John Gunning 3,144 Posted June 26, 2020 (edited) Justin picked what he needed from a one hour conversation to back up the point being made but most of what I said actually took the opposite point of view. Happy to see Orora get his life in order, but if you only start using the gym and eating properly AFTER a 20 year career as a professional athlete you are in no position to criticize. There are plenty of guys who DO prepare and train properly. No one was stopping him doing the same. Then again the universe is most likely deterministic and free will is almost certainly an illusion so it probably couldn’t have been any other way. Edited June 27, 2020 by John Gunning 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naganoyama 4,134 Posted June 27, 2020 Isn't it just that he sees now that he got it wrong? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amamaniac 1,441 Posted July 1, 2020 John highlights the incredible determination required to succeed in oozumo: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/07/01/sumo/heart-far-important-factor-toward-achieving-success-grueling-world-sumo/ 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amamaniac 1,441 Posted July 1, 2020 Miki-san examines the importance of the tachiai. For some strange reason, however, he opts for the translation "jump off". That may well be a version of the sports term "face off", but at this point, I am happy to stick with "initial charge". https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0006644885 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amamaniac 1,441 Posted July 8, 2020 Kanreki on hold, but John takes a look back... https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/07/08/sumo/sumos-unique-kanreki-ceremonies-provide-windows-past/ 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yamanashi 1,422 Posted July 8, 2020 2 hours ago, Amamaniac said: Kanreki on hold, but John takes a look back... https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/07/08/sumo/sumos-unique-kanreki-ceremonies-provide-windows-past/ John Gunning does a great job here, packing a lot of information and description into this column. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryafuji 571 Posted July 8, 2020 (edited) 7 hours ago, Yamanashi said: John Gunning does a great job here, packing a lot of information and description into this column. I enjoyed the article too, although it isn't correct to say that Mienoumi had left the Kyokai at the time of his kanreki dohyo-iri. In fact he hadn't even become rijicho yet in 2007. I'm not sure why he decided to hold it privately instead of at the Kokugikan. Edited July 8, 2020 by ryafuji 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John Gunning 3,144 Posted July 8, 2020 Thanks for catching that. Correction sent in. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yamanashi 1,422 Posted July 9, 2020 According to Wikipedia, the kanreki took place 7 months early because he wanted to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Musashigawabeya. Maybe that's why it wasn't held in the Kokugikan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaminariyuki 247 Posted July 9, 2020 On 08/07/2020 at 05:15, Amamaniac said: Kanreki on hold, but John takes a look back... https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/07/08/sumo/sumos-unique-kanreki-ceremonies-provide-windows-past/ John's articles are enough to get me to subscribe to the JT, perhaps... That was a good one. As a newbie still (only watched sumo for the first time five years ago), I'm still learning basics, like the existence of kanreki ceremonies. At age 62 I tried to demonstrate shiko to my wife just last week. Not a very pretty shiko, for sure. 2 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amamaniac 1,441 Posted July 9, 2020 1 hour ago, Kaminariyuki said: At age 62 I tried to demonstrate shiko to my wife just last week. Not a very pretty shiko, for sure. You might try viewing this link at about the 1:50m mark... https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/sumo/tournament/202005/live_4.html 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaminariyuki 247 Posted July 9, 2020 30 minutes ago, Amamaniac said: You might try viewing this link at about the 1:50m mark... https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/sumo/tournament/202005/live_4.html I think I've seen video of Raj working out with sumo somewhere else, rather impressive actually. Better than I could have done even back when I was a 2nd string (oh, maybe 3rd string) college soccer player. I'm in fairly good shape for an older guy, but having blown my left ACL twice, I count myself fortunate to still be able to walk 15-20 km a day. And I don't want to lose that, as it's rather helpful when blasting around Japan, among other destinations. Who was the instructor for that video? From one of the beyas, I guess? Seemed quite experienced. He also seemed both kind and ruthless, just what you want in a trainer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amamaniac 1,441 Posted July 9, 2020 7 minutes ago, Kaminariyuki said: Who was the instructor for that video? From one of the beyas, I guess? Seemed quite experienced. He also seemed both kind and ruthless, just what you want in a trainer. That's Morita Hiroshi, one of the main NHK English commentators. He also identifies himself as "a licensed sumo health exercises instructor". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yamanashi 1,422 Posted July 9, 2020 3 hours ago, Amamaniac said: That's Morita Hiroshi, one of the main NHK English commentators. He also identifies himself as "a licensed sumo health exercises instructor". Morita is the main announcer of NHK's pre-basho show, with Murray Johnson and John Gunning. On this show, Raj does interviews with sekitori and often puts a mawashi on his toothpick body so as to get mauled by the interviewee. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 3,611 Posted July 10, 2020 12 hours ago, Amamaniac said: You might try viewing this link at about the 1:50m mark... https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/sumo/tournament/202005/live_4.html Lame. Check this out: 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gaijingai 567 Posted July 10, 2020 The basho is a go. https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200710/p2g/00m/0sp/138000c 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John Gunning 3,144 Posted July 11, 2020 21 hours ago, Jakusotsu said: Lame. Check this out: You've seen that live right? What basho was it that you stayed in my place? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 3,611 Posted July 13, 2020 On 11/07/2020 at 06:14, John Gunning said: You've seen that live right? What basho was it that you stayed in my place? Natsu 2007, if I remember correctly. Judging by the video title (uploaded by Doitsuyama, btw), that was two years earlier. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amamaniac 1,441 Posted July 15, 2020 Miki-san looks at tachiai tactics: https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0006675176 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gaijingai 567 Posted July 15, 2020 https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/07/15/sumo/jsas-decision-let-fans-attend-july-basho-catches-everyone-off-guard/ 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gaijingai 567 Posted July 16, 2020 John Gunning on upcoming basho being fascinating. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/07/16/sumo/basho-reports/upcoming-july-basho-fascinating-unpredictable-affair/ 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gaijingai 567 Posted July 17, 2020 http://www.asahi.com/sp/ajw/articles/13553297 Asashi Shimbun editorial regarding sumo lagging behind society. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gaijingai 567 Posted July 18, 2020 https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/07/c18626903498-sumo-asanoyama-aims-to-maintain-momentum-at-relocated-july-meet.html 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
code_number3 384 Posted July 22, 2020 https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/07/22/sumo/july-meet-go-one-important-sumo-history/ July meet could go down as one of most important in sumo history 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gaijingai 567 Posted July 29, 2020 Abi https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/07/29/sumo/history-shows-abis-flouting-virus-protocols-will-likely-last-straw-japan-sumo-association/ 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites