Adil

I'm confused about the idea of a "cheap and fast" win, as opposed to a win gained through text-book perfect technique. It seems sensible that Hakuho (or any other rikishi) would apply the basic and timeless martial arts principle, "minimum effort for maximum outcome" whenever possible. It mightn't always be pretty, but if it works, it works! Any of Hakuho's fast wins are far from cheap. He just slams into them and pushes them out like you're supposed to - he doesn't do anything that's not worthy of top-flight sumo. That he has the power and skill to do it almost effortlessly against the best there are goes to show just how far above everyone else he truly is. The record is just not particularly exciting though, because we could all see it coming and it was just a matter of time. Chiyonofuji and Taiho's last wins were 5 tournaments after their previous one, and in Taiho's case the 3rd-last yusho was another 5 basho before that. They clearly were declining when they hit 30 yusho, while Hakuho is still basically at the peak of his career. The real question is can he get 40 before be decides to quit? He could probably get 50 if he wanted to put his body through the wringer enough times, but he's said he's only going to give it a couple more years. Hey, Andreas21... Could you please expand on what you meant when you said Hakuho's victories are often "cheap"? He has been the epitome of sound, controlled sumo, with textbook wins over all of his opponents. I would have found it surprising even if you had said his wins are "sometimes" cheap, but often? Your comment makes me think there are two possibilities: 1) You have a great eye and can see something in Hakuho's sumo technique that pretty much everybody has missed. There have been discussions about his extra shoves, but his victories being cheap? I don't think so, or maybe I just missed those threads. 2) You don't like Hakuho all that much. Just curious; no offense meant whatsoever.

Tokitenku has won three bouts by susoharai this basho, the most victories by a rikishi in one basho in makuuchi by this kimarite. Only on two other occasions has a rikishi used it more than once in one basho (in makuuchi): Kyokushuzan in Natsu 2000 and Tokitenku himself in Aki 2011. Tokitenku beat Takayasu by susoharai in two consecutive basho: Nagoya 2011 & Aki 2011.

There are three things that are certain in life: Death, taxes.......... and Gagamaru's belly flops.

Tochinoshin demonstrated the best way to defeat Ichinojo today, as had Takayasu this basho and Hakuho for two basho before this one. Ichinojo just likes to lean on his opponents. Being as big as he is, he saps his opponents' strength by simply not moving and resting against them. In all four matches that I've mentioned, his opponents make a sudden move away from him, taking away his support. The key is to follow it up properly. Hakuho followed it up with the uwatedashinage both times, Takayasu by pushing him from behind and Tochinoshin with an arm to his knee to knock him off balance and getting the uchimuso kimarite. Speaking of uchimuso: remember Hakuho's emphatic uchimuso against Kotoshogiku in Hatsu 2014?

One of THE strangest losses I've seen in my short sumo lifetime: Endo against Tochiozan. Is he injured or ill? How on earth can a guy be pushed like that? It's not like he was off balance or that Tochiozan flung himself at Endo with all his body. It was just a simple "arms-extended" push with Endo firmly planted on the dohyo. Is Endo really that weak? Young? Inexperienced? I don't know. Sometimes he looks real good. Maybe it's the kensho envelopes that motivate his opponents (as others have indicated in the past), but good golly, I don't know what can explain today's howler. Come to think of it, he had a somewhat similar loss against Kakuryu this basho, where he was just bowled over and fell backwards when Kakuryu started pushing him back.

I don't understand what you mean by Kaisei not deserving rough treatment. This was Harumafuji's favorite choke-hold that he uses all the time. Kaisei didn't have an answer for it and just fell. I agree 100% with you that Harumafuji is a bit of a wild one. And yes, I, too like it most of the time. When I say most of the time, I mean when he is wild DURING the match. I don't like the fact that sometimes he doesn't restrain himself when the match is almost won. I would have preferred the same level of restraint that other rikishi exhibit when victory is 120% (apologies to math enthusiasts) in the bag. I don't mean that he should pull back and allow his opponent to make a counter-attack. I just mean he should show a little "OK buster, I've kicked your butt but I don't want to injure you" attitude, which, to his credit, he does exhibit most of the time. On another note, how about Toyohibiki? The guy is incredibly strong and can push most guys back, but keeps losing matches after pushing his opponents to the edge. He's a one trick pony. I don't know any other rikishi in the top flight who fights like him. He is neither a belt guy nor a tsuppari guy; he puts his hands on his opponent's chest squarely and tries to push them back. The problem is, since he has no belt grip, it is very easy to knock him off balance with a shove to his arms or just making a sudden lateral move. I guess that's why he becomes a little tentative after pushing his opponents to the edge.

