Basho Talk - Haru Basho 2016 +++ Spoiler Alert! +++

[Iginishiki2 8]

6: Lady Gaga vs Chiyoo000OOOtori: Tremendous bumbety bumb by Kotoshogiku. Winner of this match: Kotooooo...I mean Chiyootori.

A general remark I already had in mind after yesterday - is it just me paying a bit more attention to the style after Giku won the yusho last basho, or have the others adapted the bumpety style more often as of late with Geek being on the rise?

[hamcornheinz 839]

man, Kotoshogiku's win today was a carbon copy of his win over Aoiyama last basho...

[Morty 1,480]

Kak did today exactly what Aioyama should have done yesterday - get both hands on the mawashi in a morazashi grip - yesterday Aioyama had the opportunity but just decided to hug Hak instead. Clueless as to what to do once the slapping doesn't work. Today was the same - I swear the Geek has beaten him the same way he did today about eight times exactly the same in the past.

Back to Kak vs, Tochinosin - that was a great bout and the reason why I will always like Tochinoshin - he was beaten all up from the moment Kak got the double inside grip, but he kept fighting and looked like he was trying for a utchari even though he had virtually no chance for one. Never gives up.

And also - Kotoyuki!!!

Edited March 18, 2016 by Morty

[Taka 33]

Very rambling speculative post ahead (you have been warned):

So I'm kind of considering at some point doing a "fists-down investigation" looking at videos of the tachi-ai and see if that can provide some answers to some of the success of rikishi with a certain kind of style and center of gravity, I'm thinking mainly about Kotoyuki and Kotoshogiku.

First of all I should say that I haven't even paid particular attention to Kotoshogiku when it comes to this.

It's Kotoyuki who has the reputation and who I've noticed is a notorious sinner (though not today I didn't think at first glance) perhaps benefiting greatly. I'm not saying that he is the only one not following protocol strictly, far far from it I'm pretty sure but would a forming suspicion in my head that Kotoyuki's particular style and center of gravity benefit from the current tachi-ai climate be very wrong?

Well, I started to think that it wasn't when pondering his rise and that's when Kotoshogiku amidst all the fiery debate on arrangement of bouts and what the hell was going on with him and SUMO also popped into my head.

I mean there is a still a chance that his new success is simply variance. Any dramatic turnaround success from him comes down to fewer bouts than people may think, if you think about it (I think!) and part of any fortune for him obviously could also to whatever extent simply be opponents experiencing whatever kind of misfortune (like physical) that they had perhaps not suffered from recently.

I'd believe something along those lines more than any significant improvement from him whether physical or technical at this stage in his career. Certainly just looking at him, I'm not seriously seeing any of that, it's mostly just the results that are better right now. His process is still very Kotoshogiku.

Of course him being more healthy than in many years would be one of the best explanations of recent success. How much that is the case I don't know. I know that he has had injuries but it hasn't been my impression that he has NEVER had good healthy spells.

Anyway the idea taking shape in my mind, brought to me from Kotoyuki basically, was if a current tachi-ai climate (most importantly not consistently consisting of FIST(S) DOWN) simply to whatever extent, favor the Kotoshogiku style, build and center of gravity to whatever extent more so than at other times and if that, rather than dramatic bout-arranging, along with variance, his health and other's health, could be part of the explanation, could be part of an edge that he (and most likely some others) are enjoying right now.

I will admit that especially Kotoyuki has annoyed me with his no-fist. I can't say that Kotoshogiku has at all because I'm not even sure how much he is a part of this (I will try to have a look and of course could/should just have delayed this post until I had). But if this quick not even fully formed theory holds any water then I do think that I'm ready to simply accept, and not ill-judge, that this is just similar to many sports where a specific current climate favors a certain type of athlete.

Whether it's different sizes and different type of athleticism enjoying different levels of success in different times in NBA basketbal or soccer - different rules playing a big part.

Tennis has also seen dramatic changes for different styles and bodytypes at the mercy of different surfaces and racket technology.

Or to take one of the most extreme examples, road-cycling, where for a long period in the 90s and early 00s a very important component of your talent was just how well your physiology reacted to EPO specifically compared to everyone else using it.

