Taka refuses keiko, Asa 22 bouts

[Guest Kaikitsune]

Takanohana refused to do keiko despite oyakata`s orders on Tuesday. Futagoyama-oyakata told Taka to do keiko with Akinoshima and Takanonami but Taka refused and continued his shiko. His said he will prepare in "his own way" and gradually increases the intensity. Takanohana acts in a very peculiar way here. There are ALWAYS training methods other than shiko even if you are not willing to participate in training bouts and in Taka`s case whatever training he does would be good at this point as he is still regaining his strength. Personally I don`t understand at all why he doesn`t work out his upper body more prior to basho (push-ups, rubber bands which rikishi like to train with, weights etc.).

Asashoryu did 22 training bouts against Asesekiryu and other sekitori (Toki, Senshuyama, Asanowaka) and won 18 at Takasago-beya training.

Sources for these information:

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/hochi/sports/jun/o20020625_20.htm

http://www.sanspo.com/morespo/sumo/fr_sumo.html

[Guest Kaikitsune]

On Wednesday Taka stayed off the dohyo too only doing 140 shiko. No butsukari-geiko nor training bouts with Akinoshima or Takanonami. The force of impact of his right foot in shiko paled in comparisons with left foot impact.

Uncertainty concerning Nagoya remains.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/0627/0627_16.htm

[Yubiquitoyama 4]

I still think this is all just a sign Taka can't handle the pressure, being so afraid to fail that he isn't really ready to even try. I seriously doubt he will be on the basho dohyo more than 5 days before retirement, if he at all comes back.

[Guest Kaikitsune]

I am afraid Yubi could well be 100% right on that. His demeanor of not training is very strange and suspicious. Even his boss is helpless as Taka refused keiko for the 3rd day in a row. Only basic sumo exercises outside dohyo he performed and that is not efficient preparation at the time when most rikishi train very hard for Nagoya.

Tochiazuma went to Musashigawa-beya`s training dohyo to do some bouts. His left shoulder injury suffered on day 13 of Natsu basho bothers him still as the tendon hasn`t totally healed yet. Feeling is strange in the shoulder and recovery has been slow.

[Guest Kaikitsune]

Today on 28th of June Takanohana stepped onto dohyo and participated in 18 training bouts against Akinoshima and other sekitori winning 17. There was tension in the air when Taka started bouts but his moves were effective and smooth.

[Guest Kaikitsune]

Asashoryu continued his usual intense training regime against Aminishiki, Takamisakari and 7 other sekitori. 24 bouts including 13 consequtive victories in 1 hour time he did winning 21 of those 24 altogether. He is practising new yotsu-approach by grapping his foe`s mawashi with right hand in front.

[Manekineko 200]

[...] against Akinoshima and other sekitori [...]

Why are they nameless? Are they Makuuchi or Juryo? Are they Futagoyama, or from other heya?

I know, if you knew, you'd written it...

[Guest Kaikitsune]

Why are they nameless? Are they Makuuchi or Juryo? Are they Futagoyama, or from other heya?

I know, if you knew, you'd written it...

I know now

[Yubiquitoyama 4]

Why are they nameless? Are they Makuuchi or Juryo? Are they Futagoyama, or from other heya?

I know, if you knew, you'd written it...

I know now

[Zentoryu 154]

I have to agree with Yubi again. I also hope I am wrong. But it seems that Taka isn't doing what he needs to do to prepare for this basho, and that's facing top shelf competition in training. No disrespect intended to Akinoshima and Takanonami, but they are both well past their prime. But at least now he is adding a little variety to his training.

He will be facing at least 7 or 8 rikishi this basho against whom he needs to be on top of his game in order to defeat. That leaves a very slim margin for error.

Again, I hope he proves me wrong. I would love to see a healthy Takanohana competing against the young guns of Sumo.

BTW, what's the latest on Kotomitsuki?

[Guest Kaikitsune]

BTW, what's the latest on Kotomitsuki?

Trains hard. Puts his body to the limits during keiko. Recently has trained with Wakanosato and Takanowaka and displayed good sharp movement and improving tachi-ai. Wakanosato is in his normal good shape too.

BTW, Takanohana`s only loss came against Wakakosho out of those 18 bouts...

4 wins over Daizen

5 wins over Akinoshima

4 wins over Takanonami

4 wins and 1 loss against Wakakosho