Preparations of the masses-July 2016

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Endou started keiko yesterday and says he wants to add more weight. He was at his heaviest ever last basho (153 kilos, up by 6 since the previous basho) and that seemed to have worked for him, winning 11 and all. His left knee and right ankle injuries are still bothering him and a lot of pressure was put on them during the basho. "I am not in good shape.." he said. "I've been trying to put on weight for some time but did not succeed so I thought I had reached my peak. Now I feel I can add even more weight!!" he declared.

[Jakusotsu 6,049]

How often do you have someone with bad knees intending to gain weight?

That's sumo for you.

[kuroimori 1,634]

How often do you have someone with bad knees intending to gain weight?That's sumo for you.

I had the same thought when I read this.

[Benevolance 2,511]

Maybe he can do a targeted diet and gain fat just on his knee caps so they're stronger? :-|

[Unkonoyama 105]

Maybe he can do a targeted diet and gain fat just on his knee caps so they're stronger? :-|

If gaining fat in places made you stronger, then I would have the strongest abs in my family ;-)

[Kishinoyama 596]

Maybe he can do a targeted diet and gain fat just on his knee caps so they're stronger? :-|

If gaining fat in places made you stronger, then I would have the strongest abs in my family ;-)

People talk about having a 6 pack. I have a 24 pack or in other words, a case. :-P

[Jakusotsu 6,049]

People talk about having a 6 pack. I have a 24 pack or in other words, a case. :-P

I'm aiming for a keg.

[Kishinoyama 596]

People talk about having a 6 pack. I have a 24 pack or in other words, a case. :-P

I'm aiming for a keg.

And here I am thinking that I was finally going to win something on the forum..... :-O

[Benevolance 2,511]

I'm aiming for a keg.

Also known as a Full Gaga.

[Kuroyama 715]

I'm aiming for a keg.

Also known as a Full Gaga.

Very few mortals have achieved this. But it's good to be ambitious.

Edited June 4, 2016 by Kuroyama

[Akinomaki 40,791]

Ikioi in the first 3rd of the basho got a detachment fracture of the right big toe. He taped it and finished the basho - 4-11.

It is not healed completely yet, but end of May he restarted training already: "Nothing big, it's OK."

http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1658439.html

[kosomo 32]

the endou gaining weight point, got me thinking.

I know that there are some Sekitori that are under the average weight, they seem split into 2 camps,

(1) those that are intentionally staying small for mobility

(2) those that want to get bigger but have issues putting on weight

Question (1) I'm wondering, in which camp do the following folks fall into?

Amuru

Ikioi

Kitaharima

Also

Question (2). Are there any folks that are actively trying to lose weight?

(I believe Aoiyama is in this boat, and I wish Ichinojo would be)

Edited June 6, 2016 by kosomo

[Benihana 1,937]

I think Amuru should be in camp 3: "Knees to brain, knees to brain: If you put 1 more kilo on us, we will squish like gummi bears in a hydraulic press!"

Warning! This video is not safe for gummi bear lovers! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os9qYgJ6Nw8 :-D

[hamcornheinz 839]

I think Aoiyama and Ikioi are just the right size. Aoiyama has carved out a niche for himself and is doing just fine.

[Asojima 2,874]

Warning! This video is not safe for gummi bear lovers! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os9qYgJ6Nw8 :-D

And these are even less safe!!

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Oosunaarashi is training during Ramadan. He has returned from a two week trip to Egypt and trained for the first time for Nagoya, facing some Sandanme rikishi 11 times, winning 10. "I'm still not feeling it but I will be gradually upping my training regimen to get back into shape," he said. This year Ramadan does not fall on basho days as it ends 5 days before the basho so it should be much easier for him. It will be the first time since he entered sumo that Ramadan does not fall on basho days. "The best thing is being able to drink water during the day.. I'll be able to eat and get my body back in shape," he explained.

Water :

.

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Endou started serious training yesterday as well. He faced Sandanme and under rikishi for 15 bouts and won them all. It was the first time he did any sumo since the end of the basho. He had some time to rest his weary and battered body (left knee, right ankle) as there was no jungyo. "It's been a while since I did some sumo. Usually the pain sets in a day after I train so we'll see about that.. I will face my preparations day by day, taking care of my body," he said.

On July 7th, he will be throwing the opening pitch at the Tokyo Dome during the Yomiuri Giants-Hanshin Tigers game. His university has now become an official affiliate of the Giants organization and will hold three Nichidai days a season. Endou, being a giant Giants fan, is thrilled.

