Morty

I know this place is normally fairly anti-Kise, but objectively he showed something completely different from his usual today. His usual MO is to avoid the belt and just use his strength and size to muscle his opponents out, which I think is why he normally loses the long ones and can't seem to make the jump up to the next level. Normally he would have lost today - he was in an inferior position throughout, but maintained his ground and then won with a throw at the end, pretty unusual and demonstrating he may be in a better frame of mind this basho (thinking through the bout rather than just doing it)

He doesn't look right. Maybe the ankles?

Homasho looked pretty rusty but glad he won.

He looked to me like he hurt himself about halfway through the basho and hasn't looked any good since

Jokoryu. Jokoryu looks likely but hasn't been tested in the meat grinder yet, which is why I left him out

One aspect of this basho that has interested me particularly is that it is the first time that a number of young up and coming rikishi have been in the upper maegashira meat grinder positions and I'm interested in how people think they have gone. Takayasu, Chiotairyu, and Ikioi all had their first basho facing the big boys, while Shohazan had his second in that position, after getting spanked at Komosubi in the last basho. These guys are all young, improving rikishi who may fill the sanyaku ranks in the next few years. Of the four Chiotairyu looked the most at home before injuring himself, given that he beat a Yokozuna and two Ozeki, but is he a one trick pony? Ikioi has unfortunately looked right out of his depth. Takayasu also looked like he wasn't quite ready for this level, but showed some promise by beating HF, Bart and Godo. Shohozan at M4 hasn't faced all of the top guys, but when he has has been beaten. But he has looked really good against guys at his level or below, winning most of those bouts in good fashion and demonstrating some good skills. So, of these four young guys, who is the most likely to go on with it and make it to Sanyaku? Chiotairyu looks good enough to me but I'm not sure about the others.

I loved watching that Hak-Bart match today. Pure class and as mentioned above, showed why Hak is still head and shoulders above everyone else (including his fellow Yok)

Is that legit what happened in the Hak match? As Yok is he allowed to dictate when they go or did they let him get away with the mistake because he's the Yok?

At least it wasn't dangerous. Shotenro's late shove on Yosh on the other hand...

I'm starting to think Chiyotairyu is the real deal. He had that inexorable rise through the ranks, then a quick blip with the diabetes, then since he got that under control the rise has continued. Now at his first shot in the meat grinder he has faced three Ozeki and beat two. Today against Osh I thought he was gone for a second but he turned it around. Likewise, Takayasu, also first shot in the meat grinder and a great win against HF set up by a solid forearm shot to the jaw. Really liking both these guys and hoping they can continue it.

Chiyotairyu looks perfectly at home in the upper ranks and that tachai was pretty amazing

I am rather query-lazy, but one example of just barely not making it back to Ozeki despite posting a 34-11 over three consecutive basho at sanyaku scoring double digit wins in all three of them, one of it a 14-1 douten jun-yusho) is this former Ozeki who currently is in free fall mode Well, it was 10, 14, 10 with the first 10 being at the komusubi rank. 10 at the end doesn't seem very impressive for a big promotion like that, especially when one of the wins was a funsensho. The committee was probably holding out for at least 10 earned shiroboshi if not more. and back then, there were still 2 (out of 4) Ozeki representing Japan. OTOH, Miyabiyama had a much tougher task, going up against 5 Ozeki + 1 Yok (Asashoryu). Kotoshogiku just had to face 2 Ozeki (3 in the first Ozeki-run basho) + 1 Yok (Hakuho) for a 10-5, 11-4 & 12-3J record Kisenosato faced an average of 3 Ozeki + 1 Yok (Hakuho), posting a 10-5, 12-3J & 10-5 record I know it is difficult to compare the above records and I also do not want to restart the discussion about which promotion was earned and which was rushed. Somehow it only shows that some are just luckier when it comes to being in the right place at the right time. Luck has something to do with it, but I think much of it is about future expectation, which were not too hot with Miyabiyama, but pretty strong with Kisenosato. Actually, I ultimately agree with both decisions despite Miyabiyama's run being stronger on the first look. It doesn't make sense to block a rikishi like 25-year-old Kisenosato with a yokozuna ceiling - I think he has shown that he is worthy of the ozeki promotion as he is considered the strongest ozeki going by game selections and last-year record. Without the promotion he still would be sekiwake while he is not that far away from a yokozuna run, his special weakness are the last five days, and if he can overcome that road block there is not much stopping him. In retrospect the Kise decision looks spot on. His results since becoming Ozeki have been worthy of the rank, he consistently wins in the first week of the basho, and all he needs to push to the next level is a couple of wins in the second half of the second week against the Yoks. If he can knock off one of the Yoks in a couple of consecutive bashos I think he could still go to the next level. What he really needs though is a yusho. I think that would lift his confidence to the point where his talent can shine through against the top rikishi

I'm becoming increasingly impressed with Takayasu. Just a good constant improvement, gradually getting better and moving up the banzuke each basho. He's only young and if he continues to improve as he is going he could really go places. However, next basho he'll be in the meat grinder and it will be interesting to see if he can cope with that.

