The Estonian People Beater

[madorosumaru]

Almost 50 years ago, the Sputnik craze caused "The Purple People Eater" to make an meteoric rise to the top of the American Hit Parade. Today,

Edited May 17, 2006 by madorosumaru

[Karu]

(Applauding...) (Applauding...) (Applauding...)

Very good Madorosumaru (Sign of approval)

When You can get the notes maybe this ballad will be a candidate for the new national anthem of Estonia or at least the anthem of Mihogaseki beya (I was stupid...)

Just a few corrections: You probably mean that Yoshikaze was blown away, because Bart haven't compete with Takekaze yet... And he still 20 - though getting 21 at the November of this year.

And i still hope he do not beat Estonian people B-)

[madorosumaru]

I am glad you enjoyed the post, Karu. Thanks for pointing out the error re Yoshikaze. I plumb mis-read it. After all, I am one of those ignorant gaijin too. As for his age, that was how it was reported in Sports Hochi. Also, I checked the Baruto bio on the Kyokai page and that has his birthdate as November 5, 1984 which makes him 21 now and 22 on his next birthday. Tempus Fugit!

Baruto is quite the juggernaut. I have been following him since he joined and have been telling everyone I know for the past year that he will eventually become a yokozuna. The amazing thing is that when I first read about him and the other Estonian, Kitaoji, and saw their pictures, I felt the latter was the better prospect. Since then, I have read in several Japanese sumo magazines where various oyakata have stated that Kitaoji was indeed better at that time and lamented the fact that he had gone home because he was "lonely for his girlfriend." Just imagine the two of them in makuuchi today! Also, I wonder what Kitaoji and his girlfriend (if she is still around) are thinking about right now in view of Baruto's success.

[Karu]

As for his age, that was how it was reported in Sports Hochi. Also, I checked the Baruto bio on the Kyokai page and that has his birthdate as November 5, 1984 which makes him 21 now and 22 on his next birthday. Tempus Fugit!

Of course Your right about his age, have to take the 1st grade math lessons again (Tears forming...) (Blushing...)

Baruto is quite the juggernaut. I have been following him since he joined and have been telling everyone I know for the past year that he will eventually become a yokozuna. The amazing thing is that when I first read about him and the other Estonian, Kitaoji, and saw their pictures, I felt the latter was the better prospect. Since then, I have read in several Japanese sumo magazines where various oyakata have stated that Kitaoji was indeed better at that time and lamented the fact that he had gone home because he was "lonely for his girlfriend." Just imagine the two of them in makuuchi today! Also, I wonder what Kitaoji and his girlfriend (if she is still around) are thinking about right now in view of Baruto's success.

Actually in Estonian media the reason why Kitaoji left has been stated as life being too harsh for him there and too much of humiliations (it is served as these were the characteristics of the particular beya Irumagawa?), not a word about missing his girlfriend or home...

Other than these few words concerning the leaving of Kitaofuji in the papers, nothing is heard about him, so it is hard to say what he thinks now... Maybe Senpai can add something...

PS. The monster was in the beating mood again in this morning : (You are going off-topic...)

[madorosumaru]

Actually in Estonian media the reason why Kitaoji left has been stated as life being too harsh for him there and too much of humiliations (it is served as these were the characteristics of the particular beya Irumagawa?), not a word about missing his girlfriend or home...

Other than these few words concerning the leaving of Kitaofuji in the papers, nothing is heard about him, so it is hard to say what he thinks now... Maybe Senpai can add something...

When Kitaoji left in a hurry or, shall we say, flew the coop, it was quite clear that he couldn't handle the rigors of shin-deshi life. The severity and hardships of the first few years of a sumotori is notorious no matter what the heya. The humiliating tasks are often indescribable. I read of a rikishi talking about his junior days when he had to assist his ani-deshi in the bathroom--let's just say the senior rikishi was very fat and had short arms . . .

