Kaninoyama 1,712 Posted March 13 Thought Abi was looking heftier than normal. His shisho, Shikoroyama Oyakata (the new one), today's arena announcer, commented that Abi's been working hard at eating to put on more bulk. Announcer said that he was around 150 kilos last year, but weighed in pre-basho at 163 kilos. Impressive increase, considering he was on the small side when he first came up to Makuuchi. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 40,053 Posted March 13 Abi made very clever use of the hands down rule - waiting for the opponent to put his hands down and attacking when he's just about to be ready, but not really Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 40,053 Posted March 13 (edited) A pity that pack was so small - Meisei has no sponsors and is not a popular opponent. My 2 A- favorites are doing well this basho, but Hoshoryu shouldn't have that much problems with the likes of Oho. Daieisho has waken up, Onosato is named by Futagoyama as basho favorite. My 3rd favorite rikishi now in the division Takerufuji is straight on the way to the newcomer sansho - the time for low level yusho is over though, but also for Terunofuji's 10th. Hakuoho couldn't keep the unblemished record, yesterday Miyagino was 5-3, today 3-3, thinning out - tomorrow only 5 bouts Edited March 13 by Akinomaki 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dada78641 884 Posted March 13 Not a good start to the basho for my favorites, Hokutofuji and Kirishima, both going 0-4. On the plus side, I've actually been watching it live despite not being in Japan, since I've been so jetlagged my sleeping schedule got reset to where I wake up at 6 am. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eskbibs 72 Posted March 13 Rare footage of Endo trying to win? My eyes just about popped seeing him resist at the edge... 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RabidJohn 1,722 Posted March 13 Has Kirishima emulated Takayasu and peaked in keiko? The next yokozuna he ain't... or at least he's going to have to start all over again. 0-4 is bewildering. 8 hours ago, Akinomaki said: Onosato is named by Futagoyama as basho favorite. My 3rd favorite rikishi now in the division Takerufuji is straight on the way to the newcomer sansho - the time for low level yusho is over though, but also for Terunofuji's 10th. Has anyone with no mage ever won the Emperor's cup? I want to see Onosato up against sanyaku asap. Has anyone with only a basic chon-mage won the Emperor's cup? Takerufuji's rise up the banzuke has been phenomenal. He certainly deserves the chance to get double digits before they feed him to sanyaku, but face them he must if he carries on winning. He looks to have great technique (yotsu, my favourite), physique and spirit, so I want to see it tested. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yamanashi 3,777 Posted March 13 7 hours ago, Eskbibs said: Rare footage of Endo trying to win? My eyes just about popped seeing him resist at the edge... What a strange combination of events: Endo switches to a makekai which almost led to the dreaded immediate force out; he resists at the bales and Kitanowaka looks flummoxed; Endo rebounds off the tawara and shoves Kitanowaka all the way across the dohyo. I don't think I've ever seen that before. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BroadMeadow 34 Posted March 13 22 minutes ago, RabidJohn said: I want to see Onosato up against sanyaku asap. While he went 0-fer against the Sanyaku last basho I appreciated his approach: he didn't have the "deer in the headlights" look and he just did basic, fundamental sumo. He didn't seem intimidated and he didn't try to be something he isn't. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Katooshu 3,181 Posted March 13 (edited) After such a promising start, it's a shame to see Kinbozan quickly become another talented but habitually beaten up rank and filer. And however far Onosato goes, it's been fun to see these Akebono style blastouts. Edited March 13 by Katooshu Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bunbukuchagama 701 Posted March 13 16 minutes ago, Yamanashi said: What a strange combination of events: Endo switches to a makekai which almost led to the dreaded immediate force out; he resists at the bales and Kitanowaka looks flummoxed; Endo rebounds off the tawara and shoves Kitanowaka all the way across the dohyo. I don't think I've ever seen that before. I think Kitanowaka was just surprised. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yamanashi 3,777 Posted March 13 11 minutes ago, Bunbukuchagama said: I think Kitanowaka was just surprised. Interesting gradation; on re-watching the bout I'd say he was surprised at the tawara and flummoxed when he got pushed out. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dingo 1,212 Posted March 13 Tamawashi managed to concentrate his oshi power enough to oshiwashi Kinbozan. Midorifuji did know pretty well what hit him but couldn't do anything against the onslaught. 