Basho Talk - Kyushu Basho 2015 +++ Spoiler Alert! +++

[Dwale 419]

Ok...

Osunaarashi gets a win, yay. When he started idling in the middle of the dohyo, I remembered some matches from earlier in the basho and started screaming, "What the eff are you doing, you idiot!" But then he won (with feeling) and I was like, "Oh. Well done, then." Heh.

Tochinoshin resorting to the henka? Not that Aminishiki didn't have it coming, even if it didn't really work. (It would have been funny if they'd both henka'ed at the same time. Can anyone recall a match like that?) This has been a pretty henka-happy basho, though.

And as I said earlier, 80% of Terunofuji is still 100% more rikishi than a lot of folks can handle. He's just a monster.

Kisenosato...ah, well. Maybe next time, champ.

EDIT: And Ichinojo seems to have shaken off the Haitian curse he's been wrestling under lately. Glad to have him back.

Edited November 18, 2015 by Dwale

[Kintamayama 44,354]

Edit: Curious what Kintamayama-san thinks about this dude.

Love him ever since he entered.

[Gurowake 3,922]

I don't have a great opinion of Ura. I think once he faces guys that are both huge and know what they're doing he will do quite poorly. The only question is at what level they will get too big and too skilled. It might be the makushita joi, it might be the makuuchi joi.

[Jyuunomori 226]

Edit: Curious what Kintamayama-san thinks about this dude.

Love him ever since he entered.

You need to give him a shoutout or make a quick video showing all his bouts like you did with Brodie few bashos back. I wanna see what Youtube watchers think about him. In my opinion too he is bloody brilliant rikishi. I can probably add him to my favourite rikishis when he becomes Juryo / Makuuchi next year. I am pretty much fanboying over him he is so weird. xD

Edited November 18, 2015 by Jyuunomori

[Katooshu 3,135]

Nice throws by Gagamaru and Shohozan!

Really glad to see Oosu win again, but it worries me that Ichinojo is now 5-6, Ikioi is likely headed for double digits, and Tochiozan is flirting with a 7-8 type of demotion from sekiwake (which I assume would drop him to komusubi rather than maegashira?).....we may not see Oosu as a komusubi even if he gets another KK at a high rank.

Edited November 18, 2015 by Kotooshu's Revenge

[Katooshu 3,135]

I also noticed that Brodi's next opponent has mid-makushita experience and was mainly competing in sandamne until this basho....might be a tough one for him.

Edited November 18, 2015 by Kotooshu's Revenge

[Katooshu 3,135]

Video by courtesy of Tenshinhan-san.

Can we take a moment of the day to appreciate this little beast here?

Six different bouts, six different kimarite by Ura this basho. When I see him do his weird and effective sumo I forget at times he is in makushita. He completely outclasses his opponents in skill and ability. There is something in his legs that seem to make him nigh immovable when he is being pushed back and he only moves by his own accord. If this style works in Juryo (and it might for him) then damn.

Makushita is so interesting this basho, Chiyoshoma vs Ura will probably be the Yusho decider.

Edit: Curious what Kintamayama-san thinks about this dude.

Ura is clearly good and very fun to watch....but he's been dealing with lower-makushita/upper-sandamne guys this basho. I don't doubt that he'll continue to excel as he moves up the banzuke, but he's had a much easier path to his 6-0 than someone like Chiyoshoma has and I will be very interested to see how good Ura looks if they square off.

I think Daiki may actually have more potential.

[Dwale 419]

Nice throws by Gagamaru and Shohozan!

Really glad to see Oosu win again, but it worries me that Ichinojo is now 5-6, Ikioi is likely headed for double digits, and Tochiozan is flirting with a 7-8 type of demotion from sekiwake (which I assume would drop him to komusubi rather than maegashira?).....we may not see Oosu as a komusubi even if he gets another KK at a high rank.

Yes, indeed. I like Gagamaru and Shohozan is really growing on me. He's not messing around.

[hamcornheinz 839]

I know Ura is hyped and all, but he could've been slapped down on 20 different occasions in this bout. People don't lean that far down for a reason.

[Kintamayama 44,354]

Edit: Curious what Kintamayama-san thinks about this dude.

Love him ever since he entered.

