Preparations of the masses-July 2015

[Kintamayama 47,336]

Takarafuji, necklessness notwithstanding, is certain to be in sanyaku for the first time next basho. Today, he had no less than 50 bouts against heyamate Homarefuji, training for 5 hours and looking very tired and happy in the end. "We've got a new Ozeki and a new sanyaku in the heya, so even the oyakata is very spirited.. I am looking forward to the basho and at the same time, I'm anxious. I don't want to fall back to hiramaku.." said the 28 year old Takarafuji.

Polish:

Edited June 20, 2015 by Kintamayama

[Yubinhaad 11,975]

A set of pictures from the Kyokai of a recent asageiko session at Onoe-beya.

Heya ranking board. Onoe-beya has 11 rikishi, two of whom are sekitori, Juryo-ranked Tenkaiho and Satoyama.

Onoe-oyakata (former Komusubi Hamanoshima) keeps a close eye on the keiko.

Suriashi across the dohyo - Akutsu.

Yamana.

Takakurayama.

Nakai.

Miyauchi.

Nishiyama.

Tenkaiho warms up with some shiko, with and without a knee wrapping. [2]

Now in the ring, Tenkaiho uses an oshi attack in a practice bout with Nishiyama.

Nishiyama forces Miyauchi back with a hidari-yotsu grip.

In the corner, Satoyama is warming up by doing some suspension training with some TRX equipment. [3]

And now some suriashi along the side of the keikoba. [4]

Satoyama lends his chest to an unnamed stablemate for some butsugari-keiko. [2]

Satoyama does shiko and shinashi in the centre of the dohyo, as the session comes to an end with basic exercises. [2]

Push-ups for everyone.

And Tenkaiho does some matawari.

After bowing to the shrine and reciting the heya mission statement, the session finally ends with some contemplative sonkyo. [2]

The heya's two sekitori, Tenkaiho and Satoyama, pose for some pictures in the keikoba and in front of the heya. [2]

Joined by some of their stablemates, from left: Nishiyama, Yamana, Takakurayama, Akutsu, Nakai and Miyauchi.

[Yubinhaad 11,975]

The Kyokai's next set of asageiko pictures comes from Onomatsu-beya.

Heya ranking board beneath the shrine in the keikoba. Onomatsu-beya has 15 rikishi, three of whom are sekitori - Amuru, Daido and Onosho.

Watching over the keikoba is a portrait of the shisho (former Sekiwake Masurao) from his early days as a shindeshi in 1979. He won five Juryo yusho during his career, a record which still stands.

A view of the keikoba.

Onosho has a practice bout and then gets some words of advice from Onomatsu-oyakata, who is watching over the session from the agarizashiki. [2]

Yamatofuji works on his pushing attack along the side of the keikoba, with the help of stablemates Ako and Yuma.

Shinohara and Amuru in action. [2]

Amuru and Wakayama prepare for a practice bout, and Wakayama then prepares to lend his chest for some butsugari-keiko. [2]

Daido warming up at the side of the keikoba, and then having a practice bout with an unnamed opponent. [2]

Onomatsu-beya regularly invites kids to watch and participate in asageiko sessions. Here, Takiguchi is giving a suriashi demonstration to one such visitor. [2]

Also doing suriashi is former Juryo Keitenkai.

Amuru eyeballs the camera while doing some shiko.

Onosho has some practice bouts, the second picture shows him with Shinohara. [2]

Onosho takes a break, before returning to do some butsugari-keiko with Yamatofuji as the session comes towards the end. [4]

[Benevolance 2,534]

Shikihidebeya has some videos of recent training posted on their twitter feed. Mostly Baraki and Urotura. I'm not sure how to scrape them and repost them here. Hell, apparently I can't even link directly to the heya's twitter page? Anyway, the heya twitter handle is @shikihidebeya.

Edited June 20, 2015 by Benevolance

[inhashi 2,363]

Here are the three links

https://twitter.com/shikihidebeya/status/612088006082609152

https://twitter.com/shikihidebeya/status/612080842383294464

https://twitter.com/shikihidebeya/status/612079821481357312

edit:
Extra links of Urutora and Baraki training with Oyakata. Looks like Urutora is starting to finally bulk back up. Hope his shoulder has healed completely and properly.

Urutora

Baraki

Edited June 21, 2015 by inhashi

[Yubinhaad 11,975]

Some pictures from Katsuragi, Nara prefecture, where Tagonoura-beya is holding a training camp.

Kisenosato warming up before getting on the dohyo. [3]

The feet of a rikishi take a real battering, so it's important to take care of them. Takayasu tapes up his feet before keiko begins.

Kisenosato and Takayasu had a series of practice bouts. [6]

Takayasu then took on lower-ranked stablemate Tagonofuji. [3]

Veterans Wakanosato and Terunosato take it easy on the sidelines.

Kisenosato takes a break to look after his own feet.

Wakanosato does some push-ups against the dohyo. [3]

Takayasu takes a breather.

After that, he returned to the dohyo where he was on the end of some vigorous butsugari-keiko from Kisenosato. [9]

Later, a couple of comedians took part in some fun sumo. Wakanosato helped them get ready beforehand, and Takayasu showed them to the floor. [4]

Sekizuka, who celebrated his first-ever kachi-koshi in the Natsu basho, participated in jinku singing and a talk-show type thing.

Finally, Kisenosato signs autographs and poses for a picture with a small fan. [4]

Edited June 22, 2015 by Yubinhaad

[Manekineko 200]

Some of those photos are pretty high quality/skilfully taken, which is unusual for keiko photos.

