Day 3, Kaio's shoulder

[HenryK]

Judging by Kaio's immediate reaction he seemed badly hurt, as if he had dislocated his shoulder or torn the rotator cuff. But then he looked better when walking out, and it seems he didn't go fusen. Anyone knows details?

Nice gentlemanry display by Wakanosato, btw.

Edited November 11, 2008 by HenryK

[Kotoviki]

Unless something changes he will not be there tomorrow. Talked to someone else in the heya tonight. I do not know the extent of the injury, and I don't know whether he will just be absent tomorrow till he sees how it is or what.

Wishing him well soon!

[Kintamayama]

A very possible kyujo tomorrow. His left upper arm was "injured". The usual "he wants to continue but we'll see tomorrow and between us, it's better he heal quickly" talk by his Oyakata which always leads to a kyujo. Two major injuries is more than any youngster can handle, let alone a 36 year old veteran. Asked about a possible intai, he answered "No, no".

Add a major headache too..:

[HenryK]

Thank you guys.

[kaiguma]

In my not-so-expert opinion, I am pretty darn sure he "hit his funny bone." Or rather, Wankanosato hit it when ducking under the spirit of henka. Looked to be an elbow on elbow collision, and I believe the technical term may be that he pinched a nerve. That can send a shock of dull pain through the whole arm, up down or both, but can also be accompanied an utter numbness as if the arm no longer exists but has been completely replaced with only pain. If severe, that can induce a mild form of shock. Based on his reaction throughout and then rapidly recovering afterward, it seems to be a reasonable explanation.

Pulling out tomorrow is probably unrelated to the elbow-arm; more like a realization that with only one functional calf he is endangering the rest of his body every day that he steps up for a bout.

(guesses all)

Edited November 11, 2008 by kaiguma

[kaiguma]

Kaio (1-2) losing to Wakanosato

--------------------------------------

(Feeling a sharp pain in his left arm trying to put his hand to Wakanosato's neck and easily rolling out of the dohyo.)

"I felt like the muscle snapped. I still have some pain in there. It's such a helpless feeling I have now."

The parenthetic part is probably crafted by the paper that printed the quote, or Jonosuke is generalizing the context of a barrage of questions from reporters, so I wouldn't take that description as 100% accurate. Unless it's a summary of a back and forth up to that point in which Kaio may have identified the exact moment when the injury happened.

But by his response it is definitely muscular or tendon damage, so their goes my funny bone theory...

[Jonosuke]

When I was little, I always looked at rikishi as men with enormous strength. Guys who could pick up a chunk of rock as big as them and lift it above their head.

That may have been the stuff legends are made of but I recall we did have pretty strong rikishi long ago. As I look around now, we don't have one any more except Kaio. He was/is the last of the kind. He could literally break someone's arm with his kotenage. I even recall vividly one time he threw out another rikishi all the way out to a Tamari seat with his uwate nage. In my view he was a genuine old time sumotori, the traditional Ozumo rikishi.

But we all know he is no longer what he once was. I want to keep my good memory of him intact. I kept my avatar of the last Tomozuna yokozuna this long, all for him as I never lost a dream of him becoming a yokozuna someday but I admit it was just that, a dream.

I felt all along what he had prior to this basho was a career ending injury, likely a rupture in tendons, serious enough to require a couple of basho of rest and treatment. Tomozuna oyakata admitted even prior to the yesterday's bout, as far as he was concerned, his mind was already made up.

Kaio had a great career, he became more popular than any yokozuna in recent years, not only in Japan but also in Mongolia.

However I really do believe now it is the time for him to hang it up and start working for the Kyokai in another capacity.

The only thing I am wondering now is what heck Kotonishiki is doing right now....

[Asashosakari]

Wild prediction: a few days' rest before rejoining the basho to give the hometown crowd another thrill (and Kotonishiki time to grab another kabu), followed by a graceful intai in the one location he's probably always wanted to do it.

[Harry]

For his calf the recovery times really depend on whether it was just the muscle (2 weeks for grade 1 tear, up to 4 months for grade 3 tear with surgery) or the achilles tendon (surgery and 3 months recovery if ruptured, can take another year of physio). If he also pulled or tore a muscle or tendon in his arm then it will likely be similar though obviously it is easier to rest the arm. Multiple muscle tears in a short time are likely a sign of his twenty years of sumo -- as much as I am a fan and hate to say it he should probably hang up his mawashi soon while he can still walk.

Edited November 11, 2008 by Harry

[Chisaiyama]

Multiple muscle tears in a short time are likely a sign of his twenty years of sumo -- as much as I am a fan and hate to say it he should probably hang up his mawashi soon while he can still walk.

While I totally agree with you, I have to say that the thought of Ozumo without Kaio just totally boggles the mind. I would rather see him be healthy enough to be a great Oyakata though than seeing him be crippled by injuries he just cannot afford to have anymore.

