Hatsu Basho 2013 - Discussion Thread

[dingo 1,281]

On another note, Miyabiyama looks seriously overwhelmed in his first two matches, didn't put up a fight at all :-( .

Miyabiyama has looked like this for many many bashos already. In fact it's a mystery to me just how he's managed to stay in Makuuchi for as long as he has being a complete ragdoll for anyone to throw around. Oh yeah, my memory tells me he's relied a lot on tsukiotoshis...

And as much as I like Baruto and would love to see him back at Ozeki, I think the guys who're pointing out his floating leg are right. It also looked to me as if he was just avoiding putting that leg down. If he did, he would've been able to resist Kotoshogiku's pushing much better. That he didn't speaks volumes about the condition of the injury.

[Jakusotsu 6,037]

Miyabiyama has looked like this for many many bashos already. In fact it's a mystery to me just how he's managed to stay in Makuuchi for as long as he has being a complete ragdoll for anyone to throw around. Oh yeah, my memory tells me he's relied a lot on tsukiotoshis...

The same applies to Kimurayama in Juryo. A mystery.

[kuroimori 1,634]

Somebody else noticed the continuous yelling/complaining during the

Akiseyama - Tanzo bout?

http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Results.aspx?b=201301&d=2

Seemed to me it was about some missed "matta" call (Akiseyama didn't even bother to put one hand down)

dunno if it was a spectator or shimpan - anyone, maybe someone who actually was in the Kokugikan?

[Asojima 2,874]

Somebody else noticed the continuous yelling/complaining during the

Akiseyama - Tanzo bout?

http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Results.aspx?b=201301&d=2

Seemed to me it was about some missed "matta" call (Akiseyama didn't even bother to put one hand down)

dunno if it was a spectator or shimpan - anyone, maybe someone who actually was in the Kokugikan?

I noticed several matches on Day 2 where there were only 2 hands below the knees with nothing on the floor. Perhaps a further relaxation?

[Ajisen 15]

So bets are on how many minutes it takes for the new Japanese Yok hype to start for Mighty Mouse?

[Tsubame 368]

I guess that hype will not start soon. Myogiryu was already in the rank of sekiwake/komusubi and he performed good, but not good enough to start another hype with this single kinbishi (and his very first victory in this basho).

Ofcourse there will be some fans who see in Myogiryu the next yokozuna. But to get the tsuna, he hast to become an ozeki with 33+ victories. And to achieve this. he has to become a little bit better and more constant...

[Akinomaki 40,703]

The 3 "110" veterans are showing a spirited sumo, especially Wakanosato is refreshingly genki. He was voted best fighting spirit rikishi of the day for day 2 in the sumo kyokai daily mobile phone poll by the spectators and mobile phone site members. Day 1 was Masunoyama, day 3 Myogiryu with Kyokutenho 2nd (I liked his bout especially today), juryo was Takanoyama on days 1 & 3 and Takamisakari on day 2.

[Pippooshu 1]

I'm sorry...what's about Asasekiryu?

[Kintamayama 45,484]

He was voted best fighting spirit rikishi of the day for day 2 in the sumo kyokai daily mobile phone poll by the spectators and mobile phone site members. Day 1 was Masunoyama, day 3 Myogiryu with Kyokutenho 2nd (I liked his bout especially today), juryo was Takanoyama on days 1 & 3 and Takamisakari on day 2.

It's a popularity poll. The "celebrity" rikishi who win/do well always get the nod over the "grey" rikishi who win spectacularly.. Masunoyama, Takamisakari, Myougiryuu, Kyokutenhou - all vastly popular.

[Kintamayama 45,484]

I'm sorry...what's about Asasekiryu?

Kyujo.

[Andreas21 186]

I'm not seeing it with Baruto.

Mee too. With Goeido it was even worse. It was not that he lost, it was the way he appears: absolutely clueless. I wonder if he can even manage to win three more.

[Andreas21 186]

Hakuho seemed to try to slap Moggy unconscious again. Good revenge!

[Tsubame 368]

I feel a little bit disappointed also seeing Harumafuji in his bouts slapping his opponents in the face. It is a legal technique, but I cannot rememder seeing this (so often) in his pre-yokozuna times. I think he has no need to do this. It looks to me like just a copy of Hakuho.

[Jakusotsu 6,037]

I'm sorry...what's about Asasekiryu?

Kyujo.

Any word about his future? If he doesn't return this basho he's Makushita bound for sure and I don't see much hope for him to get back anywhere near Makuuchi. (And to be frank, I won't miss him much, although I'd rather swap his fate with Tokitenku's.)

[Morty 1,505]

Hak went with the forearm again but Myo was ready for it this time and it certainly didn't hit clean. Then it was like Hak wasn't sure what to do because plan A hadn't worked... Then he got hit in the head by a flying cushion and he realised it was too late. The look on his face when he lost was priceless.