Of ccurse, the oyakata couldn't tell the world that the kid was "scared away" so the "girlfriend story" became the party line. As for my wondering about what Kitaoji and his girlfriend are thinking right now, that was a "rhetorical question." Baruto is going to be very rich and famous. It took less than two years of patience and endurance. Kitaoji, I am sure, is full of regrets.

[madorosumaru]

A segment of a pre-basho panel discussion in

[Notsukutsu]

A segment of a pre-basho panel discussion in

[madorosumaru]

People Beater Again Amazes All Nippon

With his preternatural strength, young Baruto stunned veteran Iwakiyama, the mesmerized audience, the whole of Ozumo and perhaps even the entire nation of Japan by unleashing a rare technique in a most improbable but authoritative way to dump his carefully-selected adversary.

"Harima-nage" is not only rare, it is colorful and it is dramatic. In the few occasions it has been used in history, it was employed as a last-ditch, desperation maneuver at the edge of the dohyo. Even the most wizened of sumo aficionado has never seen the waza used with the rikishi in the middle of the ring.

The move which entails the grabbing of a mawashi over the head and shoulder of an opponent was so named because it reminded one poetically of a wave crashing against coastal rocks and bouncing back. In this case, a Japanese writer likened Baruto to a giant battleship in the Baltic Sea and even the hefty Iwaki was but merely an unfortunate wave that bounced impotently off its mighty hull. The irony is even greater when one realize that

[Jakusotsu]

I don't see what's so special about Baruto's move. Very much like a regular hatakikomi to me, just with an added hold on Iwaki's mawashi thanks to his superior reach. As Bart said, it happened quite naturally.

[madorosumaru]

I don't see what's so special about Baruto's move. Very much like a regular hatakikomi to me, just with an added hold on Iwaki's mawashi thanks to his superior reach. As Bart said, it happened quite naturally.

That's precisely the point. That it was just a hataki-komi. That it came to be called a "Harima-nage" was purely fortuitous and indicative of how the "Strongest Beginner" is devoid of simple sumo skills and wins against top competition solely by instinctive moves.

In beating Iwaki, he did what no other "accomplished" rikishi had ever done or would even contemplate of doing. As the English commentator said on NHK in the brief video I saw, Baruto came out with "a little bit of a game plan"--he wanted to evade the onrushing Iwaki just like any other level-headed rikishi in sumodom. Instead of having to pull a henka, he only had to shift a bit to the side to slap with his left. With his right, he reached all the way over Iwaki's head "with that long arm of his" (again NHK) to grab the mawashi in a most unorthodox manner. He then yanked one of the biggest makuuchi rikishi to the ground with ease. A typical rikishi would not attempt that move since he cannot even reach the mawashi from that position.

He is like a baseball rookie who comes up to the Majors with hardly any experience. The kid can't even hold the bat correctly. He has a strange grip with the wrong hand on top of the other. However, he steps up to the plate and hits one homer after another. They bring in Dontrelle Willis and he clouts one over the fence. They call in Barry Zito with his magical curveballs and wham--into the bleachers. The media ask him "How did you hit that Uncle Charlie," and he looks befuddled. "Who is Uncle Charlie?" All the "Talkin' Heads" of ESPN can say do is wonder out loud what would happen when the kid learns a little bit about baseball.

Of course, that was not an intentional "Harima-nage." The kid just did what he needed to do to win the bout and the result happened to look like the "wave bouncing off coastal rocks." Such is how legends are made.

Baruto doesn't even know the basics of sumo and he is beating some of the best Ozumo has to offer. And not by fluke. He is that strong physically that he can compensate for any technical definciency. One can only marvel at what would happen if and when he learns sumo. Kitanoumi Rijicho is on record as saying, around a year ago, that a future yokozuna is going to be an Estonian. I think the man knows what he is talking about.

Edited May 19, 2006 by madorosumaru

[Notsukutsu]

Even in context of the post, to call him "devoid of simple sumo skills" and that he "doesn't even know the basics of sumo" is frankly offensive, not to say ridiculous. (Neener, neener...) Just wanted to be first to point this out in a civil manner as there are many fans lurking, some of whom might feel compelled put it in a less understanding and more colorful fashion.

