Asa beats up on Sakari

[Kintamayama 47,222]

Summer Jungyo started today. Asashouryuu returned from Mongolia in a certain mood, it seems. He took on Takamisakari-three bouts, three wins. then, during butsugari-geiko, he called him out again. This time, he proceeded to throw him around, drag him by his mawashi, kick him in the ass, hit him in the back and stomach. "You are holding back! This ain't serious keiko! If you're not giving it your all, it's not keiko!!", roared the Yokozuna. The crowd, of course, went bananas. Then, when Sakari came to drink some water, Asa poured the water over his head.

Sakari was seen holding his waist while walking towards the shitakubeya. After his bath Sakari commented, " Nothing I can do about it.. He called me out, and I had no choice. I'm to blame for my weak Sumo..."

"Hey, that's entertainment!", said Asashouryuu.

It's hard to tell if all this was a part of a good-natured "show", or if the scene was serious, at least from my reading of the three articles on this subject. One article does state, however, that this is part of a Yokozuna's duty - helping a rikishi "see the light"..

[Ryukaze 0]

MAN if that doesnt get you fired up what will!????

[sumofan 6]

MAN if that doesnt get you fired up what will!????

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

if you don't have the fighting spirit, and the ambition to be the top dog, then getting kicked around will do you no good.

Asa can't get Taka into sanyaku by doing this. To me it seems more like Asa had a lot of frustration /anger to vent, and chose the ideal target for this.

If he wanted to fire people up, he would be better off kicking hokutoriki around for his worthless tachiai, or Asasekiryu for always fighting with a mawashi that is so loose it gets pulled up to his armpits.

[madorosumaru 7]

"Hey, that's entertainment!", said Asashouryuu.

It was a show. The Nikkan Sports piece puts it in perspective: "Asashoryu Delights 4000 Fans at Super-Abbreviated Jungyo".

Sumo's popularity has been declining steadily. The Summer Jungyo, which had 6 stops two years ago and 5 stops last year, has only two--in Iwate and Akita--this year. For the first time in a long, long time, there is no jungyo to Hokkaido. Amid such sad reality and in an effort to dispell any sense of crisis, Yokozuna Asashoryu and others did their thing to delight the approximately 4000 fans that showed up at the Iwate venue.

When Ryu selected Sakari for moshiai, they were greeted by loud applause and cheers. When Robo bit the dust without much of a fight, Ryu glared at him and slapped his head. The crowd--young and old alike--roared with laughter, transfixed by the happenings on the dohyo.

"They came all the way to see us. We have to let them enjoy themselves. Today, it was an 'entertainment match' between me and Takamisakari," said Ryu afterwards.

As for Sakari, who undertook the role of the "fall guy," "It's important for us to go to all these places and be seen [by as many people as possible.]"

Edited August 7, 2005 by madorosumaru

[Petr 0]

(Feeling guilty...)

like in ancient rome

[Ryukaze 0]

MAN if that doesnt get you fired up what will!????

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

if you don't have the fighting spirit, and the ambition to be the top dog, then getting kicked around will do you no good.

Asa can't get Taka into sanyaku by doing this. To me it seems more like Asa had a lot of frustration /anger to vent, and chose the ideal target for this.

If he wanted to fire people up, he would be better off kicking hokutoriki around for his worthless tachiai, or Asasekiryu for always fighting with a mawashi that is so loose it gets pulled up to his armpits.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So your saying Takamisakari doesn't have the "fighting spirit, or the ambition to be the top dog?" NOoooooo you can't be serious, your joking right!? (Feeling guilty...)

[Jonosuke 28]

I personally don't take the view that this is a show for the spectators - Asashoryu will say it that way and the media will eat it up and come up with some logical explanation for it but if he wants to bring more people in to the Jyungyo, beating up your opponent and humiliating him in public during training sessions wouldn't help his image nor the Kyokai's. After all this isn't WWE.

If he is after Sakari working out harder at training session or get ready for the next basho, he could have done it privately and give him much more focused instrucational session with him as after all they both belong to the same Ichimon. He wanted to not only pick on Sakari specifically but to intiimidate all the other rikishis around. It's purely a strategic move on his part- telling the others if they fool with him, they will get publicly humiliated. He was trying to put the fear on the others. You may not think it's that easy to to do that to 150 kg rikishis but every little advantage counts - a little doubt or trepidation is all that is needed to decide the outcome in a bout that normally lasts only 10 seconds.

As for brining in more crowd to Jyngyo events, they could go out and be seen in towns nearby and other public places, staying little bit longer to talk to more people and making more appearances. And lower the admission price.

Edited August 8, 2005 by Jonosuke

[jreprise 0]

asa is meeeaaaannnn BOOOOOOO (Sign of disapproval)

[Odoriou 0]

I feel compassion for poor Takamisakari. (Being unsure...) It's a pity that Asa chose somebody as a victim who reacts so very emotional sometimes. He better should have done that to a guy like Roho, whose motivation would really increase after such an incident. But Takamisakari... I guess he's now sitting in a corner of his room, weeping. (Feeling guilty...)

