Yokozuna/Ozeki preparendum - Aki 2012

[Akinomaki 39,960]

Kisenosato was 15-1 against Kotoshougiku and Kotooushuu at the Nishonoseki Ichimon rengo keiko held at Takadagawa beya today. He especially owned Kotoshougiku going 11-0 against him.

On the 30th he was only 7-5 against Kotoshogiku.

"Much better than yesterday(s keiko). My muscles have come quite awake."

[Kintamayama 44,510]

Harumafuji joined the Nishonoseki Ichimon rengo keiko at Sadogatake this morning. After beating some hiramaku and under rikishi (6-0) he had a three way Ozeki rumble with Kisenosato and Kotoshougiku, going 12-2 ( 11 straight wins at some point..). "We all know that keiko is not like the real thing," he said later.

Edited September 2, 2012 by Kintamayama

[Akinomaki 39,960]

Kotoshogiku and Kotooshu were not fit at the rengo-geiko.

Kotoshogiku 0-6 against Harumafuji and 3-6 against Kisenosato. With pain in the neck and the back caused by fatigue he had no power in his forward movements. "One week left, somehow I want to make my presence felt."

Kotooshu hurt the left side of his chest at the soken the day before and didn't take part in the moushi-ai. No grave injury: "I go on while checking the situation"

[botev1921 33]

Does anybody know what happened to Aoiyama and his injury from this week?

[Kintamayama 44,510]

Harumafuji went to Naruto beya this morning and faced Kisenosato, going 6-10. He was trying out some new tachiai stuff. "I did great keiko and that was good. The win-loss thing is not important. Kisenosato be real strong.." he said at some point.

Edited September 3, 2012 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 44,510]

Hakuhou was at Tokitsukaze-beya today, facing Kakuryuu 7 times and Toyonoshima 8 times, winning all bouts. "It was a good continuation of the soken.. I always try to do serious keiko," he said.

[Akinomaki 39,960]

Harumafuji joined the Nishonoseki Ichimon rengo keiko at Sadogatake this morning. After beating some hiramaku and under rikishi (6-0) he had a three way Ozeki rumble with Kisenosato and Kotoshougiku, going 12-2 ( 11 straight wins at some point..). "We all know that keiko is not like the real thing," he said later.

Harumafuji does weight training under the guidance of Mongolian 2011 powerlifting athlete, Munkh-Erdene, once bench press Asian champion in the 93kg class. Harumafuji drinks 1.5 litres of milk mixed with proteins every day, soy milk as well. Thus he gained 5 kg.

[Treblemaker 254]

Obsessing over keiko win/losses numbers is like paying too much attention to NFL, NBA or NHL pre-season games. This is practice. Guys trying out old stuff, new stuff, allowing others to work on their moves, and in some cases, a pitched mismatch between rikishi.

Also,

I can not, for the life of me, comprehend why there is such a steep disparity in skill level at the top echelon of a sport.

Disparity? Sure doesn't look like that during a basho. When the game is on, people show up. Especially at the "top echelon".

I seem to remember some old hockey goalie, I think his name was Terry Sawchuk. He was a notoriously bad practice goalie, who might wave at a puck now and then, but never, ever would go out of his way to actually stop anything. IIRC, he's considered - to this day - as the greatest money goalie of all time.

Keiko is nothing more than sumo training camp. I wouldn't get too worked up over w/l stats.

[Akinomaki 39,960]

Hakuhou was at Tokitsukaze-beya today, facing Kakuryuu 7 times and Toyonoshima 8 times, winning all bouts. "It was a good continuation of the soken.. I always try to do serious keiko," he said.

Hakuho looks as strong as during his 63 wins in a row: "Shall we do it again ?", hinting at another continuous winning streak.

He announced a double victory, Daikiho in juryo as well.

[Akinomaki 39,960]

Harumafuji went to Naruto beya this morning and faced Kisenosato, going 6-10. He was trying out some new tachiai stuff. "I did great keiko and that was good. The win-loss thing is not important. Kisenosato be real strong.." he said at some point.

Harumafuji tried a hidari yotsu position, both with a left under-arm mawashi grip, which is a specialty of Kisenosato. As a result there were scenes of getting blown away to the wood panelling or losing 4 in a row.