You need to give him a shoutout or make a quick video showing all his bouts like you did with Brodie few bashos back. I wanna see what Youtube watchers think about him. In my opinion too he is bloody brilliant rikishi. I can probably add him to my favourite rikishis when he becomes Juryo / Makuuchi next year. I am pretty much fanboying over him he is so weird. xD

If you're on Facebook there's a page where all his bouts are shown- search for Sayonara NHK

[Kintamayama 44,354]

I know Ura is hyped and all, but he could've been slapped down on 20 different occasions in this bout. People don't lean that far down for a reason.

But he wasn't and he's 6-0 and he's going for the Makushita yusho. He doesn't subscribe to what "people" do. His sumo is very unique - I don't think I've seen anyone so wacky before, and I've been following sumo for three years now .. See how he's done since entering.

Everyone said he will get his ass kicked in Makushita but that has yet to happen. He's a totally entertaining rikishi.

Edited November 18, 2015 by Kintamayama

[inhashi 2,363]

Can't wait to see more of Ura's acrobat sumo.

edit: found this in a search showing some of his techniques and training

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udISlH4R7Gk

Edited November 18, 2015 by inhashi

[Jyuunomori 226]

I know Ura is hyped and all, but he could've been slapped down on 20 different occasions in this bout. People don't lean that far down for a reason.

But he wasn't and he's 6-0 and he's going for the Makushita yusho. He doesn't subscribe to what "people" do. His sumo is very unique - I don't think I've seen anyone so wacky before, and I've been following sumo for three years now .. See how he's done since entering.

Everyone said he will get his ass kicked in Makushita but that has yet to happen. He's a totally entertaining rikishi.

Plus he uses lots of different kimarite (six different ones this basho, give him the technique award!) meaning he ain't a on trick pony and he has a lot of balance considering he has only lost once via hatakekomi and he has enough skill + strenght to never lose by yorikiri as of now. People do not seem to know to do against him at all. And yeah he is super whacky.

If you compare Ura to Kiribayama and Hirotsukasa who also are small rikishi (and doing very well!) they wrestle completely differently than Ura does. Reason why he is able to lean forward so much is probably because of his legs, they looks super ripped like tree trunks compared to rest of his body.

Edited November 18, 2015 by Jyuunomori

[Jyuunomori 226]

Can't wait to see more of Ura's acrobat sumo.

edit: found this in a search showing some of his techniques and training

Ura and his speshul tactics. That is super impressive. xD

He does casual backflips. CASUAL.

Edited November 18, 2015 by Jyuunomori

[Tenshinhan 1,599]

The only question is at what level they will get too big and too skilled. It might be the makushita joi, it might be the makuuchi joi.

Isn't this the question you can ask regarding every upcoming rikishi? But compared to other youngsters his technique and his balance is just extraordinary and people were underestimating him since his debut: After his maezumo: Nah, he can't do this in ozumo. After ozumo debut: He can't keep doing this in Sandanme. After Sandanme debut: This won't work in Makushita.... but if you think it might be the makuuchi joi, your opinion of Ura seems actually quite good.

[Sokkenaiyama 76]

Can't wait to see more of Ura's acrobat sumo.

edit: found this in a search showing some of his techniques and training

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udISlH4R7Gk

Oh, I'm just drooling to see more of this guy.

[Masumasumasu 902]

Gagamaru! Great recovery, a turn as graceful as a dump truck, and a great throw.

And was it just me, or did appear that Kise basically let his guard down before Hak's final throw? If I was a Conspiracy Theorist, I'd be on my soapbox about that one. Then again, things happen so fast up there it's hard to say.

Oh come on, conspiring to do what? Give Hakuhou a yusho that he so badly needs? Even for ST, that is really reaching.. He got slapped so hard he didn't know his name-that's why he let his guard down..

At least it wasn't a henka. At least there were no late shoves.

Hakuho wins all the time because he has no pressure. By contrast, Japanese rikishi who find themselves in the yusho race against are subjected to overwhelming pressure. When Hak wins a yusho everyone yawns. On the other hand, when a Japanese rikishi has a shot at a yusho he invariably fails because of the insurmountable pressure placed upon him by his countrymen.

If Hakuho was Japanese he'd be just another Yokozuna.

[wanderer 159]

"I think Hakuho hit Kise in the chin with the base of his palm, which effectively knocked him out just before the pull. I remember him doing this MMA trick on Kotomitsuki once. It is subtle but Hakuho is very good at it."

