Basho Talk - Nagoya 2015 +++ Spoiler alert! +++

[Gernobono]

A.... Can't feel bad for Geeku getting henka'ed when he makes it so easy. ....

for me the henka of takayasu was just a reaction to the early start of kotoshogiku and not planned from the beginning as he just made a sidestep and no movement towards a hatakikomi

Well, he says the opposite, as you can read on the rikishi talk thread..

right

at least you say he did...

i guess i was wrong and he had evil thoughts all the way :-)

in fact i was surprised they did not call it a matta.....but that would have been strangs as the bout was decided so quickly

Edited July 18, 2015 by Gernobono

[Treblemaker]

Geeku is one of the most henka-prone guys there is. I'm willing to bet a few shekels that he would fall for it three days in a row, if people were willing to try. I mean, why not? A pretty much guaranteed win against an Ozeki?

[Jakusotsu]

Geeku is one of the most henka-prone guys there is. I'm willing to bet a few shekels that he would fall for it three days in a row, if people were willing to try. I mean, why not? A pretty much guaranteed win against an Ozeki?

Makes me wish there was still an Ozeki Dejima around.

[808morgan]

Speaking of being shot out of a cannon, I really miss Kotomitsuki.. That man fired out of a crouch faster than anyone.

How thrilling it would be to see something like this again...**sigh**

That was insane.

Remember this?

[808morgan]

Great wins for two of my favourites Aoiyama and Goeido today, so quite happy. Kakuryu looks the best he's ever looked as a yokozuna.

Kakuryu looks all together, I wasn't expecting that. I hope we get a close race to the end, it will be interesting to see him with Hakuho and Terunofuji.

[bettega]

Days 6 and 7 were really very nice.

This will be the Kakuryu's basho, hear my voice.

[Pandaazuma]

All of Kakuryu's opponents so far currently have losing records except for Kaisei, and he always owns him. There's no point assessing Kakuryu until we've seen him fight someone who is capable of beating him...and there are plenty of them.

That said, his injury doesn't seem to be troubling him at all. And that's good to see.

Edit: Sumo is a funny thing in that one generally looks poor when one loses and good when one wins. It is common therefore for people to quickly judge a rikishi based on a very small sample size, enthusing that someone looks fantastic when really they've just had a few good results - which can happen to any rikishi. There was a time a couple of basho ago where Homarefuji was winning left right and centre in the first week and I was almost re-appraising the lad...but my original assessment of him stands - average!

I've been just as guilty of this snap judging in the past myself, of course...but I've learned over the years not to judge anyone based on a few wins...or even just a few basho. Potential can be spotted, of course, but so many factors come into it. One look at Osunaarashi tells us how easily potential can be damaged by chronic injury problems. Mental factors are also significant.

And anyway, it's obvious that Kitaharima is the next Japanese yokozuna! ;)

Edited July 19, 2015 by Pandaazuma

[808morgan]

Kisenosato got a lucky break against Tochinoshin, he rushed it a bit too much at the tawara.

Kisenosato and Tochiozan have a distinctive posture, are there different names for these or it just comes down to their style?

[Shikona]

Kyokutenho found another gear against Hidenoumi. If he can continue like that, I like his chances to remain the old man of Makuuchi for another basho.

Toyonoshima also fought with energy today, but is still lacking his normal power, so I expect his slide will continue.

[Shikona]

As one of the few Goeido fans on the forum, I can't pass up the opportunity to post today. If Terunofuji pulls out the yusho, perhaps a special prize(?).

I suppose it's possible the sansho committee will conclude that Goeido is not a real ozeki anyway and thus eligible for the prizes...

Ah, sorry, I see my brain was shot out of the same cannon Kotoshogiku uses for his tachi-ai. But, yes, with the usual tone of commentary on here, one could be forgiven for forgetting Goeido's rank.

[lackmaker]

Oh and it seems like Tochinoshin missed his chance for sanyakuhood with that bit of bad banzuke luck, as I don't see him having a shot at it from a 1-5 score.

That's 6 matches against 6 Ozeki and Yokozuna. Only Terunofuji left. Ichinojo he's dominated, Tochiozan is in his stable, and he's probably the favorite against the Komusubi and whatever Maegashira he'll face. Can he win 7 of those? Well, I wouldn't put down even money on it, but I'd say he has at least a 20% chance, possibly more like 30%. And as noted, he did it last basho.