[rhyen 1,858]

I think they come from azechiazechi's Twitter feed?

[Akinomaki 41,849]

Asageiko at Oguruma-beya
video: http://mainichi.jp/movie/movie.html?id=883501998002
with oyakata comments

Takekaze gives advice to Amakaze

[Benevolance 2,534]

Any more word from the Endo circus? Has his leg healed? Is his shiko beautiful enough to start a yokozuna run? Does he have a date to the prom?

[Akinomaki 41,849]

About 190 lower ranked rikishi and gyoji etc. entered Nagoya by the "sumo train" shinkansen.
http://mainichi.jp/sports/news/20150629k0000m050121000c.html





NiTele news24 video at http://www.news24.jp/articles/2015/06/28/07302919.html

To be ready to collect the banzuke tomorrow morning.

Edited June 29, 2015 by Akinomaki

[Masumasumasu 902]

[WAKATAKE 2,759]

I have to wonder how fast that bullet train was able to go since it was carrying 190 rikishi x 150 kg (conservative average) ;-)

Edited June 30, 2015 by WAKATAKE

[Manekineko 200]

I have to wonder how fast that bullet train was able to go since it was carrying 190 rikishi x 150 kg (conservative average) ;-)

As long as their ~28 tons were distributed over several cars, I don't think the train noticed:

Average Weight per Car: Approx. 43 tons

(http://web-japan.org/atlas/technology/tec08.html)

[Kintamayama 47,336]

The Endou miracle continues. On the first of July he had 15 bouts against heyamate Juryo Daieishou and others, winning 12. 4-3 against Daieishou and beating all his Makushita opponents. Unlike the preparations for last basho when he could do nothing, this time he is preparing intensely. He did not speak to reporters, but his Oyakata did. "He's not 100 percent, but compared to last basho, his ability to move is incomparable," he said.

[Kintamayama 47,336]

It looks like Oosunaarashi will be entering Nagoya with no serious preparations at all. "I will let him enter out of respect for him, but if he does shameful sumo that will disrespect his opponents, he will pull out," said Otake Oyakata. He has done no sumo at all after pulling out of Natsu basho with an injury on day 8. "When I attempt to push and try to raise my arm, it is painful," he said. Yesterday all he could do was work his upper body with a rubber tube. If he goes kyujo the whole basho, he will drop to Juryo. "I have no choice but to do it. Kyujo is not an alternative!!" he said. The fact that it's Ramadan is also not helping him recuperate as he can't really train seriously.

Edited July 3, 2015 by Kintamayama

[WAKATAKE 2,759]

Getting an injury in the basho before Ramadan is a problem. I suspect we may see more kachiage than usual from Oosuna.

[Kintamayama 47,336]

Ichinojou is despondent as usual. Yesterday he was looking "sluggish" at the Nishonoseki Ichimon rengo keiko and was 3-6. When he was faced with a quick attack, all he could do was scratch his head in bewilderment. He is aiming for double-digit wins in Nagoya. "My body is heavy. When I get first-stepped, I cannot react. I need to pile up those keiko sessions.." he said.

After the bouts he did some butsugari with Kisenosato and was all sandy and exhausted again. "I'd like to gambarize and return the favor (by beating him)," added Ichinojou.

[Masumasumasu 902]

[ScottyJoyJrBebe 97]

Ichinojou is despondent as usual. Yesterday he was looking "sluggish" at the Nishonoseki Ichimon rengo keiko and was 3-6. When he was faced with a quick attack, all he could do was scratch his head in bewilderment. He is aiming for double-digit wins in Nagoya. "My body is heavy. When I get first-stepped, I cannot react. I need to pile up those keiko sessions.." he said.

After the bouts he did some butsugari with Kisenosato and was all sandy and exhausted again. "I'd like to gambarize and return the favor (by beating him)," added Ichinojou.

GO ICHINOJO. You can do it.

[orandashoho 720]

Trying to swing that loose 50kg package around is a recipe for injury...

[Kintamayama 47,336]

Ichinojou went to the NIRK as well but was getting overwhelmed by the likes of Takekaze and Juryo Shouhouzan. He had only 11 bouts. Then some butsugari against Kisenosato. After a few minutes he couldn't even stand up. He has lost 1 kilo and is now 207 kilos. "Even losing one kilo makes a difference," he explained.

[Kintamayama 47,336]

The Endou miracle- Endou trained at home yesterday against Juryo Daieishou and some Makushita opponents. 20 bouts, 19 wins. He did not show up for training the day before causing some concern as to the condition of his injured knee. "There are still a few more days. I'd like to gambarize and be able to do even a little of my own sumo," he said. "We're going about it while keeping an eye on his condition on a daily basis," said Oitekaze Oyakata.

Edited July 5, 2015 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,336]

The Endou drama continues. Today he had 16 bouts at his heya against heyamate Juryo Daieishou and others and won 12. He was training so seriously that the oyakata had to ask him to stop. "That's enough Endou!!" he was heard calling. "I am not speaking about the injury, I can only gambarize day by day, " said Endou to the reporters later.

"He probably won't be back to his old self this year. We won't know how many bouts he can win till the basho is over.." added the Oyakata.

Edited July 5, 2015 by Kintamayama

[Kishinoyama 625]

"He probably won't be back to his old self this year. We won't know how many bouts he can win till the basho is over.." added the Oyakata.

....And he better hope he doesn't get that knee twisted again or he might not ever be like his old self. :-(