Surely the guy is lacking experience at this point, and learning as he goes. But it's not a fluke nor a supernatural gift he was unjustly endowed with at birth that has brought him this far. It's more than fair to say that his skills have something to do with it, and certainly capitalizing on one's strengths is big part of it.

[Jakusotsu]

One can only marvel at what would happen if and when he learns sumo.

Reminds me a bit of the talk we had a decade ago about this unorthodox guy called Kyokushuzan. The difference is that he approached sumo from the opposite side of the skill/strength meter, and "learning sumo" didn't really become his career...

[Tikozan]

(Neener, neener...) (Applauding...) (Applauding...)

Absolutely great! Wonderful statement!

I hope baruto will beat the rest and come to sanyaku in a short time.

[madorosumaru]

Even in context of the post, to call him "devoid of simple sumo skills" and that he "doesn't even know the basics of sumo" is frankly offensive, not to say ridiculous. (Neener, neener...) Just wanted to be first to point this out in a civil manner as there are many fans lurking, some of whom might feel compelled put it in a less understanding and more colorful fashion.

Surely the guy is lacking experience at this point, and learning as he goes. But it's not a fluke nor a supernatural gift he was unjustly endowed with at birth that has brought him this far. It's more than fair to say that his skills have something to do with it, and certainly capitalizing on one's strengths is big part of it.

It is a literary device called "hyperbole" or "overstatement," where one intentionally exaggerate to make a point. Of course, he is not "devoid" of skills, but he IS, in the view of sumo experts, at the low end of the "learning curve." So, it is a compliment to him in a way that he is so strong and capable of winning while still lacking the basic sumo skills which he is learning day by day. As the sumo reporter I quoted said, "Once he learns sumo, he'd be off to the races"--nobody would be able to touch him (this is also an exaggeration for effect).

It is precisely because there are so many new fans that I am posting these statements. These fans are justifiably proud of Baruto and Estonia. However, they also know very little about sumo and Japan. In an artlcle in Sports Nippon, a member of Estonia/Japan Goodwill Society was quoted as saying, with his current success, Baruto's recogniton quotient has risen considerably and Estonian people are learning more about Japan than that it is the country of "Sony. Toyota, camera, television sets."

I am giving these fans a taste of how the Japanese media are treating this current "amazing" phenomenon. The press is creating a "legend"--a new "Raiden legend" of a super strong rikishi, beyond imagination. Legends are exaggerated stories. In a hundred years, Baruto will be this mountain of a man like Cyclops tossing Odysseus' men all over the cave.

As I said, something extraordinary is happening. Today's headline is "Baruto Treats Asasekiryu Like a Child."

Everyone is excited. The press is riling them up. It is "interesting times" in sumo. People are all favorably impressed by Baruto and Estonia. Enjoy the good times and stop seeing "offenses" in every nook and corner.

Edited to correct typos.

Edited May 19, 2006 by madorosumaru

[marujama]

Thank You, madorosumaru, for bringing out what's important.

I've been reading sumo-forum since natsu started, since now I've learned a lot. Of course, there is a long way for me to go to understand the sense of sumo and so on.

Looking at the astonishing result made by People Beater, could it be, that Bart is having a little so-called beginner luck. Previous basho 15-0, now 11-2. Will this way last longer?

[madorosumaru]

Looking at the astonishing result made by People Beater, could it be, that Bart is having a little so-called beginner luck. Previous basho 15-0, now 11-2. Will this way last longer?

Welcome to the world of sumo! I have been following sumo as well as many (too many according to my wife) other sports for more decades than I will own up to.

Is it beginner's luck? No, it's not luck, but it is beginner's something.