I have huge respect for Hakuho and I think he is possibly the best I have ever seen. But I love it when the Yokozunas get beaten

[krindel 673]

I agree that after today's loss Baruto needs a miracle to make it, since he looks badly compromised by his injury and the numbers just don't add up any more without a lot of people doing him a lot of favors.

Seriously bad tactics by Hakuho, he seemed totally unprepared today... Also Tochiozan looked impressively solid, he really never let Kisenosato catch a break!

On another Miyabiyama note, can one of our Banzuke wizards give an idea of how far can he fall if he gets an abysmal result from the last Makuuchi slot? Cause the way he looks against very mediocre opponents I doubt he'll manage more than 1-2 wins :(.

[ScreechingOwl 343]

I agree that after today's loss Baruto needs a miracle to make it, since he looks badly compromised by his injury and the numbers just don't add up any more without a lot of people doing him a lot of favors.

Seriously bad tactics by Hakuho, he seemed totally unprepared today... Also Tochiozan looked impressively solid, he really never let Kisenosato catch a break!

On another Miyabiyama note, can one of our Banzuke wizards give an idea of how far can he fall if he gets an abysmal result from the last Makuuchi slot? Cause the way he looks against very mediocre opponents I doubt he'll manage more than 1-2 wins :(.

I'm certainly not a Banzuke wizard, but in Nagoya 2012 Hochiyama went 1-14 from M15 and was set back 9 1/2 ranks. In the same basho Tamaazuka went 2-13 as M10 and was also demoted 9 1/2 ranks. I think the bigger question is really whether Miyabiyama is going to be allowed to wrestle in Juryo at all, despite his expressed sentiments that he'd like to. As he looks now he'd have to drop at least to mid to lower makushita to get a kk, so taking into account his former ozeki status with his present absence of power (he's gone from a push-pull rikishi to a strictly pull one) I think there will significant pressure on Miyabiyama to go intai after Hatsu.

[Igordemorais 75]

Myogiryu needs more physical strength. He overcomes lower fighters with his technique but against the top guys he looks helpless

Good victory today against Hakuho but I have never seen anyone do that to hakuho... I dont know what happened there

[Kuroyama 715]

Myogiryu needs more physical strength. He overcomes lower fighters with his technique but against the top guys he looks helpless

Good victory today against Hakuho but I have never seen anyone do that to hakuho... I dont know what happened there

He anticipated the elbow, blocked it, and Hakuho was taken totally by surprise.

[Asashosakari 19,592]

And that's why all the outrage over Hakuho going on a face-crushing rampage was completely misplaced. Like almost anything that's not a straight-up tachiai into yotsu it's a technique that leaves you very open when the opponent correctly guesses that it's coming, and now that it has failed spectacularly for the first time, Hakuho will be forced to think hard about employing it again anytime soon.

[kuroimori 1,634]

Hakuho seemed to try to slap Moggy unconscious again. Good revenge!

Slapping someone unconscious is quite difficult me thinks.

There is a slight difference between today's tachi-ai slap (harite) and the more powerful elbow swing (kachi-age) which caused Myogiryu to reboot two basho ago.

Today, Myogi remembered, remembered the Hak of September and was in fact very well prepared this time.

It shows that for every move their is a counter move if it is kachi-age or henka.

[Igordemorais 75]

I think the best revenge for the KO that could possibly happen was Myogiryu beating Hakuho so dominantly today. It was awesome to see

[Masumasumasu 902]

And that's why all the outrage over Hakuho going on a face-crushing rampage was completely misplaced. Like almost anything that's not a straight-up tachiai into yotsu it's a technique that leaves you very open when the opponent correctly guesses that it's coming, and now that it has failed spectacularly for the first time, Hakuho will be forced to think hard about employing it again anytime soon.

Hakuho didn't use the forearm this time.

[rzombie1988 159]

Hakuho seemed to try to slap Moggy unconscious again. Good revenge!

Slapping someone unconscious is quite difficult me thinks.

There is a slight difference between today's tachi-ai slap (harite) and the more powerful elbow swing (kachi-age) which caused Myogiryu to reboot two basho ago.

Today, Myogi remembered, remembered the Hak of September and was in fact very well prepared this time.

It shows that for every move their is a counter move if it is kachi-age or henka.

I definitely think Hakuho has some weaknesses. He relies too much on his right side and if you look, he always starts far away from the starting line, anticipating an attack.

If anyone wants to see my thoughts on Day 3's action with pictures and gifs, the link is here(Sorry if it is not allowed):

http://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/sumo-january-hasho-basho-day-3.html

Speaking of sumo's being too rough, Harumafuji had a gusher today:

I loved it when the Irish announcer suggested that Fuji's pimple got struck :-D

Edited January 16, 2013 by rzombie1988

[specialweek 2 136]

Irish announcer? What are you watching?