Now he knows what position he must avoid in the basho.

[Bugman 384]

If i was kisenosato i wouldn't give Harumafuji any training against me, :-D i'd hide behind a tree somewhere, that way he can only see what i do on video and give him minimum experience against me, i know it sounds bad but Harumafuji is a tactical master, the less advantages his opponents give him the better for them i reckon, i would bet that keiko would benefit him more than his opponents because of his strategic abilities.

[Peeter 15]

... it's two way road ;-)

[Akinomaki 39,960]

Harumafuji was again at Naruto-beya for degeiko, 6-4 against Kisenosato. "I did it while checking my movements. I think it's not bad." 4 days in a row training with Kisenosato: "For Kise it surely was good keiko as well. We have nothing to hide from each other."

[Akinomaki 39,960]

Kakuryu went to Tokitsukaze-beya, training again with Hakuho, 4-11, both testing several things.

"This part is lacking, that is wrong and so on is what becomes clear."

[Bugman 384]

... it's two way road ;-)

i think i've had too much peppermint tea, i see a ghost castle toward the end of the left road.

[ronnie 221]

Peppermint tea?

Looks like I've wasted a lot of good money on alcohol (Singing drunk...)

[Treblemaker 254]

... it's two way road ;-)

Where's Yogi Berra when you need him?

[Asashosakari 18,892]

He followed his own advice and was long gone by the time the picture was taken.

[Akinomaki 39,960]

Hakuho at degeiko in Kasugano-beya 14-1 against Aoiyama, Tochinoshin and Tochiozan.

Giving signs to fans after keiko.

[Akinomaki 39,960]

Harumafuji was again at Naruto-beya for degeiko, 6-4 against Kisenosato. "I did it while checking my movements. I think it's not bad." 4 days in a row training with Kisenosato: "For Kise it surely was good keiko as well. We have nothing to hide from each other."

"When one days effort, power, luck come together one can become yokozuna". For him the yokozuna is the top of the pyramid. He read a book about pyramids. He believes that "strange powers dwell in there".

"Since being born a man, aiming for number one is natural. Number two being enough is not so", but "(last night) I was in too good shape and drank till 5 a.m."

[Akinomaki 39,960]

Harumafuji stayed at the heya, did the basics and tested his tachi-ai with Takarafuji and Homarefuji. Both ankles were taped but he said "It's OK, because it is normal."

[Bugman 384]

"When one days effort, power, luck come together one can become yokozuna". For him the yokozuna is the top of the pyramid. He read a book about pyramids. He believes that "strange powers dwell in there".

Some years ago i remember a story going around about pyramid shapes having some sort of power, some guy made himself a big pyramid to sleep in and he said it stopped him from ageing, i even read about a pyramid-shaped razor holder that actually sharpened your shaving razor, i ordered three of them and got a free bag of magic beans too. (i didn't really buy :-D )

Symbolically speaking, i prefer the square myself, solid, stable and the same whichever way you look at it, not like those vague, mysterious circles that never end, i guess it's possible for anyone to have a superstition, sportsman/woman or not.

Edit* oh and if he does make it to Yokozuna it'l be a flat-top pyramid because Hak is already there.

Edited September 5, 2012 by Bugman

[Kintamayama 44,510]

Harumafuji - yesterday 35 bouts and today 20, all at home against Takarafuji and others. "I did less than yesterday as I am tired.." he explained. He was seen favoring his problematic ankle. "You're OK, so do it!!" yelled his Oyakata. He has trained for six consecutive days now, but no more degeiko. "My ankle is OK!!" he emphasized again, perhaps a bit too eagerly??

[Kintamayama 44,510]

Hakuhou wrapped up his preparations for the coming Basho with 15 bouts today. He visited Tomozuna and won all his 15 bouts. "I wanted to face all types of rikishi. Newmaku Asahishou is there and it was good for Daikihou to go against his same -generation opponent as wel. It was good keiko, and I like to do things without being rushed," he said.

[Akinomaki 39,960]

Harumafuji - yesterday 35 bouts and today 20, all at home against Takarafuji and others.

with Takarafuji

Even with the impression of slightly slow movements, saying "it was good keiko".