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

[Arashifuji 10]

Kise did two things today we don't normally see from him. First, he didn't roll over to someone who has the wood on him for a fair while now, Usually he has lost these bouts before they even starts because his brain gets the better of him and convinces him he is going to lose. And second he completely changed his usual tactics in order to beat the guy who has the wood on him. Endure the opening charge, don't use your usual tactics, then a bit of harite, a bit of oshi and get the win. Usually his brain is his own worst enemy and he only wins when it doesn't get in his way. In fact, I usually think he would be best off if he could remove his brain and put it in a box before each bout and just go on auto-pilot. But today he engaged his brain in a most interesting way, harnessed it as a weapon, and out-thought his opponent. There may be hope for him yet.

Totally agreed. Maybe with all those interesting prospects rising, guys like Terunofuji, Ichinojo, Endo, Osunaarashi, even Mitakeumi now, Kisenosato kind of fell out of the center of the spotlight. And it's a blessing for him. His mind is out of the state of confusion that blurred his tactical approach in pressure filled moments. I'm just loving this calm and collected brand of sumo he's employing. Controlled agression is a kind of art.

If Goeido could get any far asas from the word "kadoban", he could also improve. But I guess there is not much room for it, brainwise or talentwise...

Also loved Ama's handling of Yoshikaze. Yesterday, Yoshi just brought hell to Tochiozan. Ama forgot his bad record against Yoshikaze and showed superiority.

Praying for Terunofuji to get his kachikoshi soon and get some rest for that knee. He outmuscled Osunaarashi, who seem to have his mumification process evolving. Love those ancient pharaonic traditions...

And Kotoshogiku just smashed into the Great Wall of Mongolia. Ichinnorow's need to be upright allied to his remarkable leg stability made him work as a gigantic stonewall. And considering Giku's lack of familiarity with a concept generally known as "plan B", Ichinojo's victory got as predictable as it was surprising, considering both guys' records in this basho until now.

And to close out, how not to laugh out loud when Henkaminishiki shows his evasive abilities?

Edited November 13, 2015 by Arashifuji

[Gurowake 3,923]

Did anyone else feel like Tochiozan just gave up and stepped out voluntarily? He probably was just extremely exhausted and didn't have the staying power, or just lost the will to continue the fight even if his body might have been able to do it. I've been extremely disappointed in him these last couple basho. Really, since the end of the basho where he beat Hakuho. As Morty points out, he looks to be more of a head-case now than Kisenosato; he shows he has the talent to potentially get the promotion, but just can't take the step to actually get there.

[808morgan 805]

Ichi! (Zabuton flying...)

[luispereira 383]

nice bout today from shohozan, would like to see a brawl between him and yoshikaze or osunarashi...

[808morgan 805]

Kise did two things today we don't normally see from him. First, he didn't roll over to someone who has the wood on him for a fair while now, Usually he has lost these bouts before they even starts because his brain gets the better of him and convinces him he is going to lose. And second he completely changed his usual tactics in order to beat the guy who has the wood on him. Endure the opening charge, don't use your usual tactics, then a bit of harite, a bit of oshi and get the win. Usually his brain is his own worst enemy and he only wins when it doesn't get in his way. In fact, I usually think he would be best off if he could remove his brain and put it in a box before each bout and just go on auto-pilot. But today he engaged his brain in a most interesting way, harnessed it as a weapon, and out-thought his opponent. There may be hope for him yet.

Totally agreed. Maybe with all those interesting prospects rising, guys like Terunofuji, Ichinojo, Endo, Osunaarashi, even Mitakeumi now, Kisenosato kind of fell out of the center of the spotlight. And it's a blessing for him. His mind is out of the state of confusion that blurred his tactical approach in pressure filled moments. I'm just loving this calm and collected brand of sumo he's employing. Controlled agression is a kind of art.

If Goeido could get any far asas from the word "kadoban", he could also improve. But I guess there is not much room for it, brainwise or talentwise...

Also loved Ama's handling of Yoshikaze. Yesterday, Yoshi just brought hell to Tochiozan. Ama forgot his bad record against Yoshikaze and showed superiority.

Praying for Terunofuji to get his kachikoshi soon and get some rest for that knee. He outmuscled Osunaarashi, who seem to have his mumification process evolving. Love those ancient pharaonic traditions...

And Kotoshogiku just smashed into the Great Wall of Mongolia. Ichinnorow's need to be upright allied to his remarkable leg stability made him work as a gigantic stonewall. And considering Giku's lack of familiarity with a concept generally known as "plan B", Ichinojo's victory got as predictable as it was surprising, considering both guys' records in this basho until now.

And to close out, how not to laugh out loud when Henkaminishiki shows his evasive abilities?

I laughed so hard out loud and clapped at Aminishiki, oh man I love that guy haha. Ichi did a good job, it is true when the bumpity bumpity doesn't work out Koto is usually out of time and ideas.

"See ya later, go get some lunch, I recommend the Kotoshogiku bento"

Edited November 13, 2015 by 808morgan

[Tsubame 356]

My predictions which will all come true:

[...]

I know who will take the yusho but I'm not telling.