4-0 start for Onosato who at the moment doesn't show any sign of stopping, or being stopped. Tsurugishou has fought valiantly on his bad knee but at some point this was bound to happen. Very sad to see him wheeled out, and while I hope for a quick recovery I'm at the same time afraid that might have been the end of his career. I'd be glad if I'm wrong. Atamifuji channeled his heyamate and pulled off an excellent tsuridashi against Tobizaru who had an excellent inside grip on him. Very impressive, I thought he'd lost when Tobizaru got that grip. Takakeisho -- not bad! Ura is a fairly easy opponent for him but still, that was quality sumo, calm and confident. Great effort by Oho! He almost got Hoshoryuu too, I'm sure the latter was not happy about the last ditch pulldown that got him a split second victory. Despite losing, Oho can take away a lot of positive from this bout. I know Kintamayama said in his video that Kirishima is suffering from the heya move and I bow to his wisdom. But to my uninitiated eyes something looks physically off with the Ozeki as well. We'll see how the rest of the basho goes for him. Kotonowaka feeling some of that shin ozeki blues? Takanosho took him a lot more effort that it should have. Still, 3-1 is not a bad score to build upon. Great effort by Meisei! Terunofuji seems shaky, but I suppose the following days will show whether that's just temporary or the beginning of the road to kyujo. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kedevash 43 Posted March 13 (edited) Injury management drive me nuts... It's crazy... In what sport do you roll an athlete with a leg injury to move him? first we immobilize the leg with a splint. We give him painkiller, THEN we move him safely! Poor Tsurugisho... I had heard that since this basho medical staff were next to the doyo. Once again he was the last to arrive and... for nothing! Rather than attacking Hakuho, the NSK would do better to look in the mirror regarding the health of their rikishi... Everybody talks about the lack of shin-deshi. If i was interested about joiging Ozumo, this kind of problem can push me in other directions for sure... Edited March 13 by kedevash 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bunbukuchagama 701 Posted March 13 13 minutes ago, kedevash said: first we immobilize the leg with a splint. We give him painkiller, THEN we move him safely! But that might delay the 6 o'clock NHK news bulletin! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bunbukuchagama 701 Posted March 13 16 minutes ago, kedevash said: Rather than attacking Hakuho This is completely unrelated. You can combat bullying AND improve emergency care for rikishi at the same time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaninoyama 1,712 Posted March 13 3 hours ago, kedevash said: Injury management drive me nuts... It's crazy... In what sport do you roll an athlete with a leg injury to move him? first we immobilize the leg with a splint. We give him painkiller, THEN we move him safely! Poor Tsurugisho... I had heard that since this basho medical staff were next to the doyo. Once again he was the last to arrive and... for nothing! Rather than attacking Hakuho, the NSK would do better to look in the mirror regarding the health of their rikishi... Everybody talks about the lack of shin-deshi. If i was interested about joiging Ozumo, this kind of problem can push me in other directions for sure... This is actually a major improvement from the past. At least the oyakata rushed to the dohyo as soon as it was apparent there was an injury. In the past, Tsurugisho would have been writhing alone in pain for 10 minutes before someone realized: hey, maybe we'd better see if the guy is alright. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yarimotsu 548 Posted March 14 4 hours ago, dingo said: Atamifuji channeled his heyamate and pulled off an excellent tsuridashi against Tobizaru who had an excellent inside grip on him. Kimedashi of course, the clamp is the deciding move not the resulting lift. I always appreciate that distinction. 4 hours ago, dingo said: I know Kintamayama said in his video that Kirishima is suffering from the heya move and I bow to his wisdom. But to my uninitiated eyes something looks physically off with the Ozeki as well. We'll see how the rest of the basho goes for him. I agree Kirishima appears to have reduced mobility. something in the lower back/hips region? He seems hesitant to make any moves quickly on the dohyo. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WAKATAKE 2,644 Posted March 14 Akua with the kakenage 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Koorifuu 923 Posted March 14 55 minutes ago, WAKATAKE said: Akua with the kakenage Surprising victim, too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michishige 66 Posted March 14 Terunofuji treating that knee very tenderly after his loss today…I get the feeling we might see a withdrawal from him soon. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Leoben 126 Posted March 14 (edited) I had hopes we'd see a repeat of last tournament where he started slow and ended up dominating, but Terunofuji looks worse than he did in January. At this point in his career I think he's always going to be a slow starter because he can hardly fight any practice bouts and has to find his form on the dohyo, so his overall performance depends very heavily on how the chips fall in those first few days while he's figuring out his condition. This time it looks like he's not doing so great so I hope he pulls out, gets some rest, and hopefully he can come back stronger in May. I always look forward to Hoshoryu vs Asanoyama because I know I'm going to see a cool throw. For a moment it looked like Asanoyama was going to get his first win against nephew but alas, it wasn't to be. I'm always amazed by this head to head because Asanoyama is a very high level yotsu guy and he's a good 30 kg heavier than Hoshoryu. You'd think that would have to count for something but it hasn't so far. Edited March 14 by Leoben 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RabidJohn 1,722 Posted March 14 Hoshoryu's shitatenage is a thing of great beauty, and today's was another pearler. Reminds me a lot of Chiyonofuji. Hopefully, Hoshoryu can keep his shoulder in its socket, though. Ura's katasukashi on Kotonowaka was lovely, too, making it 3/4 ozeki scalps for him this time. Don't know why he's convinced himself he can't KK in sanyaku... I was low-key rooting for Oho today. Sort of "Make the most of it, son. This may be your only chance." But I didn't expect him to actually do it. Congratulations on the pay rise, kid. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yarimotsu 548 Posted March 14 Am I the only one who wants a lot more of Hoshoryu's throws called kakenage? The particular arm grip deployed really seems to have no bearing on the move, whether he gets the trip in is the deciding move. Surely kakenage is the only suitable kimarite. Oho collecting a kinboshi I'm a little surprised was on offer today. Kirishima similarly still looks very constrained in the lower half and collects a win he probably should've been made to lose by his opponent. Ura continues to play mind games with the best and come out on top. And Takakeisho feels the impending closure of his window for good as the next generation turns up in his face. Too many interesting bouts today to highlight all of them, but those were some of the ones I noted. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tochinofuji 375 Posted March 14 13 minutes ago, Yarimotsu said: Am I the only one who wants a lot more of Hoshoryu's throws called kakenage? The particular arm grip deployed really seems to have no bearing on the move, whether he gets the trip in is the deciding move. Surely kakenage is the only suitable kimarite. Oho collecting a kinboshi I'm a little surprised was on offer today. Kirishima similarly still looks very constrained in the lower half and collects a win he probably should've been made to lose by his opponent. Ura continues to play mind games with the best and come out on top. And Takakeisho feels the impending closure of his window for good as the next generation turns up in his face. Too many interesting bouts today to highlight all of them, but those were some of the ones I noted. I can't speak to previous throws, but I'd say today's wasn't a kakenage. He's performing what in judo is sometimes called a front uchimata or Mongolian uchimata, in that he's throwing and then using the front side of his thigh/quad to raise the opponent's leg (in this case, really as a supplement to the shitatenage). This means he stays more front on to his opponent. A proper kakenage seems to require that hooking of the back of the throwing rikishi's leg (hamstring and/or calf) against the recipients inner thigh. It's that hook that is the key, and using the front of the quad/thigh doesn't cut it. This requires a significant turn of your body so that you and your opponent end up facing more or less the same direction. See: Akua, basically any and all bouts whether he wins or loses (though he won today with a nice one). 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dingo 1,212 Posted March 14 I stayed quiet for 2 days but Shodai's loss today warrants a reverse jinx top up. Let's see... Shodai will definitely finish the basho with a makekoshi! There, that should do it for now. Smart sumo from Midorifuji, shifting and hitting to send out Takanosho. Was really expecting a katasukashi but Midorifuji has plenty of bouts left. Another appearance by Abi the tawara ballerina. Seems to me that Nishikigi could've done better to apply some pressure and take Abi down with him, but he just walked out. Daieisho has seemingly gotten over whatever was wrong for the first three bouts and is now happily pushing away at his unfortunate targets. 6 more wins to go to stay at sekiwake. Doesn't seem so far fetched anymore. And there was the katasukashi I was waiting for! Strangely this Midorifuji looks somewhat fatter and is wearing pink, but who cares. Kotonowaka will be happy to not be kadoban at the end of the basho. Hoshoryuu and Kirishima did better today, but the japanese ozeki made sure to put in a strong contribution to the ozeki (non) performance. Which makes me wonder, is there a sale on ozeki losses this basho? Buy one get one free? If anything exemplifies just how much Oho has progressed, it's his win against Terunofuji. A year ago I would've expected him to crumble. I half expected him to do it today as well, but he showed great mentality, determination and strength to push out the admittedly struggling yokozuna. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