Compared to all that, this here in sumo, if it even exists, is very minor and maybe very temporary also.

Edited March 18, 2016 by Taka

[ScottyJoyJrBebe 97]

Match of the Day for Me: Kotoyuki vs Terunofuji. As much of an Ichinojo fan as I am, I can say with pride that I'm not just jumping on the Kotoyuki bandwagon. Got hooked on his Respectful bow, and thought his bark was awesome from the start, now its starting to get quite the reaction from the crowd. Lets see how far he can go.

If you haven't already, PLS watch Kintamayama's coverage of the Koto/Teru match. (Laughing...) (Laughing...) (Laughing...) (Laughing...) (Laughing...)

[hamcornheinz 839]

Kotoyuki vs Terunofuji

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRiBQnBibn4

Harumafuji vs Yoshikaze

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq7Rnrh2Eks

[mikawa 1,794]

Sure looking forward to seeing more and more of Ura's bouts, so unpredictable (or predictable in some ways?)

It's almost like having Mainoumi again.

[taresu 38]

Ura just amazes me everytime. That hand he kept in front of Amakaze's face was on purpose? Just whoa to him, every time.

[orandashoho 720]

Ura said in one of his pre-maezumo interviews that he wanted to emulate his big example Mainoumi.

[dingo 1,160]

Amakaze's face was priceless. The commentators too were like. ''Look at Amakaze's OH SHIT/DAMMIT face''.

In replay you can see Ura fake attack forward with a tsuppari aimed at face, only to turn into Harumafuji and drive Amakaze out of the dohyo. It worked better than I even predicted, not only did he get the back he grabbed the leg too. Endless bag of tricks and techniques. I currently have the biggest mancrush on this man. There is no doubt anymore that Ura will be a sekitori next basho. I cannot see him losing 3 fights in a row while the other three over him outshine him. He is now 36 and 3 in his pro career and 4-0 this basho.

Other notes:

Dewahayate and Chiyoshoma are having good bashos also in Juryo.

Kotokamatani is 3-0 in Jonidan as expected.

And Juryo still has one leader.

I found it fun how the commentators mentioned looking at the replay that Amakaze did sumo with the air in front of him. That's how quick Ura was, and they were as exhilarated as most of us on this board.

[Dwale 419]

Kotoyuki continuing this trend of staying competitive against strong opponents. He's doing much better than I had expected. Hmm.

Satoyama delivering my favorite win of the day. Senpai, you're so cool! I mean, uh...what?

So, we're left with two undefeated rikishi on day 6, Kisenosato and Ikioi. It's not outside the realm of possibility that either man could remain so and thereby claim the yusho, but I think the probability of such is rather low. I would love to see Kisenosato accomplish this, but...well, y'all know.

EDIT: Meanwhile, down in juryo... XP Yeah, Osunaarashi is my favorite, but that sort of...mocking way he went about the pre-bout rituals, that needs to not become a regular thing. Yes, juryo is too easy for you, we get it! XP

Edited March 18, 2016 by Dwale

[CT3* 331]

Anyone else notice that Hakuho has been avoiding going to the belt?

Harumafuji's knee injury seemed pretty apparent today. Wouldn't be surprised to see him withdraw if he suffers another loss or two.

Kisenosato is looking solid early. Will he keep it up? If I had to bet...

Glad to see Kyokutaisei notch his first win, but methinks he likely won't avoid demotion.

[orandashoho 720]

Endo is looking more solid today, a very decisive win.

Osunaarashi can collect a Juryo Yusho this time´too... he didn't have that one yet.

Kotoyuki -- has anyone else noticed how that junyo on his home turf fired him up? It seems to have changed him into a different rikishi. One who can bark into Hakuho's face and say "So what? Make me!"

Aminishiki, aaah, was it that you haven't had an opportunity to gauge this new boy's weaknesses yet?

who could have thought that Harumafuji, in a golden position at the start, would now be trailing?

More! ...I am really enjoying this basho...

