Aki 2014 Basho Comments

[Randomitsuki 2,768]

No theories posted yet that Ichinojo must've been genetically engineering by the Kyokai to stop Hakuho from breaking Taiho's record? Colour me disappointed.

My theory is that Ichinojo is the ultimate kaiju monster (genetically engineered by the Kyokai, as you correctly insinuated). The monster is fierce, unstoppable, enigmatic, and always hungry. And there is only one (of course, Japanese) man on earth who can stop him: IKIOI!

Sorry, for my complete lack of talent and tools required to do stuff like that. YBF could have done much better, but he didn't want to (though in all fairness, I didn't ask him).

Edited September 26, 2014 by Randomitsuki

[Highway 46]

If any yokozuna deserves to be on the receiving end of a henka it's Kakuryu. Didn't he pull at least one during his yusho run?

I'm not a fan of henka, but it's Kakuryu's fault for falling for it.

Then you shouldn't have any problem with it if/when someone tries one on Hakuho.

I can't see it working. Hakuho starts back very far, is usually the second to touch at the start and also pulls his body a bit to the side. He'd be one of the last people I'd want to try it on for that alone.

Yep, Hakuho won't fall for it. He's always one step ahead of his opponent.

[HenryK 38]

I have no doubt that Hakuho won't care about henka or not. I wouldn't say he's henka-proof (we wouldn't know as YOKOZUNA DON'T GET HENKA'ED) but we all know about his rather conservative momentum at tachi-ai, which is based more on absorption than progression.

Anyhow, I expect that Hakuho will do his best to use the bout preparation to twist on Ij's nerves, then he will throw him (I'd say uwatenage) or maybe resort to a situation dependent hatakikomi. YHIHF

I mean Ichinojo is hot, but we are still talking about 30-lifetime-supplies-of-assorted-goods-Hakuho FFS.

(FWIW I notice that I make excessive use of them slick acronyms recently. I apologize if that insults your reading preferences BTW. EOM.)

I remember a nice henka by Aminishiki on Hakuho a few years back.

[HenryK 38]

The henka? Nobody cares except us foreign fans. Especially in this case, as in most cases. The NHK commentators were tsking daily about Kakuryuu's pulling ("Oh, he pulled again.".) much louder and with much snickering, compared to Ichinojou's itchy no-jokes.

Ichinojou at this moment is a sumo baby-every burp and fart is cute and lovable. At some point he'll have to grow up because an adult doing it is annoying.

I repeat myself (from what I've written a few years ago), but I like a well executed henka every now and then. It's a way of outsmarting your opponent.

And anyway, a guy fighting his 5th basho has every right to use whatever legit means are available when matched up with a Yokozuna. It's for the Yokozuna to be careful.

[bettega 427]

Exciting times, uhn? :-)

[Morty 1,480]

While all the discussion has (justifiably) been on Ichinojo I'd just like to acknowledge the way Tochiozan has cruised through the mid-Maegashira ranks like a shark through a school of startled and slightly terrified fish. This would be unremarkable except for the fact he had no preparation and came in carrying an injury. He has clearly upped his game to the point where, if he can stay fit, he should probably be the next Ozeki.

[Mukonoso 273]

I've got a feeling that Ichinojo will simply bear hug Hakuho and carry him out of the ring in a mad rush. Whether he steps outside the ring accidentally himself before dropping Hak remains to be seen.

[bettega 427]

I've got a feeling that Ichinojo will simply bear hug Hakuho and carry him out of the ring in a mad rush. Whether he steps outside the ring accidentally himself before dropping Hak remains to be seen.

Oshidashi? (In jonokuchi...)

[Asojima 2,870]

I've got a feeling that Ichinojo will simply bear hug Hakuho and carry him out of the ring in a mad rush. Whether he steps outside the ring accidentally himself before dropping Hak remains to be seen.

Oshidashi? (In jonokuchi...)

Actually, tsuridashi, and this move has an exception. If the lifter steps outside the ring before the victim touches down, the lifter wins. Edited September 27, 2014 by Asojima

[Lost ballet fan 29]

Just a thought about the banzuke in general: The injuries really have made quite a difference. If you think about a line-up 2 or 3 bashos down the line where the lower sanyaku could be held held by a reasonably healthy Tochiozan, Ichinojo, Myogiryu and Tochinoshin for example with guys like Ikioi, Aojama, Terunofujii, Takayasu, Endo, Osunarashi etc. rounding out the top Maegashira ranks it suddenly doesn't feel particularly weak anymore. One or two of the Ozeki could also be in trouble then.

[Vikanohara 171]

While I was not totally displeased with Ij's henka against Kisenosato (This is what you want, this is what you get.) I'm a bit cautious about praising his clever balls just yet. I mean, it's a Yokozuna FFS, and rank, rank-difference, respect, the whole package is somewhat integral to sumo. So yes, it was technically legal, yes, it was successful from the simple binary point of view, and yes, it took a lot of bravado to pull it off. BUT, it was disrespectful to the rank, it was not Ij's part to maybe pay back for Kakuryu's own shortcomings, and it definitely gives his impressive impact a slight dent.

