Hakuho-Ama Great Bout!

[hidenohana 0]

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KUhLd0d721E

(Clapping wildly...) (Detective...)

edit:click on the high quality option to the bottom right of the video for better quality

Edited November 24, 2008 by hidenohana

[Vikanohara 171]

Pretty longish. Can't wait for Ama to become a Yokozuna as well.

[mokele 3]

Definitely a great bout! It was on the level of some of the classic yotsu-zumo bouts of the past such as Chiyonofuji vs. Kitanoumi, Chiyonofuji vs. Takanosato, Takanohana II vs. Akebono, etc. Ama has gotten so much stronger just in the past year. It looks like he will immediately take the position of top ozeki in January, and I wouldn't put it past him to make a run at the yokozuna title in 2009. His style is remarkably similar now to a young Asashoryu, combining a bit of thrusting with excellent quickness and technical skill on the belt. It was just a great way to end the Kyushu basho!

[Tikozan 4]

(Detective...) Thanks for posting this link from this great bout.

[Koriyama 0]

Thank You for the link. I've missed the streamish transmission. Looks like yaocho to me.

And i would like to apologize in advance to all conspiracy-haters, but I had to write it. Little green man in my had told me to do it. (Detective...)

[HenryK 38]

Definitely a great bout! It was on the level of some of the classic yotsu-zumo bouts of the past such as Chiyonofuji vs. Kitanoumi, Chiyonofuji vs. Takanosato, Takanohana II vs. Akebono, etc. Ama has gotten so much stronger just in the past year. It looks like he will immediately take the position of top ozeki in January, and I wouldn't put it past him to make a run at the yokozuna title in 2009. His style is remarkably similar now to a young Asashoryu, combining a bit of thrusting with excellent quickness and technical skill on the belt. It was just a great way to end the Kyushu basho!

Hmmm..... I don't think I agree with this. Ama showed great defensive posture, but he didn't attempt any winning techinque of his own. And once Hakuho had his left-hand inside mawashi grip, it was only a matter of time until he would carry through a succesful uwatenage. Except for the first few seconds, the fight never really hung in the balance. This contrasts with, say, Hakuho vs. Asashoryu at senshuraku of Hatsu basho.

As for where Ama (or what ever he'll be called) will establish himself within the Ozeki group, let's see. Strange things happen to rikishi after the climb to Ozeki, two of the last three (Kotooshu, Kotomitsuki) suddenly fell back from 13-2 type of bashos to a lacklustre 8-7, 9-6 pattern.

Edited November 26, 2008 by HenryK

[Harry 67]

As for where Ama (or what ever he'll be called) will establish himself within the Ozeki group, let's see. Strange things happen to rikishi after the climb to Ozeki, two of the last three (Kotooshu, Kotomitsuki) suddenly fell back from 13-2 type of bashos to a lacklustre 8-7, 9-6 pattern.

Hmm, I wonder if there could be any reason for this??? No, no, I'm just kidding... please don't answer that.

[aderechelsea 125]

It looks like he will immediately take the position of top ozeki in January

I'm fairly banzuke clueless but I'm pretty certain Ama will be lowest ranked ozeki in Jan.

indeed he will

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Really missed the purple rain of zabuton after an exciting bout the final match of the final day of a honbasho. Didn't feel like a honbasho with out that. ;-)

[hidenohana 0]

Definitely a great bout! It was on the level of some of the classic yotsu-zumo bouts of the past such as Chiyonofuji vs. Kitanoumi, Chiyonofuji vs. Takanosato, Takanohana II vs. Akebono, etc. Ama has gotten so much stronger just in the past year. It looks like he will immediately take the position of top ozeki in January, and I wouldn't put it past him to make a run at the yokozuna title in 2009. His style is remarkably similar now to a young Asashoryu, combining a bit of thrusting with excellent quickness and technical skill on the belt. It was just a great way to end the Kyushu basho!

Hmmm..... I don't think I agree with this. Ama showed great defensive posture, but he didn't attempt any winning techinque of his own. And once Hakuho had his left-hand inside mawashi grip, it was only a matter of time until he would carry through a succesful uwatenage. Except for the first few seconds, the fight never really hung in the balance. This contrasts with, say, Hakuho vs. Asashoryu at senshuraku of Hatsu basho.

As for where Ama (or what ever he'll be called) will establish himself within the Ozeki group, let's see. Strange things happen to rikishi after the climb to Ozeki, two of the last three (Kotooshu, Kotomitsuki) suddenly fell back from 13-2 type of bashos to a lacklustre 8-7, 9-6 pattern.

Oh.So do you see any yaocho in the bout?

[HenryK 38]

Definitely a great bout! It was on the level of some of the classic yotsu-zumo bouts of the past such as Chiyonofuji vs. Kitanoumi, Chiyonofuji vs. Takanosato, Takanohana II vs. Akebono, etc. Ama has gotten so much stronger just in the past year. It looks like he will immediately take the position of top ozeki in January, and I wouldn't put it past him to make a run at the yokozuna title in 2009. His style is remarkably similar now to a young Asashoryu, combining a bit of thrusting with excellent quickness and technical skill on the belt. It was just a great way to end the Kyushu basho!

Hmmm..... I don't think I agree with this. Ama showed great defensive posture, but he didn't attempt any winning techinque of his own. And once Hakuho had his left-hand inside mawashi grip, it was only a matter of time until he would carry through a succesful uwatenage. Except for the first few seconds, the fight never really hung in the balance. This contrasts with, say, Hakuho vs. Asashoryu at senshuraku of Hatsu basho.

As for where Ama (or what ever he'll be called) will establish himself within the Ozeki group, let's see. Strange things happen to rikishi after the climb to Ozeki, two of the last three (Kotooshu, Kotomitsuki) suddenly fell back from 13-2 type of bashos to a lacklustre 8-7, 9-6 pattern.

Oh.So do you see any yaocho in the bout?

You try do get me into trouble....

No, I don't see any obvious signs of yaocho, in particular as Ama fought his heart out not to be lifted out of the dohyo. It's entirely plausble that Hakuho just maneuvered himself into a winning position in the first 20 seconds, and then spent the rest of the fight figuring out how to use it.

This said, it would have made perfect sense ex ante for both Hakuho and Ama to split their bouts the way they did. But thinking too much about this just spoils all the joy. There are many situations in ozumo where some kind of tactical agreement would make sense to the rikishi, this is one. Better not to think too much about it.

[Timmons 0]

I think that Hakuho this time showed his real Yokodzuna strenght. He didnt want to lose Ama at the 2nd time this basho. It was clearly seen when he greatly defeated Kotomitsuki. He didnt give him any chance. And he didnt give Ama any chance in ketteisen. To my mind the only Ama's mistake was that he didnt attack Hakuho, he showed only his great defensive tachniques. As for me I supported Ama in yusho ketteisen, he deserved yusho. But maybe next time! It'll be interesting when Asashoryu returns next basho. We'll see who is the best. I think Hakuho becomes Great Yokodzuna next basho.