[Blue_Wolf]

It was totally heartbreaking to see him in pain like that. I was like this when Kaiho broke his ankle in a bout against Iwakiyama. Never wanna see that one again.

[Harry]

I don't see an official announcement yet but Kaio is kyujo according to the papers. He doesn't want to retire however and will tie Chiyotaikai for 12 kadoban when he returns in hatsubasho along with Asashoryu.

http://sports.yahoo.co.jp/hl?c=sumo&a=...0000038-spn-spo

Edited November 11, 2008 by Harry

[JAB]

A sublex would cause that type of reaction, and can often be brought upon by oneself. I did it to myself several times in hockey, and several since (punching). Literally you push your own shoulder out of socket, and it goes right back in. Nothing noticable on the outside, but basically it makes your arm drop because you have no control / use of the appendage. From the view of the cameras during the tachi ai this could be feasable. A tear is certainly a possibility too.

Either way, bummer. I doubt he will continue in this Basho with either injury, but then again he is probably tougher than all of us.

Jake

[madorosumaru]

Kaio went to the hospital immediately after the bout and the diagnosis was "partially torn triceps muscle of his left arm." It is pretty sure that he will be kyujo from Day 4.

Although kyujo is not yet official, Tomozuna Oyakata said, "If he intends to continue [with sumo], it would behoove him to get [the injuries] healed properly." Kaio had this to say: "I still haven't given up but what can I do if I can't move." His shisho said they will discuss the possibility of retirement but Kaio doesn't appear to be ready for that. "I can't accept [retiring] under this kind of circumstance. I don't want to end my career without having given all that I've got."

Update:

According to Jiji Press, it is now official. Kaio is kyujo for the 18th time. He will tie Chiyotaikai by facing kadoban for the 12th time in Hatsu Basho. Tomozuna Oyakata said, "I have determined that he wants fervently to continue [with sumo], so we will concentrate on getting the injuries healed. He should be ready in plenty of time for the next basho." He added, "He needs to get into condition to produce results. He knows it is going to be a tough road ahead." The shisho clearly meant that depending on the outcome in Hatsu Basho, he may have to suggest intai for the veteran ozeki.

Edited November 12, 2008 by madorosumaru

[Asojima]

The kyujo is now posted on the NSK website.

[Mark Buckton]

an old warrior by he has perfected that grimace and look up to the heavens over the years so it isn't that easy to tell if he is really injured at the end of some bouts or if it is hurt pride at losing.

Very little concept of retiring at the top in Japan - a lot of folk go weel past their use y dates and end up tired old wrecks. Kaio shouldn't be remembered as a record holding kadoban man - but that is the way he is going

[Hananotaka]

Very little concept of retiring at the top in Japan - a lot of folk go weel past their use y dates and end up tired old wrecks. Kaio shouldn't be remembered as a record holding kadoban man - but that is the way he is going

Cy Young is the all-time record holder for losses in Major League Baseball. You have to be pretty damn good to hold the kadoban record.

[Johnofuji]

I went to Tomozuna beya to watch asageiko yesterday (thanks Fay for organising it through Harumi).

Kaio took a long time to psyche himself up before getting onto the dohyo.He stood on the edge of the dohyo like a majestic dragon warming itself in the sun before hunting its prey. At one stage he put his big toe into the ring before retracting it and waiting until he was ready.I realise that its mid basho so there is no point risking further injury.

Several times Kainowaka had to add more and more support tape to his heavily bandaged calf as it was obviously too delicate for any rigorous training-besides the walls of the heya are so close that a wayward deshi would probably go straight through and end up in a neighbours house.

Before doing a few bouts Kaio did plenty of teppo.He was keeping his weight off the bad leg but his teppo strikes were so powerful that the whole structure above the dohyo would shudder with a mighty boom each time. We could feel the strong shockwaves from the otherside and I'm sure its enough to set off the warning lights on the siesmic detectors.

I have always wondered how Kaio got so immensly strong considering he is the only top ranked rikishi in his stable.Is it more from his personal training or from visiting other heya?

It was interesting to see how Kaisei has moved up the ranks.When I was there two years ago he was shy and fresh out of the junior world championships (Silver for Brazil?). Now he is the next highest after Kaio in a stable that doesn't seem to be that big on piling on the kegs apart from one random variable.

I hope he keeps going as he is so popular here.I can't remember the last time the whole stadium was chanting out a rikishis name in unisome . It might have a something to do with his name only having two syllables which makes it easier to yell out but locals here are very dissapointed even if only about 3000 bother to show up midweek.

[Naganoyama]

...

Before doing a few bouts Kaio did plenty of teppo.He was keeping his weight off the bad leg but his teppo strikes were so powerful that the whole structure above the dohyo would shudder with a mighty boom each time. We could feel the strong shockwaves from the otherside and I'm sure its enough to set off the warning lights on the siesmic detectors.

I have always wondered how Kaio got so immensly strong considering he is the only top ranked rikishi in his stable.Is it more from his personal training or from visiting other heya?

...

He certainly is immensely strong