Baruto Intai

[krindel 688]

I really can't help wondering if a medical approach to treating his injury other than "Gambarize!" would have led to a different outcome. Not that I can play online doctor, but It really sounds like they left a common, treatable sports injury to nature. People have salvaged sports careers ranging from weightlifting, to football, to wrestling after cruciate ligament damage.

Then again, I guess there's always a chance that the necessary medical steps were taken and failed, just not publicized.

[Blue_Wolf 24]

Noooo. :'-(​

[Masumasumasu 902]

I will miss him.

I won't miss him.

What the hell? Baruto is a nice guy.

[dingo 1,476]

Really really sad news. I will really miss him. As people have said, for some time he was the second-best rikishi after Hakuho, and I think the most regretful thing is that he never quite fulfilled his potential due to the nagging injury. I'm not even talking about yokozuna, he could've just have a much longer and memorable ozeki legacy. Sadly we'll never be able to see that now.

As others mentioned, I also can't help but wonder what could've happened had he taken a break after his injury last year...

[Jakusotsu 6,387]

"Ok, ok, I confess - it was never about the knee, it's my pollen allergy!"

[bettega 433]

A drop to ms is that so bad?

If healed I think that Baruto would be in makuuchi in 3 basho (1 in ms, 2 in jurio), about half a year - again, if proper healed.

[Jakusotsu 6,387]

A drop to ms is that so bad?

There has never been a former Ozeki going back to Makushita. Perhaps he didn't really have a choice.

[Swami 245]

Very sad news, his superb tsuri technique will be much missed.

Swami

[Maguroyama 27]

Too bad at such a young age, but I'm glad he did get one yusho at least. An ozeki shouldn't finish a career without at least one.

To me, the most unique thing Baruto did was that zensho yusho in juryo.

[Ayagawa 14]

this is so sad :'-(

i always hoped that he could become yokozuna, but too many injuries ...

[Asashosakari 20,222]

A drop to ms is that so bad?

If healed I think that Baruto would be in makuuchi in 3 basho (1 in ms, 2 in jurio), about half a year - again, if proper healed.

I don't think his injury would have been much better just with conservative rehab after two months, and he'd have been just as likely to get reinjured as he was the last time around...and surgery would have taken him out for probably at least three basho.

[Gernobono 467]

i guess he also was homesick....

all the talk about estonia points towards it...

maybe he can live a good life in estonia compared to all the problems with injuries in a strange land....

[Fay 1,677]

a little gallery of Baruto.

http://www.sumo-webpaper.com/Baruto_intai.htm

[Tikozan 4]

I wish him all the best for the future.

Bye bye Baruto (Sad goodbyes...)

[Bugman 384]

He was a huge and instantly recognisable presence on the dohyo, a good Ozeki, best of luck to him, he's also probably the highest ranking rikishi i've ever seen retire, Kaio doesn't really count as i barely knew who he was at the time, oh well, nothing lasts forever i guess.

Edited September 11, 2013 by Bugman

[Igordemorais 79]

God dammit

[Kuroyama 715]

Once again: I so, so wish he had taken the basho off after his injury a year ago and accepted what probably would have been a temporary drop to sekiwake in order to get the medical attention he needed to heal properly.

Farewell, gentle giant.

[Ack! 498]

As you can see, I will miss him also. The first basho I saw in person was Baruto's yusho, and I was an instant fan.

[Akinomaki 41,738]

Baruto made a lot of efforts for rehabilitation, but “it wasn't something that heals that easy.” The medics recently informed him that had to undergo surgery for recovery, that was the deciding factor for intai.
He thought of it after the banzuke was published, conferred with the oyakata and told it to closely related people.
He wants to stay in Japan till the danpatsu-shiki (no date yet) – first a trip to Hokkaido, having a child, obtaining a driver's license ...
Back in Estonia he also wants to teach sumo to kids.
He bought an abandoned amusement park/summer resort near his hometown, planning to revitalize the area:

“I also bought a guesthouse” for “inviting Japanese tourists and I'd like having a travel agency.”

He came to ozumo because being noticed by International Sumo Federation leading figures, first Kurazono-riji since he was 11 years old, then ISF-top Nichidai super-coach Tanaka and became a private deshi of Nichidai-originated Onoe-oyakata (Hamanoshima) in Mihogaseki-beya.
Unlike his work as a restaurant bouncer, where he experienced a gun being pointed to his head: “In sumo they don't take your life. Keiko isn't painful either.”

Hakuho: “He was the most powerful man in sumo. Even I can't imitate this kind of sumo.”
Kisenosato: “I was surprised. I thought that if I can't bring him down I can't rise up, it's regretful.” Finally he somewhat did bring him down permanently, but that was not what he meant.

Reprimands:
For walking in a shopping district in Osaka in March 2011 in jersey clothes. Right after the 3/11 disaster going to other regions was restricted by the NSK, Onoe-oyakata was also admonished.
For saying that the Natsu basho 2011 seemed to him like a play-basho/-ground.

more pics

Baruto style sumo – he did not develop a special “form” to win, but had this “crane” move.
Deciding the yusho on day 13 Hatsu 2012 against Kotoshogiku


2011 Aki day 8 against Tochinoshin


After the ozeki deciding Haru basho 2010 (holding sansho trophies)


when ?

Edited September 12, 2013 by Akinomaki

[Yubinhaad 11,954]

Three more from the intai press conference.

Early days...

[Masumasumasu 902]

Can someone please translate this?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTfZ6yiTmLE

[sekitori 492]

I agree that rehabilitation, no matter how long it may take, is no guarantee that his knee won't be injured again. For that matter, neither will surgery, no matter how successful it may seem. Even though many athletes have recovered from severe knee damage, many have not. Baruto is a huge person, weighing about 190 kg. His knees have to support that weight in an activity where the result is extremely heavy physical contact with people who are almost as big and strong as he is. In such an activity, even healthy knees will take a pounding. Knees that have previously been injured will probably take even more. Considering those factors and the possibility of future injury that could make his knee problems even worse, perhaps even affecting his normal daily activities, he made the only decision possible. I will miss him greatly and I wish him well in his retirement. I only wish he will lose some of those now excessive 190 kg. and live a happy and healthy post sumo life.

[dingo 1,476]

Can someone please translate this?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTfZ6yiTmLE

"For the past six months, I've been indebted to everyone in Japan and all of my fans. Thank you very much. From now on I will start a regular life and try to do my best, so please root for me"

A fairly simple message, but it's nice he bothered to make it.

[Vikanohara 171]

I'll miss you, mr. Kaido. But health comes first. Thanks for all the great moments.

[Akinomaki 41,738]

Can someone please translate this?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTfZ6yiTmLE

"For the past six months, I've been indebted to everyone in Japan and all of my fans. Thank you very much. From now on I will start a regular life and try to do my best, so please root for me"

A fairly simple message, but it's nice he bothered to make it.

I couldn't make anything of what he mumbled in the beginning, but with your hint and further asking and listening I think he said “For 9½ years, ... “.

BTW, he was on NHK as guest today.

Edited September 17, 2013 by Akinomaki