Yamanashi 3,904 Posted March 10, 2020 The documentary "Sumo Girl" about a high schooler in Aomori prefecture is on the rotation at NHK World. Good story of both the girl and Aomori amasumo. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/video/5006024/ 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikawa 1,794 Posted March 11, 2020 The girl showed great heart in her training and in her competition bouts, it was truly inspirational. However, she does seem to have a habit of trying to force the double inside grip, which can easily backfire against better opponents. The medal was fully deserved though. Wonder what happened to all those kids in Aomori who grew up doing sumo? Do many of them stop doing sumo when they reach high school, or did they simply choose to go to a high school elsewhere in the prefecture/country? Four newbies in a row seems like a lot. Many thanks for sharing, it was very enjoyable to watch! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Catalin B 13 Posted March 13, 2020 Cool story! I have to say I was uncomfortable watching those kids ram their heads into poles and such. Even if what you're hitting is not brick hard, that stuff can't be good for you. Can't believe they do it that early in their careers/lives. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yamanashi 3,904 Posted March 13, 2020 1 hour ago, Catalin B said: Cool story! I have to say I was uncomfortable watching those kids ram their heads into poles and such. Even if what you're hitting is not brick hard, that stuff can't be good for you. Can't believe they do it that early in their careers/lives. You know that serene, disinterested look some rikishi have ("the face of hinkaku") before and after their matches? Maybe, and maybe its the punch-drunk stupor from bashing their foreheads into the teppo instead of their hands. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaminariyuki 500 Posted March 20, 2020 On 17/03/2020 at 16:12, John Gunning said: Absolutely. If you've ever listened in on our broadcasts you'll probably have heard me raise this issue. The concussion / CTE issue, when awareness seeps through here, is going to be a huge one for sumo. With no equipment or rule changes that can be made all they can really do to lessen the impact (pun intended) in bouts is go back to the 70's style tachiai. These kind of training practices in this day and age (especially with kids) should be made illegal. I'll admit it's something I used to do as well because just 10-15 years ago there wasn't the current level of awareness among the general population about how ANY impact to the head has repercussions. Coaches who have kids ram their heads into a solid wooden pole again and again and then wonder why there are no young recruits are a big reason many parents won't let their children do sumo. They need to be educated and their practices changed. I completely agree, the practice for young rikishi needs to change, and I'd suggest that if the sport is to survive, and further, head butting must eventually be banned in competition. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yamanashi 3,904 Posted March 23, 2020 2 hours ago, John Gunning said: In 20 years of watching and participating in sumo I've never once seen anyone headbutt an opponent. Going in head first happens all the time but deliberately drawing the head back and ramming the forehead into the bridge of someone's nose? Never. I haven't seen this done deliberately, and you've watched up close for years and years and haven't seen it; but @Kaminariyuki, et al., seem to be talking about the inadvertent head-knocking that often happens at tachiai or (on purpose) in ovine mating rituals. How to ban something that's not deliberate, though? In youth (Am) football they're teaching "heads up" tackling, which would make the tachiai look more like what I see in the Ozumo videos of the previous century. Seems like that approach would reduce the number of henka's; also no one wants to rush up to an opponent and slam faces. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaminariyuki 500 Posted March 24, 2020 5 hours ago, John Gunning said: In 20 years of watching and participating in sumo I've never once seen anyone headbutt an opponent. Going in head first happens all the time but deliberately drawing the head back and ramming the forehead into the bridge of someone's nose? Never. Yes, I did not mean to imply it was deliberate, although I can't say it's never been done, at least not with the certainty that you have. Of course, you are far more intimate with the sport than I, so I defer there. I think eventually it will have to be addressed, though, if not any time soon. As much as I love the sport, I couldn't encourage a young person in my own family to pursue it, even though I'd have loved to sample the sport myself if I'd have discovered it when I was young enough to give it a go. That said, I'm generally of a scientific disposition and I haven't seen any data on this subject (head trauma in sumo). I could easily be swayed by facts. Unlike the NFL. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaminariyuki 500 Posted March 24, 2020 I got in trouble when discussing this video and topic on another thread last year. You'd think I'd learn. In that case, though I was intentionally taunting those who don't want to allow women to participate. I should have been a lawyer, I suppose. I really enjoyed this video, and I think the young women who participate in amateur sumo deserve our support and encouragement. If the sport develops and the top women can compete, I think they should be permitted to do so. (I do understand there are practical and religious impediments, and I'm not taunting anyone this time) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yamanashi 3,904 Posted March 24, 2020 I'd like to know what's happened to the girl, now two years after the film. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
