Aki Basho 2018 Discussion [SPOILERS]

[Dwale 419]

It was really good to see Kisenosato again. I had forgotten how intimidating he is. Whatever his health problems may be, they haven't affected his stare-down.

[Asashosakari 19,320]

2 hours ago, Morty said:

utchari, backward pivot throw, rare and spectacular kimarite used as a last ditch effort to win after the attacker has been driven to the tawara. Before he can be forced out, the attacker will drop his hips while pulling the defender up and past him. In executing this technique, the attacker is quite often forced clean over onto his back. The only thing that earns him the shiroboshiis the twisting motion of his hips, which often forces his aite to touch down a fraction of a second before he does.

Yosh pivoted the hips and shifted Chiyoshoma sideways. So long as he does that the foot and dead body don't matter, because he is successfully pulling off a throw. 

I was jumping around the room after watching him do that.

I think you're misunderstanding that last sentence in the description. There is no technical requirement for how an utchari has to be executed, there are plenty where the winner barely pivots at all. All the description says is that the pivoting is what tends to make the opponent touch down first, and that's how utchari can result in a win.

This was definitely a shinitai decision, and rightfully so with Chiyoshoma flying through the air. Wish they'd call it consistently so, which they unfortunately don't.

Edited September 9, 2018 by Asashosakari

[Jabbamaru 166]

Im the only one who thinks that Tamawashi and Ikioi makes no effort to beat the zunas?

[Morningstar 118]

2 hours ago, Gooner said:

*second match. The first one was the opposite of greatness: a henka... 

I fail to see how that was a henka. Ishiura made full contact, then pivoted to his left. Kotoyuki over committed, was off balance, and was simply unable to do basic Sumo. 

Much like Harumafuji's fames non-henka. Quite frankly, I much prefer this style to the jump out of your opponents way and avoid all contact true henka.

[Bumpkin 438]

3 hours ago, Morty said:

utchari, backward pivot throw, rare and spectacular kimarite used as a last ditch effort to win after the attacker has been driven to the tawara. Before he can be forced out, the attacker will drop his hips while pulling the defender up and past him. In executing this technique, the attacker is quite often forced clean over onto his back. The only thing that earns him the shiroboshiis the twisting motion of his hips, which often forces his aite to touch down a fraction of a second before he does.

Yosh pivoted the hips and shifted Chiyoshoma sideways. So long as he does that the foot and dead body don't matter, because he is successfully pulling off a throw. 

I was jumping around the room after watching him do that.

Yoshikaze's foot does matter. Doesn't it?

[Asojima 2,874]

4 minutes ago, Bumpkin said:

Yoshikaze's foot does matter. Doesn't it?

Only up to the point where Chiyoshoma goes airborne.  At that point, the match has already ended.

[Tigerboy1966 1,448]

3 minutes ago, Morningstar said:

I fail to see how that was a henka. Ishiura made full contact, then pivoted to his left. Kotoyuki over committed, was off balance, and was simply unable to do basic Sumo. 

Much like Harumafuji's fames non-henka. Quite frankly, I much prefer this style to the jump out of your opponents way and avoid all contact true henka.

I suppose that the alternative to using lateral movement against a much heavier and stronger opponent is to just stand up straight and take the bulldozer head on. We saw that tactic employed by Goeido today and much good it did him.

[YoungSumo 93]

This is looking to be a very competitive basho. I'm not expecting Kise to make a miracle return and win right away but I hope he can at least be competitive. Day 1 gives hope but its too soon to say how this will go.

 

[Kotogouryuu 131]

7 hours ago, Amamaniac said:

Hakuho's dohyoiri was sublime, with the final arm spread dropping like the wings of a (Great) bird.  In his bout against Tamawashi, he showed why he is the GOAT.

My first thought was, once again: how do you beat someone like that? He was so fast and moved perfectly. Of course, there was the slap but still, that was pure Hakuho.

Some nice chest collisions in the Ozeki matches and of course the bongo drums of the final one.

Mitakeumi looking good, it's gonna be a thrill to watch him.

Early days but this basho is looking gooooood.

 

[mikawa 1,794]

Gonna be another rollercoaster ride watching Goeido this basho, his tournaments are rarely straightforward

[Dwale 419]

2 hours ago, Morningstar said:

. Kotoyuki over committed, was off balance [...]

No, not Kotoyuki! It's not as if he earns most of his losses by forgetting he's not an obese lawn dart or something.

[Gooner 39]

4 hours ago, Morningstar said:

I fail to see how that was a henka. Ishiura made full contact, then pivoted to his left. Kotoyuki over committed, was off balance, and was simply unable to do basic Sumo. 

Much like Harumafuji's fames non-henka. Quite frankly, I much prefer this style to the jump out of your opponents way and avoid all contact true henka.

Yes he made some contact but it didn't interrupt Kotoyukis tachiai one bit. So still a henka for me.

Ofcourse this is smart against Kotoyuki, who must be the dumbest rikishi by far, but we'll see Ishiura do it another 6-7 times this basho.

I hope they are both in juryo next basho.

 

 

[Edwardoho 23]

4 hours ago, Asojima said:

Only up to the point where Chiyoshoma goes airborne.  At that point, the match has already ended.

