Day 13 Comments and Observations

[kaiguma]

I think Asa was trying to make a statement today. A little "Don't write me off to intai yet!!."

Around the time of his ketaguri v Kissy, I seem to remember Asa stating that he had a quest to execute every kimarite available to him...

I wonder that now he is resigned to stop chasing Chiyonofuji and Taiho, this is his most motivating goal.

Next basho Asa should try for a tsukaminage...looks like that hasn't been done in the top ranks in 55 years, although the waza-no-depato known as Orora has one to his credit.

I love your mixed metaphor there, Peterao. I know Orora as an entity is not technically a metaphor, but to me he is almost nothing but a metaphor.

As for not being super-refined in querying technique, I should like to know what percentage of available kimarite have been executed by the yokozuna, and by others who are active sinc ethe expansion. Does anyone know who tops the list? I would guess Mainoumi or Kyokushuzan but it could be a long-running and creative makushita rikishi or even Asashoryu himself.

[Sasanishiki]

Does anyone know who tops the list? I would guess Mainoumi or Kyokushuzan but it could be a long-running and creative makushita rikishi or even Asashoryu himself.

Surprisingly Mainoumi (34) is not close to the number of kimarite that Asa (45) or Kyokushuzan (47) used. A caveat with each of these is that the number in the DB counts fusen as a kimarite (not sure about isamisashi, hanzoku, etc). However, because they all have these included the figures are comparable at just a glance.

Actually, Harumafuji (36) and Chiyonofuji (41) used more kimarite than Mainoumi did as well. Interesting for someone considered to be a 'waza no depaato'.

Edited July 27, 2009 by Sasanishiki

[Asashosakari]

And of course, waza and kimarite aren't perfectly synonymous. I'm sure everybody's seen a crazy technique or two that somehow still ended up as a yorikiri on the last few inches towards the tawara.

[kaiguma]

Surprisingly Mainoumi (34) is not close to the number of kimarite that Asa (45) or Harumafuji (36) Interesting for someone considered to be a 'waza no depaato'.

That might be true but when you take a look here, here, and here you can quickly see why Mainoumi had that reputation. Asashoryu and Harumafuji like most rikishi have yorikiri and oshidashi accounting for almost 50% of their win totals. Mainoumi had only three oshidashi wins in his entire career! shitatenage and kirikaeshi (!) were his two most used techniques. He might not have had as many as some other rikishi but a far greater percentage of his wins came by the rarer kimarite.

I'm not surprised that Harumafuji is on a par with Mainoumi for number of kimarite, and the personal percentage analysis explains everything:

amazingly low rate of hatakikomi and hikiotoshi for Mainoumi!

[kaiguma]

Does anyone know who tops the list? I would guess Mainoumi or Kyokushuzan but it could be a long-running and creative makushita rikishi or even Asashoryu himself.

Surprisingly Mainoumi (34) is not close to the number of kimarite that Asa (45) or Kyokushuzan (47) used. A caveat with each of these is that the number in the DB counts fusen as a kimarite (not sure about isamisashi, hanzoku, etc). However, because they all have these included the figures are comparable at just a glance.

Actually, Harumafuji (36) and Chiyonofuji (41) used more kimarite than Mainoumi did as well. Interesting for someone considered to be a 'waza no depaato'.

Adding to Asashosakari's waza comment, "jumping the yardarm" and nekodamashi I believe are called waza but definitely not kimarite...

As for fusen and such, they are not recorded as distinct techniques in the tallies from the Db.

Also, I believe around the time of Mainoumi's debut he recorded 9 unknown kimarite, so the book is not closed for him on this stat yet! It will be very interesting to know what some research can turn up. Perhaps a trip to the sumo museum could fill in the gaps?

[Hakuyobaku]

Peterao,

I distinctly remember Kotooshu doing a tsukaminage on Hokutoriki towards his ozeki run/shortly after promotion ... Hmm, apparently not, what I had recalled is the "emphatic," for a lack of a better term, uwatenage that some commentators said was closer to tsukaminage; that bout is here. Anyone remember that discussion?

Edited July 27, 2009 by Hakuyobaku