I was watching the NHK Japanese telecast today (on tv, not the internet feed) and during the Miyabiyama match they kept the camera on him the whole time before and the whole time after. I couldn't believe how much tape was attched to his body - hands, knees, fingers, toes etc. After he won he was extremely relieved, but he was obviously moved while doing his winner's waterboy duties. Afterwards, as he walked back down the race he was crying like a baby, tears pouring down his face and sobbing. It obviously meant a huge amount to him to win one, because I think he realised his time is up. Despite what he says I would expect intai sooner rather than later.

Hak went with the forearm again but Myo was ready for it this time and it certainly didn't hit clean. Then it was like Hak wasn't sure what to do because plan A hadn't worked... Then he got hit in the head by a flying cushion and he realised it was too late. The look on his face when he lost was priceless. I have huge respect for Hakuho and I think he is possibly the best I have ever seen. But I love it when the Yokozunas get beaten

Nit-picking, are we?Elbow? Forearm? Whatever. So, you disagree that Hakuo is a 'bully' but you agree with Igor that Hakuho is a 'grade-A douche'? (I agree with that, actually.) Looks like you're playing favorites with your nit-picking there, Mort old-chap! I agree with Igor about the nature of the strike, not his opinion on Hakuho.

There is a fair amount of research on the impact of concussion in sport so rather than anecdotal evidence about the dangers, here are some links to a couple of peer reviewed papers presenting research into the potential problems of hits to the head: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2987636/ http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/36/1/6.short Most of the research has been into American football injuries but can be extrapolated to other sports. Most of the really specific papers are behind the paywall so I can't post links to them. However it is clear that concussion occurs in a range of sports and that even one concussion can be dangerous in the long term, regardless of how you get it. My thoughts on Hakuho's forearm (Igor is right, it's a forearm strike not an elbow) - sumo is a combat sport in which the participants know what they are getting into. They're having a fight with rules - if it's within the rules then it's acceptable as far as I'm concerned. Calling him a bully because he attempts to win the fight within the rules of that fight is like criticising Usain Bolt for running too fast...

It looked to me like Yosh nailed Wakanosato clear on the jaw with a slap and his legs went out from under him. Knocked him wobbly for a bit - hit anybody there right and they will collapse. I have no theory for the Geek rolling over

After learning about Masunoyama's heart condition I no longer want to watch his bouts, and they get particularly hard to watch when they go long like that one. You could see him gassing as the match went on and Yosh just dumped him easily at the end because he was so out of gas. The worry is, that if other rikishi know he will gas quickly, their best bet is to try to prolong the bout and that puts him at most risk of harm

I come home from work every day and this is the first thing I put on - thanks very muchly and it was a great day today with some brilliant strategic bouts

No, he simply has no air after that kind of effort. Physical problem. I know about the air problems. But he looked completely psyched to have won, more so than usual

Masunoyama was completely pumped after beating Giku like he couldn't believe he'd done it. Is that the first time he has beaten a Sanyaku?

Three things about this basho I am really enjoying: - the Asahisho salt throwing exhibition - The return of the Geek. The Japanese crowd seems to follow him more than any of the others and today he did a fabulous job against a dangerous opponent. I don't think he's ever going to be a Yok, but I really enjoy watching him - Chiyonokuni, Ikioi and Chiyotairyu. Young guys starting to hit their stride. Also, today I got off the Kise band wagon. I have been a fan of his but today I really wanted Goeido to win. Which he did.

Toyonoshima is at his lowest rank since July 2009. He should be walking through this bunch backwards. Nothing special- here he is the head of foxes. Up a bit, he's the tail of lions. I understand that he is operating at a lower level but he also looks hungrier and better prepared than he has for some time. The last couple of bashos he looked totally disaffected but this time he is ready to go. That might be because he knows he can beat the guys in front of him (he handled Aiyoama today with ease) or maybe he just got his mojo back:). Guess we'll see once he takes on a couple of Sanyaku. Regardless, as he's one of my favourites, it's great to watch

And that was a fabulous bout to watch too.