[Onnagumo 4]

beating up your opponent and humiliating him in public during training sessions wouldn't help his image nor the Kyokai's. After all this isn't WWE.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That is how I feel too.... Being so far from where it actually happens, I have no idea whether this was a show or not. But whatever it was, I don't like it. I do admire Asashoryu's skills on the dohyo, but I don't think I'll ever be an Asa fan.

[sumofan 6]

"Hey, that's entertainment!", said Asashouryuu.

When Robo bit the dust without much of a fight, Ryu glared at him and slapped his head. The crowd--young and old alike--roared with laughter, transfixed by the happenings on the dohyo.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i have to say that this reaction from the crowd seems a bit 'low'

watching someone getting humiliated is never funny.

and if Asa wanted to give the people value for money, he should have taken on Chiyotaikai, Tochiazum, Kaio, Hakuho and Kotooshu consecutively, instead of humiliating someone of whom everybody knows is 2 levels below him.

[Jakusotsu 6,392]

watching someone getting humiliated is never funny.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Watching Takamisakari is always funny - for the Japanese audience at least.

[sumofan 6]

watching someone getting humiliated is never funny.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Watching Takamisakari is always funny

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

well that i CAN agree with. (Feeling guilty...) (Being unsure...) (Third prize...)

but still, i think an even better show would have been for Asa to brind on a show of obscure kimarite. in these mini tournaments he has nothing to lose, so why not try some technical uber move that you can't try easily in a normal basho...

ah well. what's done is done.

I can tell you now that in the Las Vegas tournament, the Americans are going to LOVE Takamisakari.

[Guest Worst Technical Wrestler]

The attitude of Asashoryu is something I can understand - even if this confrontation was for real. If I've got it correctly, sumo purists are those who have always found something to critisize in Asashoryu. And his answer seems to be the feared ruler of sumo, whether it is in the ring or someplace else. Let them fear, as long they have respect - the very attitude of the yokozuna.

It doesn't matter so much whether Takamisakari hurted his feelings. All of them must take humiliation quite often during their career, right? Every loss is a humiliation too and you have to be stong enough to rise from that.

[Yubiquitoyama 4]

The attitude of Asashoryu is something I can understand - even if this confrontation was for real. If I've got it correctly, sumo purists are those who have always found something to critisize in Asashoryu. And his answer seems to be the feared ruler of sumo, whether it is in the ring or someplace else. Let them fear, as long they have respect - the very attitude of the yokozuna.

It doesn't matter so much whether Takamisakari hurted his feelings. All of them must take humiliation quite often during their career, right? Every loss is a humiliation too and you have to be stong enough to rise from that.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm not a sumo purist, but I think it's really cheap to humiliate Takamisakari. Everyone knows he is very bad in keiko (and has been for many years) and would only beat himself up (rather than go crazy towards the attacker) for being humiliated by someone. In other words a very easy target for anyone, which in my opinion makes Asashoryu's actions completely pointless. He should have chosen someone else to humiliate (if he now necessarily felt the urge to do so) but would then risk some other type of reaction than from Sakari. I think this is about three steps back for Asashoryu who have acted well as a yokozuna after some of his early shenanigans (sp.?). But then, I am not his biggest fan exactly. (Clapping wildly...)

EDIT: After the facts have been cleared up this comment above is of course superfluous, but I let it stay for continuity. It appears Asashoryu has not entered the WWE just yet :-D

Edited August 9, 2005 by Yubiquitoyama

[Jonosuke 28]

If I've got it correctly, sumo purists are those who have always found something to critisize in Asashoryu. And his answer seems to be the feared ruler of sumo, whether it is in the ring or someplace else. Let them fear, as long they have respect - the very attitude of the yokozuna.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You may have a point there...in my old age I am sounding more and more like Ms Uchidate...and you are right about Shoryu's modus operandi is to put fear on the others there and obviously nothing reallly personal against Sakari.

Lot worse could happen back in the heya and not seen by the public and nothing has been said or reported. It's just I felt there were usually kids around these sessions and I hated to see kids to think picking on weak is OK because after all they are an easy target and can be fun. I may have been little too sensitve on this issue.

I've no question Shoryu has the right stuff - the intensity he is bringing to the dohyo and attitude towards the competition are truly admirable and unsurpassed by anyone active now.

He is such a formidable presence now that he does not need to keep proving it as everyone recognizes his power and strength. He does not need to try to put fear on the others as they already fear him. He has already earned respect from his peers, not from sheer fear but from his fortitude and achievement.

