Haru Basho 2019 Discussion [SPOILERS]

[Eikokurai 3,437]

51 minutes ago, Catalin B said:

 Is there really any reason why he would keep going? He looked like he should bow out a week ago.

Ikioi just doesn’t quit, plus this is his hometown basho. 

[Rocks 1,810]

31 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

To me it looked more like daddy Azumaryu trying to escape from a clasping kid.

It's embarrassing to even call that sumo. 

[Rocks 1,810]

1 hour ago, Catalin B said:

 Is there really any reason why he would keep going? He looked like he should bow out a week ago.

With 4 guys having their fingers poised over pushing the down button to Juryo he night be able to avoid demotion with 2 more wins. Even a 1 legged Ikioi might beat Daishoho.

[Dwale 419]

1 hour ago, Morty said:

It was also a good demonstration of how Aioyama is a fairly one dimensional rikishi - when the push and pull routine didn't work he had nothing and Ichinojo just waited him out.

That goes for a lot, maybe even most, of the oshi specialists. 

[ALAKTORN 346]

2 hours ago, Morty said:

It was also a good demonstration of how Aioyama is a fairly one dimensional rikishi - when the push and pull routine didn't work he had nothing and Ichinojo just waited him out.

 

1 hour ago, Dwale said:

That goes for a lot, maybe even most, of the oshi specialists. 

Most rikishi are one-dimensional, there’s nothing wrong with that.

Hakuhō–Takakeishō looked brutal. Some of those slaps Hakuhō was throwing looked as bad as a punch. I’m impressed with Takakeishō’s resilience.

[Dwale 419]

21 minutes ago, ALAKTORN said:

 

Most rikishi are one-dimensional, there’s nothing wrong with that.

Hakuhō–Takakeishō looked brutal. Some of those slaps Hakuhō was throwing looked as bad as a punch. I’m impressed with Takakeishō’s resilience.

Mhm. It's possible to KO with a slap if you put your whole body into it.

[CT3* 331]

Takakeisho had some blood near his ear at the end of his bout with Hakuho. Some of his blood even ended up on Hakuho.

 

[Dapeng 236]

2 hours ago, ALAKTORN said:

Hakuhō–Takakeishō looked brutal. Some of those slaps Hakuhō was throwing looked as bad as a punch. I’m impressed with Takakeishō’s resilience.

Takakeishō had no plan but Hakuho knows how to defeat Takakeishō. The real testing for Takakeishō is from here on. 

[robnplunder 978]

1 hour ago, Dapeng said:

Takakeishō had no plan but Hakuho knows how to defeat Takakeishō. The real testing for Takakeishō is from here on. 

Takaeishho's limited plan against Hak was slap Hak's hand down before it reaches Tak's chin.   I am saying half jokingly but it was effective IMO.  

[Philioyamfugi 378]

I think Takakeisho lost a lil focus and Hakahou drew him in for a double under arm grip on the edge which is great position for some rikshi...Takakeisho should have back off, even though he was getting smashed. Easy for me to say. I hope for some great matches for them in the future. Brilliant strategy by the Hak.

[Katooshu 3,485]

12 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

No kachikoshi on his makuuchi return for Toyonoshima. 

Yago survives the mono-ii after what looked like a hairpull and so it's a fourth consecutive makekoshi for Yutakayama. That should see him Juryo bound. He started off so brightly in the top division but has hit a wall. (Also, was that the first mono-ii this basho?)

He actually started out dismally in makuuchi, with consecutive 4-11s. He's now on track for his 6th double-digit MK and 7th MK overall in 10 makuuchi tournaments, so he's generally been pretty weak in the top division and his 12-3 was much more of a deviation than this basho has been

Edited March 20, 2019 by Katooshu

[Benevolance 2,534]

I think it's safe to say that Hakuho benefited from the degeiko at Oguruma beya far more than Takakeishou and Tamawashi did. 

[robnplunder 978]

41 minutes ago, Philioyamfugi said:

I think Takakeisho lost a lil focus and Hakahou drew him in for a double under arm grip on the edge which is great position for some rikshi...Takakeisho should have back off, even though he was getting smashed. Easy for me to say. I hope for some great matches for them in the future. Brilliant strategy by the Hak.

Hak used his ring sense to grab Taka when he did.   Not too many can do that against Taka. 

[Jabbamaru 169]

Little Sato is for sure a real wampaku; serious guy. The look on Hak's face before and during the bout was clear; full concentration. And thats a major achievement for any sumotori.

The way he evoids a hatakikomi - amazing leg stretch - was beautiful. Hak was indeed tsuparing for the knock out... wich is another demonstration of respect.

Sato is kind of a top crop. He is the best of all these oshi kids that are multipling in ozumo today (makes sense that with giant foreigners like Kaisei, Aoiyama, Ichi, Tochi... Young Japanese rikishis goes for the oshi style) and when someone is the best of a kind usually we can expect big things.