Can you explain this? I thought it was a question of whether Yoshi's foot went out before or after Chiyoshoma landed? 

Also, how many wins does Kisenosato need to avoid retirement? 8? 

Thanks :) 

Edited September 9, 2018 by Uk.sumo.fan

[ALAKTORN 346]

23 minutes ago, Uk.sumo.fan said:

Can you explain this? I thought it was a question of whether Yoshi's foot went out before or after Chiyoshoma landed? 

Also, how many wins does Kisenosato need to avoid retirement? 8? 

Thanks :) 

If your whole body is already airborne outside the dohyō, you’ve lost. You can’t jump 3 meters out and win the match just because you delayed your landing while your opponent puts a foot out. There’s a rule called “shinitai” which means “dead body”, if you’re in a position where you can’t do anything to directly make your opponent lose, you can’t win. For example during tsuridashi (pick up the opponent off his feet with both hands on the mawashi), the rikishi is allowed to step outside the dohyō and win before putting the opponent down. Just because the opponent is considered a dead body I presume.

8 might be enough to stave off retirement, no one can say for sure.

Edited September 9, 2018 by ALAKTORN

[Edwardoho 23]

1 minute ago, ALAKTORN said:

If your whole body is already airborne outside the dohyō, you’ve lost. You can’t jump 3 meters out and win the match just because you delayed your landing while your opponent puts a foot out.

8 might be enough to stave off retirement, no one can say for sure.

Thanks for clarifying - I didn't know that. 

[ALAKTORN 346]

Just now, Uk.sumo.fan said:

Thanks for clarifying - I didn't know that. 

I edited the post with some more info. The shinitai rule is a weird one, some times it seems to go completely ignored by the shinpan for no real reason.

[Kawabata 270]

12 hours ago, Amamaniac said:

Hakuho's dohyoiri was sublime, with the final arm spread dropping like the wings of a (Great) bird.  In his bout against Tamawashi, he showed why he is the GOAT.

It was a shame one of his shide got twisted up, though I like to the think the fact it did, and the annoyance he had that he couldn't do anything about it during the dohyo-iri, fed into the thunder he later threw at Tamawashi

[Tiger Tanaka 225]

Great first day of action. Yoshikaze with a truly remarkable maneuver, Mitakeumi with a steady effort to begin his quest for Ozeki, Hakuho & Kakuryu looking very genki, an upset in the Y/O ranks with Kaisei  defeating Goeido (after a 4-14 career record against him, losing his last 5), and most importantly Kisenosato looking confident and showing a solid effort to hopefully help calm the nerves with all eyes on him.

And I got to enjoy it all while making Chanko in front of my TV. Cheers sumo fans, it looks like we're in for a great basho!

 

[sekitori 492]

52 minutes ago, ALAKTORN said:

8 might be enough to stave off retirement, no one can say for sure.

I think if he has eight wins, considering the length of time  he's been away, that will probably be good enough to keep him around for another basho. 8-7 is far from being a yokozuna-like record, but it's a winning one. If however, he doesn't  get at least 9-6 in the following basho, that will be an entirely different story.

I admire Kisenosato for continuing to compete with a severely debilitating injury that was not treated properly. Many rikishis, even those in the highest ranks, would have retired instead of spending an enormous amount of time and effort to remain in sumo. I wish him the best. 

Edited September 9, 2018 by sekitori

[Kotomiyama 172]

Ichinojo and Endo is becoming one of the most interesting bouts each basho and today did not disappoint. Glad to see Kisenosato back, but I cannot shake the feeling that we are witnessing his end. 

[Kuroyama 715]

15 hours ago, Amamaniac said:

Hakuho's dohyoiri was sublime, with the final arm spread dropping like the wings of a (Great) bird.  In his bout against Tamawashi, he showed why he is the GOAT.

I wonder if he gets that element of it from the eagle dance they perform after a victory at bökh?

[Shio-kago 180]

Ichinojo showing some intensity and, very importantly, able to resist at the edge! If Ichinojo could be both aggressive and stubborn at the same time, he'd be awfully hard to beat.

Kakuryu kept moving forward after missing his grip; a good sign that his confidence is high.

Kisenosato looked kinda scared to me(who's to blame him?) but charged hard anyway. Great! I'll be watching closely tonight for more signs of nerves. Even if he's strong enough to pull it off, it won't be enough if he's vulnerable mentally. 

I'm so excited for this Basho! I think that was a great day of competition . 

[Eikokurai 3,437]

I actually felt Tamawashi was in a fairly decent position and Hakuho’s win wasn’t quite as dominant as others suggest. The key was that Tamawashi jumped back to the bales such that his outstretched left leg went over. Had he kept his feet on the ground and slid to the bales, butsukari style, he was in a good position to pivot Hakuho over his right leg and twist him around the hips (as he appeared to be ready to attempt at the moment he went out of bounds). A good example of how sumo bouts turn on a second or a single error.

[robnplunder 975]

With all 3 yokos being healthy, and Takayasu looking strong, Mitakeumi's chance at 10+ wins isn't looking good.  

[Bumpkin 438]

16 minutes ago, robnplunder said:

With all 3 yokos being healthy, and Takayasu looking strong, Mitakeumi's chance at 10+ wins isn't looking good.  

The basho is early. Anything can happen. Except Goeido going zensho!