Then again, there will be plenty of opportunities to retaliate, I guess, as anything else than Ozekihood+ for Ij would seem a below par achievement. What impresses me most is his unimpressedness.

Would have wanted 1 more like left to give away, but I hear you, YBF. I expected Ichinojo to win (even picked him in my Sumo Game lineup and scored 3/3 thanks to him in ISP), but didn't want him to win like this, actually. As long as he doesn't do that 3 days in a row now, as he can even beat Hakuho without needing a henka !

Edited September 27, 2014 by Vikanohara

[Vikanohara 171]

I don't see anything that suggests Hakuho was not up to the game in the bout with Goeido.

Careful look at the slow-mo shows that Goeido going to Hakuho's front belt right from the beginning, while also going for right inside. This move is possible only if you hunker down and compact your body. As a result he ended up deep inside Hakuho's. Next thing Goeido did was remarkable and what sealed the victory. He sank to Hakuho so tight that there was no room for Hakuho to even wiggle. From here, pushing Hakuho is as easy as butsugari session.

Being tall person, Hakuho has two weak points and his opponents seem to exploit that from time to time if he allows them.

1. Hakuho is vulnerable if someone shorter gets inside him, raising his chest with a head just like Goeido today. If Hakuho was shorter, he would have more leverage to counter his opponent with his head.

2. During a strong forward push, Hakuho bends more than what would shorter person need, bringing his centre of mass almost on top of his opponents footprint. This opens an opportunity for his opponents to exploit it in evasive moves combined with some beltless throwing. Osunaarashi almost managed succeeding one this basho.

Brilliant tactic with superb execution today from Goeido.

Good analysis there.

[Propmanoz 1]

And the pretender is comfortably dealt with....

[Morty 1,480]

And the pretender is comfortably dealt with....

Yep Hak had him the whole time. In a different class...

[Kotogouryuu 126]

Yep Hak had him the whole time. In a different class...

Ichinojo managed to defend at the start but had no offense at any point. Still, I like the fact that this match even actually happened.

[ALAKTORN 346]

Gōeidō’s loss looked a bit stupid. He should be able to fight maegashira better than that.

Nice win by Kakuryū, why does Kisenosato always jumpstart? I’ve heard/read somewhere that when he jumpstarts he usually loses, well it was true today.

Tochinoshin more beastly than Ichinojō, I really look forward to seeing him back in makuuchi!

[Shikona 139]

Kisenosato does not always jump start. Earlier in the basho, people were jump starting against him. Either way he usually gets the blame. He does seem to have a hard time reading people. Usually he is pretty deliberate in getting set.

[dingo 1,160]

Yeah, most of the time Kisenosato gets blamed for the mattas -- whether rightly or wrongly, I don't really know. Sometimes it seems to be deliberate, other times accidental. Although this basho he really seems to have genuine trouble synchronizing his tachiai, since there seem to be more mattas than usual.

And what's up with Endo? He's totally unravelled this basho.

Edited September 27, 2014 by dingo

[evilwaldo 11]

Great day of sumo today.

Hakuho was not in any trouble and you could see the wide gulf in technique between the two. Even with a lower position he was able to use leverage to his advantage.

[bettega 427]

The best result for this basho would be Hak 14-1 and Ichinojo 13-2 (both winning in the last day)

[Highway 46]

Good results by Aoiyama, looks like he'll be back up to Komusubi next time around.

Hakuho too good for Ichinojo, the champion will not be taken by a newcomer.

Not all is decided though - Kakuryu can certainly pull of a win tomorrow.

[specialweek 2 136]

23 times straight for Hakuho to beat a first time opponent.

[Mukonoso 273]

I don't know. It didn't look like Ichinojo put up any resistance at the final seconds when Hakuho did the throw. It looked like Ichi expected it and rolled with it and bounced right up again to walk to his side of the dohyo. Is Hak that strong physically or is Ichi just good enough (not to win but) to know he's beaten and do a shoulder roll to avoid injury? I'm not saying he threw the match but it just seemed so smooth to me.

I'm hoping for a playoff between the two tomorrow. Maybe Ichi turns out to be a genius who learns quickly from a loss and beats an opponent then next time like an anime hero. LOL

[evilwaldo 11]

Ichinojo had no leverage to move Hakuho. He was leaning over him while Hakuho had a grip. For Ichinojo to move Hakuho he would have to straighten his body and lift with his back instead of his legs.

It is similar to lifting a box when you are standing over it. You can use back or legs and the legs are more efficient.

Edited September 28, 2014 by evilwaldo

[Hakuyobaku 33]

Tochinoshin wins Juryo yusho 15-0. All four others who did that became ozeki or yokozuna. Big things coming to Tochinoshin? naaa :)

This could also the first time someone won 12 bouts in a basho with a yorikiri?