[Benevolance 2,478]

My only complaint of the basho so far is Kintamayama's inexplicable decision to turn Takarafuji's mawashi purple. If he could change it back, that would be great.

[Dwale 419]

Just thought it was worth mentioning, Takayasu's hairdresser really knocked it out of the park today. Poor guy can't seem to get a win for anything, though.

[torquato 1,075]

I'm so pleased with Ikioi. 6 wins in a row is his best start in Makuuchi ever. Would be fun to see him win the yusho followed by Kisenosato. :-D

I'm exited to see the second half of the basho when the big guys compete against each other.

[Kintamayama 44,349]

I'm going to say something very unpopular. Regardless of what I or others want, it's Hakuhou's yusho. I understood that today.

Stake.

[Kotogouryuu 126]

I'm going to say something very unpopular. Regardless of what I or others want, it's Hakuhou's yusho. I understood that today.

Stake.

Very much possible, he is Hakuho after all. But that elbow is bothering him. There is a window of opportunity for the others here.

[Gurowake 3,915]

Nishikigi continues to do surprisingly well. I thought when he made Juryo a year ago he wasn't going to stay very long, but now he's only a handful of wins away from reaching Makuuchi - only lost to Osunaarashi so far through day 6 while facing all the guys at the top of Juryo. He spent 5 years in Makushita starting around age 20, but looks to be making it through Juryo in exactly one year.

Edited March 19, 2016 by Gurowake

[Yubinhaad 11,545]

I wish more rikishi would take Kotoyuki's approach and nullify Terunofuji's mind games at the tachiai. He will almost always wait for his opponent to put his hands down before doing so himself, but Kotoyuki refused to play ball and stared him out. Terunofuji couldn't handle it and stood up. At the second attempt, Kotoyuki initiated the tachiai as if to say, "NOW we start." He won the bout both psychologically and physically. Great to see.

Meanwhile, if my querying is up to scratch, Ura is the 16th Makushita rikishi in the seven-bout era to secure his kachi-koshi on Day 6. Amusingly, I notice that Aka (later Wakanojo) also did it on his Jonokuchi debut,

Back to Makushita, Ageshio even managed to do it on Day 5, having been the lucky recipient of a fusensho on the previous day.

Edited March 18, 2016 by Yubinhaad

[Katooshu 3,132]

Nishikigi continues to do surprising well. I thought when he made Juryo a year ago he wasn't going to stay very long, but now he's only a handful of wins away from reaching Makuuchi - only lost to Osunaarashi so far through day 6 while facing all the guys at the top of Juryo. He spent 5 years in Makushita starting around age 20, but looks to be making it through Juryo in exactly one year.

He certainly seems to be one of the most improved rikishi over the last few years. Looking very solid....

[Asashosakari 18,786]

Nishikigi continues to do surprising well. I thought when he made Juryo a year ago he wasn't going to stay very long, but now he's only a handful of wins away from reaching Makuuchi - only lost to Osunaarashi so far through day 6 while facing all the guys at the top of Juryo. He spent 5 years in Makushita starting around age 20, but looks to be making it through Juryo in exactly one year.

He's probably one of those rikishi who already had all the tools necessary years ago, except one - pure strength. As his weight progression on the DB shows he was stuck around 130-135 kg for years, but in the last three years he has put on more than 30 kg (listed weight on the official site now 169 kg). From my impression, it's not unusual that such rikishi move up quickly once they do start moving.

[Dwale 419]

I wish more rikishi would take Kotoyuki's approach and nullify Terunofuji's mind games at the tachiai. He will almost always wait for his opponent to put his hands down before doing so himself, but Kotoyuki refused to play ball and stared him out. Terunofuji couldn't handle it and stood up. At the second attempt, Kotoyuki initiated the tachiai as if to say, "NOW we start." He won the bout both psychologically and physically. Great to see.

Thanks. I watched that one a few times trying to understand what was going on, but I couldn't read it.

[kuroimori 1,634]

Ichinojo didn't show up today, it was Ichinoslow.

[kuroimori 1,634]

Ura said in one of his pre-maezumo interviews that he wanted to emulate his big example Mainoumi.

And he does a pretty darn good job doing that!