is hiding, or if it's really all mental?

Someone on ML said it well: Sakke probably believes that the more punishment he gets in keiko, the better he will become. He may have some mental attitude of wanting to lose, thinking he is not worth winning his so called superior foes but then he can overcome this totally in honbasho. Public comments like "I am scared stiff of the yokozuna!" are absurd.

Well bottom line is that Takamisakari is one of a kind and can beat anyone besides KaioU in honbasho and can lose to anyone besides Ichinoya in keiko.

[Asashosakari 20,225]

He doesn't go all out in training. He doesn't know how to go all out. He simply doesn't know how! For many people it would be tempting to just exclaim "Oh silly man! Just go all out in keiko too!" but he just can't do that. It is not as uncommon as one might think but again, Sakke is an extreme example in this. In skill-sports this can be easier understood and whereas sumo is about skill too, the major puzzlement in Sakke's case is his physical weakness in keiko. It is mysterious. Javelin thrower can throw 70m in bad training day even though his standard is 85+ metres but that is because of technique mainly. Sakke's muscles seem much weaker in keiko and that is rather strange.

This gave me an idea. Remember the fuss he's been making during honbasho, "don't tell me my opponent's name! If I know who it is, I'll think about the bout all night and won't get any sleep"...I guess that could be part of his keiko problem, too. I suppose some of the points of having keiko are to perfect one's technique and to try out new things, and that's where thinking too much beforehand could really become a stumbling block.

[Ryunokaze 0]

from a selfish point of view i can understand takamisakarizeki.Performance in honbasho is were its at,we all know that.Keiko is a risky trade-off.to hard get broken.to soft loose strength.if takamisakarizeki is happy with his efforts in keiko and his performance is strong in honbasho then it is some-what unreasonable for other to ask for more from takamisakari. :-S