Hatsu Basho 2013 - Discussion Thread

[Igordemorais]

Day 1: kind of boring, was it not? I didn't see a lot of energy in the fights. I hope this changes. Baruto was dominant, seems like his knee is all better which is good because he has been missed.

Kotoshogiku also didn't look too bad against Kyokutenho but we will see where this goes.

And Takanoyama seems right at home in the lower-upper tier of Juryo.

What are your expectations?

[Kintamayama]

To win the lottery.

[Bugman]

Hak looked pretty menacing and Shohozan is a good, strong opponent, personally i'm hoping for a Hak Zensho-Yusho with a dominant performance, especially on the final day, that's my hopes, but as to what will actually happen i'm the least qualified to guess.

Edited January 13, 2013 by Bugman

[Igordemorais]

To win the lottery.

To win the lottery.

Hear hear!

[krindel]

Loved the Gagamaru vs Aran power battle, shows how Aran can be an asset to makuuchi when he puts his mind to it... It really felt like they could have crushed a bowling ball between them.

[Igordemorais]

I just had a problem with how slow the tachi ai was..it felt a bit lethargic! But it was a good match

[shumitto]

First impressions: Baruto look technically solid if not that powerful. We'll see if that knee holds up. Hakuho was his usual self almost crushing a hopeless but golden Shohozan. I've just realized the first 8 in the Banzuke all have won their bouts. Impressive.

[ScreechingOwl]

Baruto did what he had to do against one of the easiest match up he's going to have, because Toyohobiki goes straight in and has limited technique. Baruto looked like he was being careful with his knee (as well as like he's borrowing Aminishiki's wrap). We'll see how it holds up when he faces rikishi who are strong and have lateral movement and some technique.

[yorikiried by fate]

With his tan+gold combination Shohozan should change his shikona to Calypso.

Aran 2.0 is a brave fighter!

[Fukurou]

Just saw Jk11W Tamao's first match. The poor guy has a knee brace on his left leg that extends from mid-calf to mid-thigh. But he won his first match since last July, and his opponent (Jk11E Okino) barely put up any fight at all. Wonder how long it will take him to get back to the Sandanme-Makushita ranks (if he does).

[rzombie1988]

Hey everyone,

This is my first post. I'm kind of new, but kind of not. I used to watch sumo alot through ESPN in the Akebono days and just found Jason's English Sumo Channel so I've gotten back into it.

I know today was nothing special, but I did enjoy it. I'm definitely picking Hakuho to win but would love to see a good performance from Aoiyama, Takanoyama, Shohozan or Tochinowaka.

[Bugman]

Hey everyone,

This is my first post. I'm kind of new, but kind of not. I used to watch sumo alot through ESPN in the Akebono days and just found Jason's English Sumo Channel so I've gotten back into it.

I know today was nothing special, but I did enjoy it. I'm definitely picking Hakuho to win but would love to see a good performance from Aoiyama, Takanoyama, Shohozan or Tochinowaka.

Hi there, welcome to the forum :)

[Igordemorais]

Dammit I found a betting site and put 4 bucks on Baruto to win.

[Naganoyama]

Iceman!

[ryafuji]

Aran 2.0 is a brave fighter!

Agree but I wonder how many more losses he will absorb before he thinks, I've had enough of this and he just goes back to the cheap henka. I hope it doesn't happen.

[shumitto]

Baruto will stay at Sekiwake; Miyabiyama will drop. The only way is up after two numb days.

[Akinomaki]

Tamanoi-oyakata, who managed to get back to ozeki with 10 wins two times, gives this advice to Baruto:
1. The first block of days is important: among the 12 times a demoted ozeki sekiwake competed till day 15, with a 4-1 the first 5 days all 4 cases (3 men) who achieved this made it back to ozeki, with a 3-2 one out of 3 did it, with less all 5 failed. Tochiazuma was both times 4-1.
2. Aim for the yusho
3. Hurrying is taboo
Baruto can't afford to lose one more till day 5, but I also think he won't make it.

[krindel]

Part of the problem he'll have is that he is probably unused by now to the harder schedule a Sekiwake faces. Having to go up against Ozeki and the likes on the first days must be difficult for him to adjust.

[Tsubame]

With one loss on day two, he is still able to win the yusho with an impressive 13-2 or even a 14-1...

but I still think too that he would not make it.

[Kintamayama]

I shall be the devil's avocado and say he will.

[ScreechingOwl]

I picked Baruto to win 5 in Oracle, and after rewatching his bout with Kotoshogiku I doubt he'll even get that many wins. Not only did Baruto put no weight on his left leg but for most of the bout his left leg was literally off the ground. If you think I'm exaggerating, check it out. http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi_basho.aspx?r=6432&b=201301 No matter how strong you are you can't win on one leg, so I don't see any way Baruto can pull this out in Hatsu, and I strongly suspect that leg will never be dependable again, which is ashame.

As for Aran, he's always been a punk. Watching Ikio manhandle him reminded me of the time Hakuba outmuscled him on the mawashi in Nagoya 2010. Without his diet of henka, Aran is left with inferior technique and mobility. Without those his vaunted "strength" isn't going to produce a lot of wins, at least anywhere near the top of the Banzuke (And think about it: as honourable as it is to renounce the henka, it's stupid to announce that decision publicly so your opponents know.)

[Andreas21]

Not only did Baruto put no weight on his left leg but for most of the bout his left leg was literally off the ground.

I would not interpret too much in it. Also Kotoshogiku had his left foot in the air. It was the twisting force that cause both to put 100% of the weight to the right foot.

What I have seen is that Kotoshogiku was way faster at the grappling right after the tachi-ai. He secure Moro-zashi, Baruto responded with the grip over the shoulders, as a desparation move. But Kotoshogiku is about the worst opponent to do this, he is so strong in his lower body that he can manage Barutos weight and push him out. I attribute this loss to lack of practice, lack of Keiko. Tenkaiho couldn't do this what Kotoshogiku did just now.

Still, I don't see how Baruto can manage to win 10. If things go normal, he should also lose to Hakuho, Harumafuji and Kisenosato. There is no space for mistakes anymore.

[krindel]

I think its too early to call about Baruto, especially since we don't know if some of the Ozeki crowd will feel inclined to help him out.

On another note, Miyabiyama looks seriously overwhelmed in his first two matches, didn't put up a fight at all :-( .

[Yubinhaad]

Just saw Jk11W Tamao's first match. The poor guy has a knee brace on his left leg that extends from mid-calf to mid-thigh.

In the sumo world, I believe that is known as an Aminishiki. :-D

But he won his first match since last July, and his opponent (Jk11E Okino) barely put up any fight at all. Wonder how long it will take him to get back to the Sandanme-Makushita ranks (if he does).

I'd say three or four basho - I see Tamao as a younger version of Isenohana, who dropped to Jonokuchi after missing the best part of three whole basho. He then put together four kachi-koshi in a row to return to his usual area of mid-Sandanme, although he's dropped back a bit since then (he is 38, after all).

[rzombie1988]

I'm not seeing it with Baruto. I don't see him taking down Hakuho or Harumafuji, so that'll put him down to 3 and I think one of the shorter/quicker guys will be able to get one on him. I guess he can pull a win off against Kotooshu, I think he will lose against Kakuryu and he usually loses against Kisenosato. Right there that will put him to 5 loses and I don't think he will go perfect against the rest. I'm thinking 8-7 is where he will end up at best.

If you check this pic here you can see how he was off balance from the start against Kotoshogiku:

He really wrestled the match with one leg only.

Edited January 14, 2013 by rzombie1988