[Jakusotsu 6,392]

As mentioned by many others before, Takamisakari's slack attitude in keiko has been a nuisance for quite some time, and it's not only Asashoryu who gets annoyed by his demeanor. If You search the boards a little, You'll find the role model of dignity himself, i.e. Kaio-zeki, handing out the same harsh punishment to Sakke without being scolded of bullying.

Kaio, as well as many other training partners, tried to make a point of their health being put at risk when Takamisakari is holding back in keiko, but obviously he still didn't get the message. As long as he doesn't, the Yokozuna has all the rights in the world to teach him. Dignity is a two edged sword that cuts deep.

[Jonosuke 28]

There is nothing wrong with teaching or instructing Sakari's lackluster training habits. Keiko sessions can be as brutal as they'd like. Chiyonofuji's idea of "pampering" his deshi was to get them to eat dirt. But what Shoryu said here, it was an "entertainment".

Sakari handed water to the yokozuna and what Shoryu did with it was to pour it over Sakari's head. Spectators laughed but I am sure the other rikishis didn't. It isn't a dignified conduct by a rikishi let alone by a yokozuna and to me at least it is lacking in manners and courtesy to a fellow competitor.

[Jakusotsu 6,392]

Then, when Sakari came to drink some water, Asa poured the water over his head.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sakari handed water to the yokozuna and what Shoryu did with it was to pour it over Sakari's head.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I really don't want to nitpick more than necessary, but I still think there's quite a difference here. I guess one had to be there to know what really happened.

[Jonosuke 28]

guess one had to be there to know what really happened.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Actually you are absolutely right about this as I've been reading several local BBSes in the area and they were basically saying they've seen nothing of this "Shoryu" giving it to Sakari stuff. I believe we've been taken by a couple of Tokyo based sports papers in a slow news day and they wanted to put a certain angle to their report to make it more interesting read.

Shoryu picked Sakari out as he realized when Sakari showed up the crowd went crazy and he realized that the people came to see Sakari performed on the dohyo so he called him up. Shoryu also called him up the second time as Sakari was getting so much cheers and people appeared to be enjoying and having so much fun. And that was it. He had three bouts against Sakari as the crowd was going wild but not many more than others. Shoryu kept the crowd going by having pretty spirited tsupparis bouts against Tochiazuma who also kept fighting him hard. But it never made the story.

The biggest cheers and highlight of the Jyngyo event was when Tochinohana, local boy who made it big, did come out and did an exhibition with Jumonji but of course something mundane like this would never make the papers.

[Kintamayama 47,222]

guess one had to be there to know what really happened.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Actually you are absolutely right about this as I've been reading several local BBSes in the area and they were basically saying they've seen nothing of this "Shoryu" giving it to Sakari stuff. I believe we've been taken by a couple of Tokyo based sports papers in a slow news day and they wanted to put a certain angle to their report to make it more interesting read.

Shoryu picked Sakari out as he realized when Sakari showed up the crowd went crazy and he realized that the people came to see Sakari performed on the dohyo so he called him up. Shoryu also called him up the second time as Sakari was getting so much cheers and people appeared to be enjoying and having so much fun. And that was it. He had three bouts against Sakari as the crowd was going wild but not many more than others.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That sounds more like it. This is how I understood it, and I'm glad I got it right. I'm pretty sure if it were Joe's original thoughts , we would have had our hands full translating the numerous articles..

Edited August 9, 2005 by Kintamayama

[Onnagumo 4]

I've been  reading several local BBSes in the area and they were basically saying they've seen nothing of this "Shoryu" giving it to Sakari stuff.  I believe we've been taken by a couple of Tokyo based sports papers in a slow news day and they wanted to put a certain angle to their report to make it more interesting read.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thank you for posting this! Now it sounds a lot better. Glad to have you here, Jonosuke!

[ilovesumo 12]

Lot worse could happen back in the heya and not seen by the public and nothing has been said or reported.

Edited August 9, 2005 by ilovesumo

[Sasanishiki 57]

I don't know if we should get too hung up on the idea of "it's not real (pure) sumo" etc. Without the crowds, Ozumo would not exist. These things are necessary to keep people interested in the sumo and to keep money coming in. I don't think there is a "pure" sumo that exists outside of these pressures of popularity, entertainment and business realities.

[Kathy 0]

watching someone getting humiliated is never funny.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Watching Takamisakari is always funny

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

well that i CAN agree with. (Clapping wildly...) :-D (Clapping wildly...)

but still, i think an even better show would have been for Asa to brind on a show of obscure kimarite. in these mini tournaments he has nothing to lose, so why not try some technical uber move that you can't try easily in a normal basho...

ah well. what's done is done.

I can tell you now that in the Las Vegas tournament, the Americans are going to LOVE Takamisakari.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We are really excited to attend the Las Vegas Tournament and see all of the rikishi, but ESPECIALLY the "Peoples' Yokozuna!" (Clapping wildly...)

Kathy