Bombur 50 Posted October 21, 2020 (edited) Hello everyone! I found the forum via Reddit and have been reading the training talks while waiting for the November basho, figured I could as well create an account ^^ . I'm not exactly new to sumo in the sense that I've had an interest in the sport for a very long time, admiring its the cultural signification in and to Japan and the dedication of the wrestlers. I also like the traditional look of the dohyo, its relatively rare round shape among other kinds of fighting areas, the rules, how sumo is both very simple and very hard (compared to other wrestling forms, shoving the opponent outside the ring or forcing him to touch the ground with any other part of the body but his feet is really easy, but the same applies to you, which, on the topic of winning conditions at least, makes it the most restrictive fighting sport I know) and, I won't lie, the unusual bodyshapes of sumotoris was also something that picked my interest early :P . Thus, I've been watching every movie or documentary I could find about sumo for years, but curiously, until recently, I wasn't able to get over the short duration of the bouts (especially when compared to all the ceremonial surrounding them) and didn't follow properly the sport itself. I read things and watched one or two video(s) from time to time and knew about Akebono, Asashoryu (which I actually used to misread as Ashoryu) and Hakuho, but that's about it. I don't really know why that changed, but last December I stumbled upon a compilation of Tochinoshin's bouts on his 10 wins return to ozeki tournament, and it really hyped me up for the January one that was about to start. It was the first time I followed sumo by the day (mainly on Jason's channel, may he be blessed) and I've been hooked ever since! I've even come to appreciate the short bouts, as they allow you to watch a good bunch if not all of them without taking too much of your day, even when it's basho time. Plus there aren't many sports that will offer you one tournament every other month, and that's great too (though there is another side of me saying that it would probably be better for our wrestlers if they could have slightly fewer of them :/ ...)! My favourite rikishis are Takakeisho, Asanoyama and Tochinoshin; I also quite like Takayasu (who is currently growing on me and will certainly join the last 3 if he makes it back to ozeki), Mitakeumi, Shodai and Tokushoryu. And I can't not mention the GOAT that is Hakuho, but he's so dominant that rooting for him has become kinda dull... I still hope he can take a 45th yusho (a round 50 would be nice, but it's likely asking a bit much, and I'd also like to see a new yokozuna soon) and represent sumo at the Olympics before he retires! Another passion of mine is Tolkien's works, and the Dwarf Bombur could probably have made for a good sumotori; it's also my regular internet pseudo, hence the name ^^ . Edited October 22, 2020 by Bombur 10 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Swami 244 Posted October 22, 2020 Hearty salutations from the Swami! Swami Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RabidJohn 1,229 Posted October 22, 2020 That's a curious and unconventional route you took! Welcome to the forum. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shinobi Steve 146 Posted October 22, 2020 Welcome to the forum! Good to have another Tolkien nerd around. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RabidJohn 1,229 Posted October 22, 2020 (edited) 30 minutes ago, Shinobi Steve said: Good to have another Tolkien nerd around. Well this is a sumo forum so I've never mentioned it, but... let's just say I'm familiar with Aelfwine, who heard the story of Iluvatar and the Song of the Ainur from the elves in the Cottage of Lost Play on Tol Eressea. Edited October 22, 2020 by RabidJohn 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bombur 50 Posted October 22, 2020 (edited) Haha, thank you all! I have some ideas about including an alternative form of sumo in my own fantasy story, if I can finish it one day . Edited October 22, 2020 by Bombur Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yamanashi 2,934 Posted October 22, 2020 6 hours ago, RabidJohn said: Well this is a sumo forum so I've never mentioned it, but... let's just say I'm familiar with Aelfwine, who heard the story of Iluvatar and the Song of the Ainur from the elves in the Cottage of Lost Play on Tol Eressea. Mae Govannen! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fujisan 499 Posted October 24, 2020 Welcome aboard Bombur.... Chuck in your salt and join the fray... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
