Henka or not Henka?

[JackMalia123 0]

Hi, I’m an American who has been a sumo fan for about a year. It’s hard to find info in English online and find people to talk to about sumo, so here I am. For anyone who can rewatch it, why, for example, is what Abi did to Chiyotairyu on Day 13 not considered Henka, while what Goeido did to Tochinoshin a couple days back is? I feel like any time you jump to the side it should be considered henka, but apparently there is some unspoken difference I cannot see. Thank you all!

[Asojima 2,873]

Henka is a matter of personal interpretation.  It does not officially exist.  The blatant henka occurs when one of the rikishi steps to the side IMMEDIATELY from the tachiai before there is any contact.  The questionable henka is one where there is at least a modicum of contact before the sideways movement.  You will sometimes see that referred to here as an HNH (Harumafuji Non-Henka).  Henka is a perfectly legal maneuver.  Its occurrence/acceptability varies for each observer.  It is not unusual for arguments/discussions to appear here following anything that could possibly be considered to be a henka.

[Rocks 1,807]

2 minutes ago, Asojima said:

Henka is a matter of personal interpretation.  It does not officially exist.  The blatant henka occurs when one of the rikishi steps to the side IMMEDIATELY from the tachiai before there is any contact.  The questionable henka is one where there is at least a modicum of contact before the sideways movement.  You will sometimes see that referred to here as an HNH (Harumafuji Non-Henka).  Henka is a perfectly legal maneuver.  Its occurrence/acceptability varies for each observer.  It is not unusual for arguments/discussions to appear here following anything that could possibly be considered to be a henka.

I agree with this totally. For me personally if at any point the rikishi come together chest to chest, even for the briefest instant, it isn't a henka. What Abi did there is very close as he  touches his chest for an instant with his hands. For me, while not blatant, it is still a henka. There was never any effort made to meet the opponents charge.  In the HNH the  move comes after the start. No different than stepping aside at the bales when an opponent thinks he has you an over commits to the push out. 

[JackMalia123 0]

Hi friend. I was aware that Henka is a more of an opinion sort of thing and is more “looked down upon” rather than an actual illegal maneuver/act. What I was wondering was what is the standard like “line” they have to go over for the general fan to consider it henka. Like obviously what goeido did you tochinoshin earlier was Henka. But Abi never had any intention of actually going forward so I would think that would be obvious Henka. But during the Goeido instance the commentator, Murray johnson, was like astounded and upset, while with Abi it was kind of nothing. I know Ozeki and Maegashira, yeah, but idk.

[JackMalia123 0]

20 minutes ago, Rocks said:

I agree with this totally. For me personally if at any point the rikishi come together chest to chest, even for the briefest instant, it isn't a henka. What Abi did there is very close as he  touches his chest for an instant with his hands. For me, while not blatant, it is still a henka. There was never any effort made to meet the opponents charge.  In the HNH the  move comes after the start. No different than stepping aside at the bales when an opponent thinks he has you an over commits to the push out. 

I basically agree with you. I feel like it’s not true Sumo when they don’t have a good, solid, tachiai. I don’t care if you go back, pull, or spin your opponent after that, but at least hit first. When your Only intention is “matadoring” the opponent, I think that’s disrespectful and undeserving of a win.

[Asojima 2,873]

21 minutes ago, JackMalia123 said:

I basically agree with you. I feel like it’s not true Sumo when they don’t have a good, solid, tachiai. I don’t care if you go back, pull, or spin your opponent after that, but at least hit first. When your Only intention is “matadoring” the opponent, I think that’s disrespectful and undeserving of a win.

That is where the personal interpretation comes in.  I am sometimes disappointed when a henka occurs, but I seldom disapprove of it.  I love an exquisitely executed blatant henka, but I dislike rikishi who are overly dependent on it.  Its victim is usually to blame for allowing it to occur.

[Kuroyama 715]

It's easy to forget, for those of us who are almost entirely innocent of Japanese, that a lot of the "sumo terms" we learn are ordinary Japanese words with ordinary meanings. "Henka" (変化) means "change"; in this case a change in direction from what is expected.

So yes, it's fair to call the "HNH" a henka, even though the change in direction happens after some initial contact. Whether or not one "should" be as bothered by this as one is over the "matador" variety is up to one's own personal choice of peeve.

Me, I think it's the opponent who's suckered in by a henka who is to blame for a loss. The henka-er necessarily puts himself in a bad position immediately afterward, tenable only because the henka-ee is (if all goes according to plan) in an even worse position. A canny rikishi will keep an eye out for warning signs, particularly when faced with an opponent known for this kind of maneuver. And for some smaller rikishi, such as Ichiura, it's an indispensable tool, both for the times he uses it and for the times he does not.

I don't consider myself to be in any position to determine whether a henka performed at a certain rank is "unworthy". But I do like to remind anyone complaining about them at Ozeki+ ranks that a certain reigning dai-yokozuna cemented the first yusho of his tsuna run with a well-executed henka. This has somehow not affected his "worthiness" in the general view.

Edited March 24, 2018 by Kuroyama

[Churaumi 728]

Harumafuji changed the game a bit with his HNH. I’m pretty sure he didn’t invent it, but he perfected it. Is it yokozuna worthy? I don’t know, they are supposed to have dignity above doing tricksome things. Is it also a reason he made it just short of dai-yokozuna status? Absolutely. I am a little disappointed when I see it, but it’s a legitimate strategy. It helps those smaller guys even the field. And, watching Harumafuji do it was a thing of beauty, even if it’s not my favorite move.

[rhyen 1,822]

11 hours ago, Churaumi said:

Harumafuji changed the game a bit with his HNH. I’m pretty sure he didn’t invent it, but he perfected it. Is it yokozuna worthy? I don’t know, they are supposed to have dignity above doing tricksome things. Is it also a reason he made it just short of dai-yokozuna status? Absolutely. I am a little disappointed when I see it, but it’s a legitimate strategy. It helps those smaller guys even the field. And, watching Harumafuji do it was a thing of beauty, even if it’s not my favorite move.

guess who did the HNH.

[Churaumi 728]

12 hours ago, rhyen said:

guess who did the HNH.

Also a little guy.

[WakaTakaFlame 0]

On 24.3.2018 at 03:26, JackMalia123 said:

Hi friend. I was aware that Henka is a more of an opinion sort of thing and is more “looked down upon” rather than an actual illegal maneuver/act. What I was wondering was what is the standard like “line” they have to go over for the general fan to consider it henka. Like obviously what goeido did you tochinoshin earlier was Henka. But Abi never had any intention of actually going forward so I would think that would be obvious Henka. But during the Goeido instance the commentator, Murray johnson, was like astounded and upset, while with Abi it was kind of nothing. I know Ozeki and Maegashira, yeah, but idk.

There's also a difference in rank. Goeido is an Ozeki, he's supposed to beat his opponent with technique, speed or power, especially a lower ranked rikishi.

And Abi is pretty light with just 140 kg. The lighter guys like him, Ura, Ishiura or Harumafuji tend to get away with a little more "dirty" sumo because they are at a disadvantage against most opponents. It's just more interesting to give them some leeway than just let the big guys roll over them.

[since_94 650]

Ishiura has totally worn out my indulgence with his over- reliance on this technique. So predictable and boring. Enough already.

[JackMalia123 0]

100% agreed. He gets blown out of the water going any other way. It seems