It's Gagamaru, right? Right?! :-D Starting his final ozeki fun!

[Asashosakari 18,786]

And if one spot opens, who will get the nod between Yoshi, Tochi, and Goeido assuming the first two KK and the last MK's? For me those are the most interesting questions right now.

That's pretty safe to predict: Goeido if makekoshi, otherwise the komusubi with the better KK record, or Tochinoshin if both have the same.

[Katooshu 3,135]

Oh I understand that (at least the part about the komusubi with the better record or Tochi if same record--I wasn't sure about Goeido)...but seeing things unfold on the way to the result being determined is what adds the most intrigue to the tournament for me.

As for other things, I'm disappointed to see Oosu at 1-5 but he was there last tournament and got his KK with a day to spare, so I'm hoping he turns things around in the same way. Terunofuji doesn't look to be close to his best but even in his current state he's tough for nearly everyone to beat. I'm glad that Kaisei beat Ikioi and I've found myself rooting against Ikioi during the last two tournaments, perhaps because I don't like seeing someone at the top of the leader-board when their opposition has been significantly weaker than most of the other rikishi there.

Sekitori aside, I've been tracking the progress of Ura, Daiki, Chiyonoumi (now at 17-0 with a playoff win on top of that), and of course Homarenishiki, and I'm looking forward to seeing how they progress over the next year. There's been lots of talk of Brodie and Ura, but what do people think of the other two?

Edited November 13, 2015 by Kotooshu's Revenge

[ScottyJoyJrBebe 97]

GO ICHINOJO!!! Repeat nine more times. (would settle for Seven)

[Kasutera 258]

Ol' Bumbleboobs beat Goeido, which I will accept as there's no result which allows both participants involved to lose.

[dingo 1,160]

That was some really tough love from Kisenosato today with these slaps. He managed to defend really well against Tochiozan, but then again defence is his forte.

It's as if Kise's slaps were so hard that they travelled back in time and woke up Ichinojo as well! He absorbed Kotoshogiku's charge magnificently and that was it.

Oh, and I miss Kyokutenho :(

[luispereira 383]

That was some really tough love from Kisenosato today with these slaps. He managed to defend really well against Tochiozan, but then again defence is his forte.

It's as if Kise's slaps were so hard that they travelled back in time and woke up Ichinojo as well! He absorbed Kotoshogiku's charge magnificently and that was it.

Oh, and I miss Kyokutenho :(

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz88cGH0rwA yee

[inhashi 2,363]

Oh, and I miss Kyokutenho :(

me too :( :(

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz88cGH0rwA yee

I know that Kyokutenho is tall, but in this clip he looks to have some freakishly long legs :o

Danger on legs that is ;)

Edited November 13, 2015 by inhashi

[ronnie 221]

I think that Asashoryu and Shohozan have swapped bodies. The clincher for me is that big radiant smile Shohozan shows after a win >:-(

Edited November 13, 2015 by ronnie

[luispereira 383]

he lifted asashoryu like asashoryu ehhe

[taresu 38]

Oh, and I miss Kyokutenho :(

me too :( :(

that makes us three. seeing him on guard duty sometimes makes me feel sad (not cuz of he being on guard duty, is just because i miss him. :'-( )

Edited November 14, 2015 by taresu

[808morgan 805]

Oh, and I miss Kyokutenho :(

There are some rikishi I really liked having in the mix, I saw Kyokutenho on guard duty and I thought the same thing.

"You have reached your quota of positive votes for the day"

Sorry forum computer, I will try to be less positive!

[Kurikara 28]

And if one spot opens, who will get the nod between Yoshi, Tochi, and Goeido assuming the first two KK and the last MK's? For me those are the most interesting questions right now.

That's pretty safe to predict: Goeido if makekoshi, otherwise the komusubi with the better KK record, or Tochinoshin if both have the same.

If Tochinoshin doesn't get the promotion because Goeido goes MK, I'll lose it...

[808morgan 805]

Am i the only one impressed with Shohouzan effort today? Really nice to see him fighting today, so as Kisenosato who didn't gave up and slap his way to the win. Terunofuji was almost stiff today, he must take care of that knee asap. Finally Kaisei returned and even brought a loss to ikioi who was doing fine so far. Nice that yesterday we had 5 rikishi at the top and now is only Hakuho. Wondering how things are going to play tomorrow. Oh, before i forget, after i said that things about Ichinojou he just defeated kotoshougiku and got his first win, yay!

[Benevolance 2,478]

Somebody knows what happened to ichinojou?

He got a fried chicken contract and his life ambitions were fulfilled. Everything else from here on in is gravy.

[Kurikara 28]

Can't believe Endo didn't get injured there. That fall looked nasty.

[kuroimori 1,634]

Kise just got bailed out by a very unfortunate inadvertent step out by Aoiyama.

This feels so not right...

[kuroimori 1,634]

Ikioi really has Teru's number.

[Kurikara 28]

Ikioi really has Teru's number.

Not sure about that.. Seemed to me he rather stepped out than to use the right knee to defent..

[kuroimori 1,634]

Another sashi-chigae?

looked like to me even before seeing the replay.

Edited November 14, 2015 by kuroimori