Its a real shame that he is such a dwarf, imagine that kind of fearlessness with a strong body...

I think he have a weakness in his tachiai (its working by now but people will figure that out sooner or later) wich is that right hand push that he does all the time...That move surely can be explored for his aite. But with a little more time and some belt training (a least to dont totally panic when gets grabbed) He will be long term ozeki/weak Yokozuna. Learn some belt its a must.

Ps*things are going bad for Tochi...IMO his only chances are some good old backscratch from his pals...

[Highway 46]

Aoiyama and Takakeisho both gave it a heck of a good go, but wasn't to be this tournament. Hakuho seems to have re-entered invincible mode.

[Dwale 419]

1 hour ago, Jabbamaru said:

 

Sato is kind of a top crop. He is the best of all these oshi kids that are multipling in ozumo today (makes sense that with giant foreigners like Kaisei, Aoiyama, Ichi, Tochi... Young Japanese rikishis goes for the oshi style) and when someone is the best of a kind usually we can expect big things.

Its a real shame that he is such a dwarf, imagine that kind of fearlessness with a strong body...

I think he uses his height as an advantage. Because his center of gravity is so low, he can afford to posture up and use more of his upper-body strength while still maintaining his stability. 

[Jabbamaru 169]

Yeah...For now.

[Eikokurai 3,437]

3 hours ago, Katooshu said:

He actually started out dismally in makuuchi, with consecutive 4-11s. He's now on track for his 6th double-digit MK and 7th MK overall in 10 makuuchi tournaments, so he's generally been pretty weak in the top division and his 12-3 was much more of a deviation than this basho has been

Last year he went 9-6, 10-5, 2-13, 12-3, 3-10-2 and 5-10. The 2-13 and 3-10-2 were in the joi at M3 and M2 respectively. Nobody who has made it to the joi is doing dismally. It appeared he’d finally figured out makuuchi after a couple of yo-yo appearances and found his level in mid-division. Other than November, 2018 was actually a more than respectable year for Yutakayama in makuuchi.

Edited March 20, 2019 by Eikokurai

[CT3* 331]

Hakuho very rarely loses two times in a row to the same rikishi. Takakeisho's style works for him, but he's also been shown to be pretty hapless/helpless on the belt. Everyone knows what Takakeisho's game is. Is his one trick good enough to make Ozeki? Absolutely. Kotoshogiku's game was also fairly predictable, but he was successful with it.

[robnplunder 978]

19 minutes ago, Dwale said:

I think he uses his height as an advantage. Because his center of gravity is so low, he can afford to posture up and use more of his upper-body strength while still maintaining his stability. 

Yeah, Takakeisho can keep his height.   What he needs is to grow his reach, perhaps, additional 5 inches per arm.   That way, he can grab on to something and hang on.  Until he can grow his arms, he better perfect his current style of sumo. 

[Jabbamaru 169]

53 minutes ago, CT3* said:

Hakuho very rarely loses two times in a row to the same rikishi. Takakeisho's style works for him, but he's also been shown to be pretty hapless/helpless on the belt. Everyone knows what Takakeisho's game is. Is his one trick good enough to make Ozeki? Absolutely. Kotoshogiku's game was also fairly predictable, but he was successful with it.

My point is that at 22 he have time to learn some yutsu and become a much better rikishi than Kotoshogaburigaburigiku (wich i truly love by the way. Go go Geek)... He dont need to change from "what mathafucka" to "moooommy" every time someone grabs his belt...

[Kaninoyama 1,879]

16 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

The Onomatsu order to avoid a mono-ii at all costs and get away without making an odd explanation didn't work this basho: he kindled the expectations for a redo, the fans rejoice - he realized his bad phrasing and destroyed their hopes - gumbai doori.

He's just the worst: can't put a complete sentence together in his native tongue. In contrast, ex-Musoyama delivers the explanation flawlessly and concisely every time. 

[Kaninoyama 1,879]

2 hours ago, Dwale said:

I think he uses his height as an advantage. Because his center of gravity is so low, he can afford to posture up and use more of his upper-body strength while still maintaining his stability. 

This absolutely. His stature and build are his strengths, not his weaknesses. 

[Dwale 419]

1 hour ago, Jabbamaru said:

My point is that at 22 he have time to learn some yutsu and become a much better rikishi than Kotoshogaburigaburigiku (wich i truly love by the way. Go go Geek)... He dont need to change from "what mathafucka" to "moooommy" every time someone grabs his belt...

I agree he should work on his grappling, even if just to have some desperation moves. Eventually, someone's gonna grab ya.

[Eikokurai 3,437]

35 minutes ago, Dwale said:

I agree he should work on his grappling, even if just to have some desperation moves. Eventually, someone's gonna grab ya.

Especially when your own reach is so short that you have to come inside to do your thing. Takakeisho is always going to be vulnerable to a rikishi with a long reach and a strong belt game, like, say, Hakuho.