Edited July 1, 2016 by Kintamayama

[Akinomaki 40,791]

3rd time to juryo Kotoeko prepares to surpass his granddad's Matsueyama total of 15 wins in juryo. So far he had 5 and 4 wins, this time he aims for double digits and a stay in juryo.
He built up his body with proteins and now has 135kg, 16kg up from his last juryo appearance Haru 2015, having been able to train with Kotoshogiku and use his training methods.
http://www.hochi.co.jp/sports/sumo/20160701-OHT1T50115.html


A note for Sumo Reference: likely Matsueyama had the same reading for his real name as Kotoeko, Kashiwadani instead of Kashiwaya, even if that was his first shikona.

Edited July 1, 2016 by Akinomaki

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Endou did not do any sumo today, presumably due to some pain somewhere. "Not very good, huh??" he said. "Every time, all he thinks about is getting through the basho somehow.. The truth is that he can't do the kind of training that will make him stronger. It's also not good to rush things.." added his Oyakata Oitekaze.

Edited July 1, 2016 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Crowd favorite veteran Aminishiki who withdrew from the last basho due to injury intends to enter Nagoya, but it does not seem likely. "At this point, no concrete decision has been made. He will be doing his utmost to enter till the last minute. There is also a possibility he may join the basho after a few days.. " explained Isegahama Oyakata. If he goes kyujo in Nagoya, he will drop to Juryo. He injured his left Achilles tendon on day 2 of the last basho and underwent surgery, leaving the hospital in the middle of May. He is in the middle of the rehabilitation process and cannot do any sumo whatsoever so it is definitely not looking good.

[Akinomaki 40,791]

New asa-geiko videos

many with Ura (Kise-beya) on this channel (apparently some with enka soundtracks), training with kids, always young Inagawa-oyakata, Gagamaru etc: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2QL6y94SyN-r_7GewnD6cA/search?query=宇良関

Isenoumi-beya (Ikioi)

Edited July 3, 2016 by Akinomaki

[inhashi 2,363]

another asageiko clip with Kokonoe and Tamanoi beya in Nagoya

Edited July 5, 2016 by inhashi

[inhashi 2,363]

Another ruptured Achilles heel. This time it's Toyonoshima. :-(

Occurred during practice, he will be out for Nagoya focusing on rehab.

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Toyonoshima will be out for three months, says the official certificate. He had surgery last Saturday.Missing the next two bashos may mean he will find himself in Makushita come November."He says he will gambarize and return. We are optimistic!" said Tokitsukaze Oyakata.

This will be his sixth career kyujo.

[Yubinhaad 11,761]

A few pictures from a recent asageiko session at Dewanoumi-beya, which has based itself at the Zenkoji temple for every Nagoya basho since 1978.

Dewanoumi-oyakata (former Maegashira Oginohana) is now in charge of the Nagoya basho team, but he still watches over the keiko sessions at his heya.

Also present is the shisho's brother, Nakadachi-oyakata (former Komusubi Oginishiki), here offering some advice to Kairyu.

The Nagoya basho is a home basho for Dewahayate, who hails from Okazaki in Aichi prefecture, so he should get plenty of support from the spectators.

Mitakeumi and Dewahayate prepare for a practice bout. Watching on the left is Yamashina-oyakata (former Komusubi Onishiki), one of only five men to win all three sansho awards in a single basho.

Mitakeumi takes a breather.

Following the end of keiko, Dewahayate is interviewed by a local television station.

Mitakeumi has his chonmage repaired by the heya's tokoyama, Tokoriki. The two men are both 23 years old.

And now Kairyu's turn.

The last picture was taken some other time, Dewahayate with the poster for his home basho.

Kokonoe-beya also has its Nagoya base in the grounds of a temple, called Tokugenji. The Kyokai posted some pictures showing the preparation of the keikoba, dohyo-matsuri, and finally a keiko session.

Rikishi from the heya's advance party and yobidashi from Takasago ichimon joined forces to build the dohyo in the keikoba, a simple ring of tawara without tokudawara. [4]

Sanyaku gyoji Kimura Yodo, who belongs to Kokonoe-beya, officiated at the dohyo-matsuri. [4]

And finally a few shots from asageiko, visiting for degeiko were Fujiazuma and Azumaryu from Tamanoi-beya and Nishikigi from Isenoumi-beya. [4]

Finally, a brief report on Nishikido-beya - at least three of the heya's rikishi are still around and should be participating in the Nagoya basho, from left: Honda, yobidashi Tsurutaro (clearly wasn't ready for the picture!), Saio, Gokushindo and gyoji Kimura Kintaro.

Still unaccounted for are Kaminoyama and Shinshunishiki, although it's worth noting that Shinshunishiki was already kyujo in the Haru basho before the mass kyujo in May, so he may actually be injured.

Edited July 4, 2016 by Yubinhaad