First of all, take the 15-0 in juryo aside. Although Baruto is new, almost everyone in sumo knew he was the class of that division, which has been relatively weak in recent times--populated by mostly makuuchi has-beens, makushita yo-yos and a sprinkling of promising newcomers on the rise. In fact, in the four basho prior to Haru, the juryo winners were, in reverse order, Tochinonada, Toki, Toyonoshima and Tokitsuumi--all former makuuchi rikishi who had been demoted. Of the four, only Toyonoshima is young but he is not on the "fast track." Toki was on his literal last legs and both Tokitsuumi and Tochinoda are long past their prime.

It may have surprised a few people that he was zensho, but his yusho was pretty much expected. He had already established his ability level. In keiko, he had already out-grown his peers in upper-makushita/juryo and was practicing with makuuchi rikishi.

This basho is slightly different. He was expected to hold his own against the lower level makuuchi that he would face at the beginning. However, pundits were certain that he will encounter some problems when he was matched up against mid-maegashira rikishi--the Iwakiyama types. Against them, his inexperience and lack of skills would certainly be exposed.

However, Baruto did even better than anticipated at the beginning, losing only to Tochinohana and Kitazakura. The former, a very technically-sound veteran, did indeed give him a quick sumo lesson and the latter used his characteristic aggressive attack to surprise Bart. Even then, Bart almost pulled out the Kitazakura bout and lost only, I suppose, to inexperience--when his heel barely touched out. Here, we can talk about Lesson #1. All rikishi know the dangers of dohyo edge where all sorts of things can happen. Roho lost a sure winner last basho when he stepped out inadvertently before he could force out his opponent. He is acknowledged to be clueless in sumo awareness. A similar thing happened to Kisenosato--isami-ashi (unintended step-out)--this basho. Kise is acknowledged to be an inexperience youngster. A year ago, Hakuho lost a match when he lowered an opponent he had hoisted while the foe was still in the ring and got reversed. Hakuho was then an acknowleged inexperienced youngster. The great yokozuna Wakanohana I was said to have "eyes in his heels." His feet knew exactly where they were planted at the edge of the dohyo. Baruto will learn this kind of thing as he developes.

What astounded everyone is that he won with such ease and kept winning even after higher ranked rikishi were set up against him. You can be sure that every one of his opponents after Day 10 has been carefully selected by the elders of the Kyokai (please refer to the Dojo Yaburi segment of Quotes from Day 12). The sumo establishment had underestimated Baruto. Maybe, he was even holding something back in the keiko sessions.

This is what I mean by "beginner's something." That something is unfamiliarity. Here is where Baruto's lack of sumo skills actually helps him. He is awkward; he is unconventional; he does outlandish things. It's not natural. That's not sumo. We hear these things day after day from reporters and sumo experts. How can one defend against him if one doesn't know what he will do or even what he is capable of doing. Futeno has never been thrusted down like that. Iwaki has never had anyone grab a mawashi back-handed and over his head. Asasekiryu has never been hoisted like a child from a regular yotsu position and hold to boot.

What is going to happen is there will be a lot of conferences among oyakata and their deshi to look for any and all weaknesses on Baruto's part. Next basho, they will be more ready. Part of Kotooshu's problem (and he has many) is that his opponents are denying him the uwate (watch how Hakuho did just that in the banzuke.com video) without which he is only half the rikishi. The commentators are saying Ama is not able to get into his "comfortable" position this basho. Why? His opponents are not dumb enough to just let him get what he wants. He is now a sanyaku and no longer a challenger but a challengee.

This is true in every sport. It is called the "Sophmore Jinx." The second year is never as easy as the first. When Ichiro Suzuki first joined the Mariners in MLB, he surprised everyone with his speed and bat control. He would get hits in the most improbable, unorthodox ways. He mesmerized the Big Leaguers, led his team to record victories and won both the batting title and the Most Valuable Player Award. When he returned for the second year, the opponents were ready for him and, though he still did well, he was not as amazing as he was the first year.

Baruto is going to be fine. He is going to be one of the top rikishi in a very short while. And he is going to be a yokozuna--unless he gets hurt, as that expert said.