Oh cmon. Did you see the distance between his windup and his slap? George Foreman couldn't knock someone out with that little power, plus there was no body weight behind it. That was a textbook slapdown if there is one.

Well, I wish I could demonstrate this technique on you and see what you will say.

[yorikiried by fate 1,989]

Oh, I'm just drooling to see more of this guy.

Martin!

Where have you been?!

Anyway, Day 11: Last eight bouts were each fought between a Japanese and a non-Japanese wrestler. To the effect of 0-8 which simply must be without precedence.

Anybody, go prove me wrong.

[sorry if this has been pointed out elsewhere. I really cannot read all stuff here these days.]

[Gurowake 3,922]

The only question is at what level they will get too big and too skilled. It might be the makushita joi, it might be the makuuchi joi.

Isn't this the question you can ask regarding every upcoming rikishi? But compared to other youngsters his technique and his balance is just extraordinary and people were underestimating him since his debut: After his maezumo: Nah, he can't do this in ozumo. After ozumo debut: He can't keep doing this in Sandanme. After Sandanme debut: This won't work in Makushita.... but if you think it might be the makuuchi joi, your opinion of Ura seems actually quite good.

I like to keep an open mind and think there's a large amount of variance in where he might end up based on how much agility he is able to maintain while he puts on weight, which is something he's certainly been doing. This basho I'm certainly surprised by his performance, but not overwhelmingly surprised. I don't have a very good ability to judge of what might work well at different levels, I wouldn't make any sort of bet regarding what sort of career he will have, nor would I know which way to go regarding any sort of guess that was requested of me. I just think that he's mostly hype based on his agility being off the charts.

[Kurikara 28]

Make Hakuho a citizen. Problem solved. :-)

[wuli 67]

Gagamaru! Great recovery, a turn as graceful as a dump truck, and a great throw.

And was it just me, or did appear that Kise basically let his guard down before Hak's final throw? If I was a Conspiracy Theorist, I'd be on my soapbox about that one. Then again, things happen so fast up there it's hard to say.

Oh come on, conspiring to do what? Give Hakuhou a yusho that he so badly needs? Even for ST, that is really reaching.. He got slapped so hard he didn't know his name-that's why he let his guard down..

At least it wasn't a henka. At least there were no late shoves.

Hakuho wins all the time because he has no pressure. By contrast, Japanese rikishi who find themselves in the yusho race against are subjected to overwhelming pressure. When Hak wins a yusho everyone yawns. On the other hand, when a Japanese rikishi has a shot at a yusho he invariably fails because of the insurmountable pressure placed upon him by his countrymen.

If Hakuho was Japanese he'd be just another Yokozuna.

hakuho wins all the time because he has no pressure?

on what planet?

what is the hatin' about?

[Masumasumasu 902]

Gagamaru! Great recovery, a turn as graceful as a dump truck, and a great throw.

And was it just me, or did appear that Kise basically let his guard down before Hak's final throw? If I was a Conspiracy Theorist, I'd be on my soapbox about that one. Then again, things happen so fast up there it's hard to say.

Oh come on, conspiring to do what? Give Hakuhou a yusho that he so badly needs? Even for ST, that is really reaching.. He got slapped so hard he didn't know his name-that's why he let his guard down..

At least it wasn't a henka. At least there were no late shoves.

Hakuho wins all the time because he has no pressure. By contrast, Japanese rikishi who find themselves in the yusho race against are subjected to overwhelming pressure. When Hak wins a yusho everyone yawns. On the other hand, when a Japanese rikishi has a shot at a yusho he invariably fails because of the insurmountable pressure placed upon him by his countrymen.

If Hakuho was Japanese he'd be just another Yokozuna.

hakuho wins all the time because he has no pressure?

on what planet?

what is the hatin' about?

Compared to Japanese rikishi? Definitely.

Earth.

No hate. Hate is a very strong word. I don't particularly care for Hakuho. That's all.

[wuli 67]

ok

maybe mohammed ali didn't feel pressure either, then, by these lights

[dingo 1,160]

How the hell did Goeido lose to Ichinojo? He had almost everything done, Ichinojo on the edge and then he overextends himself for some reason and lets Ichinojo slap himself down. Guess he wasn't expecting that fast moves from him, but still... how the hell?