Preparation of the Y/O- Aki 2023

[Kintamayama 45,539]

Kadoban Ozeki Kirishima trained at Arashio beya today. He faced Wakamotoharu for 18 straight bouts and was 13-5 and looking good. It was a heated session with Wakamotoharu looking out of breath and grimacing while Kirishima looked unfazed. "I'll be upping the pace gradually,'" he said. "Give me a break.. I'm still having  a hard time. I'm really thankful. My aim for Aki is double-digit wins at a minimum," added Wakamotoharu.

Edited August 30, 2023 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,539]

Terunofuji's knees are better. His back, not so much. "My knees are good. My main worry is my back.. The pain has subsided a bit and it is better, but it's not healed. I'll be going about things while checking my body on a daily basis. I don't know when I'll start doing sumo. The knees are moving smoothly after my surgery and are much better, it seems to me. But the back.." he said. He did get a shot of painkillers two days ago for his back.

Edited August 30, 2023 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,539]

New Ozeki Houshouryuu has started proper training and  had 21 heated bouts against Meisei and others. "I'm OK," he said when asked how he was. He was seen asking Nishikigi and others to come over to his heya for some keiko a few days ago at the rikishi-kai..

Edited August 30, 2023 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,539]

Kirishima came to Tokitsukaze beya for some degeiko today. 15 bouts, won them all, against the likes of Wakamotoharu, Shoudai, and Tokihayate. He showed all sorts of tachiais and was seeing his opponents well.  Some hearty throws seen as well. His body seemed to be reacting well and he looked satisfied. "The usual keiko for me," he said. Tomorrow, the YDC soken, open to the public. "I just hope to do sumo with no injuries," he added.

Edited September 1, 2023 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,539]

Houshouryuu trained at home yesterday against Meisei, 8-1. "As you saw, I did some good sumo, right? The buzz around me? Rising on the banzuke, I still face the same  opponents. I'm not paying any attention to that.  I am a bit tired after the jungyo and all the training. Still, there is no need for me to change my training regimen. That may lead to injuries.." he said..

[Akinomaki 40,814]

Terunofuji is still only doing tachi-checks and no bouts - the back isn't getting better.

o

of course he will wait till just before the day 1&2 torikumi announcement on Friday to announce his kyujo

[Seiyashi 4,108]

2 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

of course he will wait till just before the day 1&2 torikumi announcement on Friday to announce his kyujo

GKA players: 

[Akinomaki 40,814]

Now Terunofuji rests completely, no keiko at all today https://www.sanspo.com/article/20230905-GLSDENKVNNIENG7HIDM7Y5VQ6Y/

- really no need to wait till Thursday with the kyujo announcement

[Akinomaki 40,814]

Today Terunofuji appeared again for keiko, but did as usual no bouts, only coaching and training the muscles of the upper body

o

 

But Takakeisho did 13 bouts at degeiko to Tokitsukaze-beya - 8-5 - with Daieisho (5-1), Takayasu (who won 4 in a row), Shodai, ... o

o

Edited September 6, 2023 by Akinomaki

[Kintamayama 45,539]

Terunofuji did some fundamentals today. After a while, the Oyakata declared that the rest of the keiko will be a closed session and politely asked all media to leave. Decisions will be made in a few hours, ahead of the day 1 torikumi making.

 

 

 

 

 

[Seiyashi 4,108]

28 minutes ago, Kintamayama said:

After a while, the Oyakata declared that the rest of the keiko will be a closed session and politely asked all media to leave.

Is that usual? I guess it was for Terunofuji to check if he really was in any state to compete without leaks.

[Akinomaki 40,814]

12 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

Is that usual? I guess it was for Terunofuji to check if he really was in any state to compete without leaks.

I guess it was to decide what they want to have on the medical certificate

[Akinomaki 40,814]

On further thought, Terunofuji might be thinking about making this his last basho and not go kyujo at the start

[Octofuji 369]

7 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

On further thought, Terunofuji might be thinking about making this his last basho and not go kyujo at the start

With two strong new Ozeki and a resilient Takakeisho maybe there's enough stability at the top for him to retire.

[Fashiritētā 184]

3 minutes ago, Octofuji said:

With two strong new Ozeki and a resilient Takakeisho maybe there's enough stability at the top for him to retire.

Another 2 Basho off should give Teru enough rest to be competitive in his next Basho.

1 Basho on ,2 basho off could help extend his time and give time for the next Yokozuna to rise up.

[Reonito 1,527]

1 hour ago, Octofuji said:

With two strong new Ozeki and a resilient Takakeisho maybe there's enough stability at the top for him to retire.

He's pretty consistently said he wants to get to 10 yusho ... though he could always decide that's out of reach.

[ScreechingOwl 343]

2 hours ago, Reonito said:

He's pretty consistently said he wants to get to 10 yusho ... though he could always decide that's out of reach.

Terunofuji has said his goal is to win 10 yusho, and to do that he'd have to win three more. To win three basho you typically need two good knees (though sometimes one will suffice) and a good back. Terunofuji has none of these. He has no more chance of winning three more than Hakuho - that's the retired champ. He can skip as many basho as he wants (and is permitted to) but I highly doubt he'll ever be wrestling on a single senshuraku again. Intai is inevitable and immanent. He's proven more than enough and just doesn't have the health to prove more.

[Fashiritētā 184]

He has 8 Yusho, just needs 2

[Bunbukuchagama 772]

1 minute ago, Fashiritētā said:

He has 8 Yusho, just needs 2

"Just".

[Akinomaki 40,814]

Terunofuji went kyujo again, so there's no need to worry https://www.jiji.com/sp/article?k=2023090800298&g=spo

He really waited till the last moment though

[Jakusotsu 6,051]

4 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

He really waited till the last moment though

Not really. He could have done a Kakuryu.

[Akinomaki 40,814]

1 hour ago, Jakusotsu said:

Not really. He could have done a Kakuryu.

That kyujo came out of the blue after perfect preparation and was for something new, after the deadline for a full kyujo from the start.

This time we all knew he had to go kyujo and he delayed the press reports till the last moment

[ScreechingOwl 343]

21 hours ago, Fashiritētā said:

He has 8 Yusho, just needs 2

He just needs 2 knees. I like Terunofuji, but there will be no more yusho.

[Reonito 1,527]

52 minutes ago, ScreechingOwl said:

He just needs 2 knees. I like Terunofuji, but there will be no more yusho.

He went 14-1 just in May; not sure we know enough about his medical condition(s) to be so certain he can't pull it together for one (or two) more with sufficient rest and treatment...

[Fashiritētā 184]

1 hour ago, ScreechingOwl said:

He just needs 2 knees. I like Terunofuji, but there will be no more yusho.

Until he’s intai , a few more Yusho are achievable, last I checked he’s not intai