Either way he's rarely less than wholehearted, feisty and a real test for most opponents.

[dingo]

From Kintamayama's video it looked like Kakuryu first threw Ikioi out from the dohyo and then jumped on him WWE-style to seal the deal (Laughing...)

And Tochinoshin really made Terunofuji work for his win there. Awesome bout, could've gone either way.

[Kotogouryuu]

Enjoyed the Endo - Ohsuna'arashi bout. They had an even four wins apiece in their short rivalry. It appears that Big Sandy is the more injured of the two, but was able to convincingly defeat the crowd fav this time. Props.

I'm surprised how well Endo can use the injured leg. There is a possibility that avoiding surgery may work out for him.

[Pandaazuma]

Sumo proves everyone wrong regularly!

[littlebutts]

Terunofuji is looking like Baruto 2.0 - the new and improved oak tree model.

[CT3*]

Baruto was a lot quicker, imo.

[808morgan]

Terunofuji is looking like Baruto 2.0 - the new and improved oak tree model.

I keep seeing him pick people up and I wonder if he will ever blow his back out. I did it once lifting stuff at work and man I was out of it for 6 weeks. They lift and twist and strain, it amazes me they don't get that injury.

[Kishinoyama]

Terunofuji is looking like Baruto 2.0 - the new and improved oak tree model.

He definitely is powerful like Baruto but Terunofuji seems to have more ways in which to beat his opponents.

[Pandaazuma]

Terunofuji's main issue now is his tachiai - he regularly gets into disadvantageous positions and is forced to win with brute force or technique. In the long term, it will serve him well of course, but he really needs to work on that. Once he gets the tachiai right, he'll be the next Hakuho: practically invincible.

[Treblemaker]

Terunofuji is looking like Baruto 2.0 - the new and improved oak tree model.

He definitely is powerful like Baruto but Terunofuji seems to have more ways in which to beat his opponents.

I mentioned this (see post #138), because he does have the power, PLUS the height, PLUS some of the better characteristics of Hakuho. Maybe a few more weapons in his arsenal than Baruto had. Whereas Baruto was a former bouncer, Teruno looks like he's got some history behind him. What he lacks is experience at the very top levels, but he makes up for it.

I think we're seeing Kakuryu coming into the proper Yokozuna zone. Not flamboyant, just effective.

And why? Why? Why doesn't anybody actually attack Hakuho right at the tachi-ai? Go full guns, knock him off guard, surprise him. It works. We've seen it. What usually happens is that he absorbs whatever group hug, goes for the belt, waits to see what is offered on the table, then takes the other guy to the cleaners. Whem he's been beaten lately, it's seems to be because of a real charge, followed by some strategy that doesn't allow him to grab a belt. I'd love to see him in a real shoving match/bitch-fight/slap-fest. Trouble is, who does that anymore? Where's Chiyotakai when you need him? Everyone up there is a belt-and-suspenders guy these days.

And what's up with Ichinojo? This is not the same guy we've seen for the last 2 bashos. He's sluggish, sometimes confused, and not a lot of effort.

[inhashi]

And why? Why? Why doesn't anybody actually attack Hakuho right at the tachi-ai? Go full guns, knock him off guard, surprise him. It works. We've seen it. What usually happens is that he absorbs whatever group hug, goes for the belt, waits to see what is offered on the table, then takes the other guy to the cleaners.

Because it's right before tachai, is when Hakuho fixes the restraint on his opponent. Toyonoshima and several others have tried to explain that right before the charge just Hakuho's stare alone renders them powerless.

[ALAKTORN]

Because it's right before tachai, is when Hakuho fixes the restraint on his opponent. Toyonoshima and several others have tried to explain that right before the charge just Hakuho's stare alone renders them powerless.

Yeah, I can’t see many people having the guts to slap him in the face, but I would absolutely love to see it happen.

[Ganzohnesushi]

Wow, that tachi-ai by Chiyotairyu was brilliant. Explosion! Tamawashi is still asking which truck hit him.

Ganzohnesushi

[Jakusotsu]

I'm the first to defend Hakuho, but that was uncalled for.

[Masumasumasu]

The bully punches Ichinojo in the face long after the match was finished. I'm not surprised. A bully is always a bully.