Asa wrestling roots

[BuBa 77]

Watching the Hatsu-basho's wrap up video on Dale's site I was amazed seeing Asa punching back and foresites of his thighs. This is very distinctive Mongolian wrestling move made by all wrestlers before the bout, Mongolian way of salt throwing. I am wondering, how much he considers himself as a rickishi vs bocke (wrestler in Mongolian).

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

I noticed that too, approvingly. If you can bring knowledge / technique / experience from other areaa into sumo (in a legal way), I think it can only help.

[Tenkashoryu 0]

Asa punching back and foresites of his thighs. This is very distinctive Mongolian wrestling move made by all wrestlers before the bout, Mongolian way of salt throwing.

You call it as mongolian way of salt throwing ritual. Actually, Punching your thighs hard is a way of warming up your thigh and leg muscles. So I guess for that reason Asa brought it before the bout. B-) But I wonder how Buba san know about these mongolian things (Applauding...)

[Guest Mongoruzan]

That is right, punching thighs is common in Mongolian wrestling (actually almost common enough to be considered as a ritual) and it is not a ritual. It is just a way of warming up.

And, BTW, "wrestler/rikishi" in Mongolian is not "bocke" but "boh" (two dots above "o") and pronounced as "bookh" with slightly short "oo".

Edited February 18, 2004 by Mongoruzan

[Rijicho 6]

As this thread has as such no connection to "ongoing or imminent honbasho" as mentioned in the subforum description, I'll move this to Ozumo Discussions.

B