Xris

I couldn't agree more. If Kokkai doesn't suck it up in humble compliance, it only shows that he hasn't really arrived in Ozumo yet. Yes and also it will teach him not beat down young rikishi(s) and not trying to avoid participating in jungyo(s).

I know it's a long shot but I would like to add Toyonoshima to the list of possible candidates. He IS getting stronger and he is young.

Asashoryu is a killer by instinct. You need this to win against tough competition. That does not mean that I like him. On the contrary. But that means that he is on top. When he will retire, he will become very respectable. And scold the youngters for what he did himself, as so many people do. Old times are always better. That's was is good with memories. In a few years time, Hakuho will have won against the great and powerful yokozuna Asashoryu before missing the tsuna for the second time (or the opposite). Then Asashoryu went on to win for four successive bashos before beeing injured and seeing Yokozuna Hakuko getting promotted (or the opposite). And so on... This is how stories go on ... it is very difficult to know the truth. I'm not a long time follower of sumo (six, seven years only) and I cannot speak for champions of old, but I wonder how many great champions were trully honorable, at all times, during their fighting times (if I'm wrong, if a great number was, then sumo is even better than I think it is and I will be very happy. If I'm right, I still like sumo all the same).

Perfect body is probably Musashimaru or Akebono. They won with body only (correctly used body, I should say) and Maru had a very resilient body. Raiden also had a perfect body (for the time). Stronger than the others and not prone to injuries. That's the perfect body. All the others who won by skill more than body had perfect skill, not body.

I'm no specialist but it seems to me that for any gaijin sumotori, his shikona is always choosen right from the begining as a "real" sumo shikona, whereas for japanese people it is often their own name. Also when japanese sumotori change their shikona, it is often as a reference to a revered elder. I don't think the elders would want to have a foreigner having their own name, it would probably sound very strange to them ... (to say the least).

That's nearly a year since there hasn't been any juryo feed anymore (max 3 last bouts)!

Henka-like is just shifting slightly to be in an advantagous position, but not totally avoid contact. However, this difference is just a product of my imagination and, as I'm not a sumo elder, don't put anything in it. :-D

For those who think that henka of henka-like behavior is frowned upon by the sumo elders, please have a look at that ! http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/hon_basho/topics...orikumi_08.html ... PS. Of course, a single opinion does not make it a rule.

I don't understand how the two rules above don't contradict one with the other :-D or I just don't understand what they mean ?

No sir. It plays a lot of videos MP does not play, even on the same computer with the same codecs (at least it does on mine).

Yokozuna tradition was not rewritten by Futabayama, Taiho, Chiyonofuji. They are part of yokozuna history, but all yokozunas are not evaluated on the basis of these three !

Oga in the lead, I like it ! And KK for him, it's great. (Laughing...)

... or by loosing all bouts until the end of the basho, except tomorrow of course if Baruto is out !

Dale, with your videos today you added: I hope these will do for tonight- I have to get up in four hours... and Iwakiyama vs Aminishiki Slow-motion only- sorry. 1.28Mb Well I would say with all you are doing for us (Enjoyable TV program...) , you never have to say something like sorry ! We are so indebted from you that nothing you cannot do needs to be excused for. By the way, the slow-motion was magnificent ! xris

When you look at the replay (http://www.banzuke.com/~movies/aki2006/day2/2006_09_02_tokiten_chiyotai.wmv) you see that Tokitenku was half ko by Taikai initial charge and indeed suffered from something that looks like a poke in the eye.

Just for fun ! Kotomitsuki Hakuho Kokkai Futeno Asashoryu

Well apparently he knows it (from his interview yesterday: "Tachiai is so difficult. If I could only get a better start-off"). Lets hope he can do something about it.

My predictions: Kotomitsuki Hakuho Miyabiyama Roho (that's a tough one, but I think Roho wants to $*@! something, someone, anything... and Osh is just pathetic right now). Asashoryu

I don't know if its the influence of japanese culture but every defeat seems miserable somehow... Don't be to quick to praise, but don't be to quick to rue down. Time will tell if Baruto has the ability to improve from his current level (because that the point. Nobody has natural qualities that makes it "easy" to go yokozuna). Then we will see how far he can go. The problem with people like Baruto is that they are so powerful that they can compensate their lack of technique with strength. Now if Baruto can learn the trade, he will become a giant. If not, an Iwakiyama is not so shameful !

Many thanks. That was great.

If no one withdraws from the tournament in the upper ranks, he should just miss the bout with the yokozuna ! (Dohyo-iri...)

Well, I'd rather not call today's bout the "sumo at its most elegant" either... ;) There is a children's playground visible from my kitchen window. Sometimes one 5-year old boy ends the occasional argues with younger ones in the same manner, when he runs out of solid arguments... :) I'd say that today's victory is more a proof of speed than power. Baruto was able to react instantly, reflex-like, when Futeno started to push him without getting the time to size the mawashi. This kind of win is more Asa-like than just enormous power.

Bet on who is going to go kyujo first ! B-)

Well I like him (and I'm not Georgian) and I also believe he is hopeless. He was the butt of the joke yesterday and I felt sorry for him. But I was not surprised by the result, unfortunately.

Due to good sumo. Nothing more. Against Hakuho and Kotoosho, he was pushing them outside, not the opposite. No luck there.