I'll echo what some of the others have said about Kotoshogiku: Am really happy that he's back. The thought of him retiring any time soon is not a pleasant one. His explosive tachi-ai and kangaroo hops are great to watch. Remember how he was being thrown about like a rag doll last basho? I don't think it was because he was losing badly. It's just a guess, of course, but I think once he knew he was going to lose, he was more concerned about breaking his fall and aggravating his injuries. Kyokutenho steps out without a struggle once he knows he's toast. Kotoshogiku was using the same concept; that's why some of his falls looked more dramatic with him rolling off the dohyo. Damn, I was so happy for Kotoshogiku's victory that I forgot it came at Kisenosato's expense. I would have liked for him to stay neck to neck with the leaders.

One thing I love about Chiyotoori is that although he bends down very low to make it difficult for his opponents to get a good grip on his mawashi, he is still very difficult to slap down. When a rikishi ducks that low, the slightest of slaps usually results in a hatakikomi, but Chiyotoori clings on. Another youngster I will be watching very closely. Guys like him, Terunofuji, Osunaarashi and Ichinojo have me very excited for the future. On the other end of the spectrum, Kyokutenho keeps making things interesting with his longevity. Toyonoshima is also a delight. Of course, I don't have to say anything about the Shahanshah (ancient Persian title for "King of Kings"), Hakuho. It's a real privilege watching this guy.

Woohoo! You are fast, dude.

Boorish comments from one with no knowledge of Japan, sumo, or history. Hahaha... I love the reaction of the crowd to that monster double harite at the 24 second mark. Among many others: 1) The woman in the white dress in the middle of the screen puts her right hand on her cheek, like "Oooh, that's got to hurt." 2) The woman in the kimono on the left of the screen hides her face with the gunbai. 3) The woman in pink next to the kimono woman starts going up and down with excitement. Fabulous match.

Thanks a bunch, Moti. You're the greatest.

Maybe I'm just imagining this, but for the last few basho, Chiyomaru has started fighting more and more like Chiyotairyu. A couple of shoves and pull.

The Hakuho-Terunofuji was just superb. Once Terunofuji gets his kime grip, it's always game on. I don't know how many rikishi are capable of wriggling out of that vise like grip, provided that Terunofuji locks it in good. Kakuryu managed it in the aki basho last year with that beautiful kubinage. Today, he had one hell of a grip, but Hakuho worked himself out of it. I hope injuries don't hamper Terunofuji's career. Am really looking forward to following his career.

I find the result of the Endo-Aminishiki bout confusing. Aminishiki's left hand definitely touches down first. I've read about these kind of matches on the forum, about how it's impossible for the loser to avoid defeat because of his disadvantageous position etc ... But this was not as clear cut to my untrained eye. It's not like Aminishiki was in a more advantageous position when his hand touched down... He was parallel to the dohyo. Great match, I must say.

Inetersting. That would be worth a visit to Oxford.

Welcome aboard, Khalifah!

Nice post, sumojoann!

Fabulous vid. One of the things I find really funny is how sometimes Mainoumi looks around with a confused look after winning a match. I guess usually it's just the usual glance at the gyoji just to confirm he has won the match; nevertheless, I think it's just priceless!

Harumafuji's side-stepping tachiai failed today. I think he may have been stunned momentarily when his head thudded against Aoiyama's right arm.

Great victory for Takayasu! I wonder, though, if Hakuho would have stayed up had his left foot not slipped on top of the tawara. For a second I thought he was going to pull out an impossible escape. Super match between Ichinojo and Kakuryu as well. Good old fashioned belt fight.

Damn Harumafuji! We are in for another henka debate. Let me save everybody some time and list the most common points that will possibly come up ;-): 1) It was a henka. 2) It wasn't a henka. 3) The henka-er is at fault. 4) The henka-ee is at fault. 5) That is not yokozuna sumo. 6) Either have the kyokai declare it illegal or learn to live with it. On another note: Absolutely stupendous stuff from Toyonoshima. The way Terunofuji gets that kimedashi grip and Toyonoshima's short arms (perfect for a kiemdashi grip) made me think Toyonoshima was toast, but that dude just pulled one out of the locker. Let's hope there are more matches like that this basho!

That is why I love seeing Harumafuji so much. Absolutely blinding speed and a canon ball tachi-ai. It's like he's at another level when it comes to sheer speed.

Hey Kinta... Thanks for the excellent work, man. Krindel mentioned that this stuff has alleviated the dreaded inter-basho boredom; same here. Heck, for the last few days, I have totally forgotten to be bored because this stuff is riveting. Really looking forward to the interview. Keep up the great work.

Hahaha... Thanks, Kinta. I was waiting for your 'Ring drrring' piece. A basho is not complete without this gem of yours. Great!

Oh my!!! Really sad news, but like the others said, you deserve a break, dude. Good luck with your stuff, and a big THANK YOU for all your work over the years.