Kyushu Basho 2012 Discussion Thread

[botev1921]

Miogiryu looked terrible yet again and I start to really dislike his lack of spirit this basho.

[Igordemorais]

Something is not right , he looks weak, and he lacks momentum like he weighed 60kgs or something. He's getting ragdolled out there, it's a damn shame.

Also a regrettable shame is Baruto's injury. I really liked what Kakuryu did out there and I'm glad Masunoyama won. Hakuho was incredible and I love when Harumafuji goes into "pit bull" mode. I like the fact that we have a powerful, solid Yokozuna, and a technical brawler one.

Aoiyama`s physical strength is phenomenal isn't it.

And ah, the Kyokmaster gave a sumo lesson today! Beautiful finish.

[Asashosakari]

Re: Myogiryu - rikishi career fails to progress in linear fashion, news at 11.

[shumitto]

In other news: If Miyabiyama loses two of the next three, my money is on him retiring due to demotion.

He is just getting by now, and for a year already. It is time to go.

[Pandaazuma]

Re: Myogiryu - rikishi career fails to progress in linear fashion, news at 11.

Indeed...three poor days and he's no longer the next Japanese hope. Asashoryu had a losing record on his way to the top once, and Hakuho had a couple of 8-7s, extremely poor by his current standards. Myo could look brilliant again tomorrow, or he might be injured, or he might even be a malformed stinging butterfly. Time will tell, but judge ye not on three poor days.

[krindel]

Re: Myogiryu - rikishi career fails to progress in linear fashion, news at 11.

Indeed...three poor days and he's no longer the next Japanese hope. Asashoryu had a losing record on his way to the top once, and Hakuho had a couple of 8-7s, extremely poor by his current standards. Myo could look brilliant again tomorrow, or he might be injured, or he might even be a malformed stinging butterfly. Time will tell, but judge ye not on three poor days.

Still, disappointment is not judgement, and I have to say I am disappointed, and not as much by the losses, as by the sumo exhibited during the losses. He is still the next Japanese hope in my opinion, but I don't see a reason not to comment on said disappointment by his current performance.

[Bugman]

I noticed in my short Sumo-watching career that most rikishi can have great tournaments and then sometimes really poor ones, one i remember well was that test-basho right after the scandal, it didn't count for anything and Tochinoshin put in the most determined effort i have yet seen from him, he was on fire, and then some mediocre stuff followed, maybe Myogiryu is just having a bad patch, i still think he's going to do well, if not in this tournament in future ones, least i hope so :)

[Asashosakari]

Re: Myogiryu - rikishi career fails to progress in linear fashion, news at 11.

Indeed...three poor days and he's no longer the next Japanese hope. [snip]

I should probably add that my previous comment was as much about the overblown hype from the last basho as it was about the equally overblown reactions this time. ;-)

[botev1921]

Nobody is commenting on the potential of Myogiryu and it is not about the record, which at 0-3 could still turn into 11-4 for example, but his sumo is nowhere near what he showed last time and neither Asa nor Hakuho had such drastic change in spirit, style, aggression, etc.

[Tsubame]

I liked to see how Okinoumi today tried to avoid the "right-ellbow-to-jaw" strike from Hakuho in the tachi-ai. Instand grabling the right arm.

Well performed, but he still lacks the technique to transform this advantage into victory.

Edit: I am curious if we see this again in this tournament?!

Edited November 13, 2012 by Tsubame

[Igordemorais]

This flippity floogity elbow/forearm strike, I don't know man, it is questionable to say the least. The rule in sumo is that you can strike your opponent with the hands or torso, he is using the tachi-ai to disguise an extremely violent gosh darning blow. It's a fragging loophole that should be questioned...

This:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blGOAu4FHPI

is bull doo-doo my friend

[Mukonoso]

Maybe I'm still too new to the sport but after looking up "tsukotoshi" at the Goo Sumo site, I don't see anything like the description happening in the bout between Daido vs Toyohibiki. It looked more like Daido grabbed Toyo's wrist and yanked him out of the ring.

[Kintamayama]

Did anyone else notice that Hakuho threw his forearm against the jaw like he did last tournament?

Yeah, the guy that does them videos did.

[Jakusotsu]

Maybe I'm still too new to the sport but after looking up "tsukotoshi" at the Goo Sumo site, I don't see anything like the description happening in the bout between Daido vs Toyohibiki. It looked more like Daido grabbed Toyo's wrist and yanked him out of the ring.

Tsukiotoshi is one of the catch-all kimarite when nothing else fits.

Edited November 13, 2012 by Jakusotsu

[Igordemorais]

Did anyone else notice that Hakuho threw his forearm against the jaw like he did last tournament?

Yeah, the guy that does them videos did.

Are you OK with this technique Kinta?

[Treblemaker]

Objecting to something like this is rediculous. A good elbow or a slap is perfectly within the rules. And this is nothing new - see old videos of Asa, Kitanoumi, at least one time with Takanohana.... Even Kotomitsuki - who, in my mind, had the best, fastest and most aggressive tachi-ai of anyone - had the occasional elbow up there.

I will say, though, that the Hak I saw today through most of the bout wasn't the Hak of old. Too reckless, no "go with the flow" react and conquer, but then a brilliant, unorthodox move worthy of some of the strange techniques of Asa. He might not have the edge that he had 3-4 years ago, but this is the first time I think that we're seeing him opting for "other" strategies and moves in a given situation. Good for him. And he was not dancing with someone who has lots of experience up there relatively speaking. Perhaps against a more dangerous opponent (Aminishiki, a healthy Baruto, HF), this win could easily have been a loss.

[Kintamayama]

Are you OK with this technique Kinta?

Yes, I am. Hakuhou didn't invent anything new. It's a variation of all kinds of tachiai techniques. I'm also an avid fan of henkas. I think the receiver is always to blame. Hakuhou's opponents know of this ploy, yet they fall for it time and again. Still, some don't, like Tochiouzan and some are extra careful like Aminishiki on day one, not that it helped him much.

As an aside, this has its danger for the attacker-like Hakuhou's loss last basho when he was read..

[IzumoTaisha]

Another rough day at the office for Takanoyama, poor guy I always like seeing him do well, so out of place does he usually look.

[yorikiried by fate]

I am watching live (at home) for the first time this basho. OK, it's Kyushu minus Kaio, but I think I was able to hear the salt impact sound.

[Asashosakari]

I forget, was it Nagoya or Kyushu basho that people routinely suggested for the scrap heap?

[yorikiried by fate]

Kyushu IIRC.

[kaiyo]

Haku's stomach slap was kinda ... cool - innovative

that more like it !

[Morty]

Are you OK with this technique Kinta?

Yes, I am. Hakuhou didn't invent anything new. It's a variation of all kinds of tachiai techniques. I'm also an avid fan of henkas. I think the receiver is always to blame. Hakuhou's opponents know of this ploy, yet they fall for it time and again. Still, some don't, like Tochiouzan and some are extra careful like Aminishiki on day one, not that it helped him much.

As an aside, this has its danger for the attacker-like Hakuhou's loss last basho when he was read..

I'm a big Henka fan too. Can't see why people are so down on it. I love it when Yoshikaze does it and then is instantly down on himself for doing it, like it's happened by accident or something

[Kintamayama]

I forget, was it Nagoya or Kyushu basho that people routinely suggested for the scrap heap?

Both.

[Naganoyama]

I'm fine with henka ... until I see several in a row. But that would be the same for most techniques. The thing I particularly like about Sumo is the variety of different ways of getting a result.