Terunofuji’s Knees/Dohyo-Iri

[Chanko Thief 67]

Serious question. Not to count chickens before they hatch, but if Terunofuji does manage to become Yokozuna someday, will his knees allow him to perform the Dohyo-Iri?

He looked to be in quite a bit of pain getting to his knees during his latest Ozeki promotion ceremony, so how will he be able to manage the Dohyo-Iri?

[Eikokurai 3,437]

  On 04/04/2021 at 00:16, Chanko Thief said:

Serious question. Not to count chickens before they hatch, but if Terunofuji does manage to become Yokozuna someday, will his knees allow him to perform the Dohyo-Iri?

He looked to be in quite a bit of pain getting to his knees during his latest Ozeki promotion ceremony, so how will he be able to manage the Dohyo-Iri?

I’ve been wondering the same thing. Has he accompanied a Yokozuna Dohyo-iri since returning to Makuuchi? I’ve a vague recollection of him doing so but could be my mind playing tricks on me. To my mind, that’s the worst job in sumo, but then I do have arthritic knees.

[yohcun 401]

That crowd "ohh!" might have a very different inflection.

[Seiyashi 4,108]

  On 04/04/2021 at 00:28, Eikokurai said:

I’ve been wondering the same thing. Has he accompanied a Yokozuna Dohyo-iri since returning to Makuuchi? I’ve a vague recollection of him doing so but could be my mind playing tricks on me. To my mind, that’s the worst job in sumo, but then I do have arthritic knees.

No, he hasn't. Midorifuji and Terutsuyoshi were the deputees from Isegahama when Hakuho needed attendants after Terunofuji's return; not that a yokozuna dohyo-iri has been a common occurrence since July of last year!

To be precise, Enho and Ishiura were still in makuuchi for the July basho last year, when Terunofuji made his return. After that, Hakuho was out till the last basho, where Midorifuji and Terutsuyoshi were his attendants.

Edited April 4, 2021 by Seiyashi

[RabidJohn 1,855]

  On 04/04/2021 at 00:16, Chanko Thief said:

Serious question. Not to count chickens before they hatch, but if Terunofuji does manage to become Yokozuna someday, will his knees allow him to perform the Dohyo-Iri?

He looked to be in quite a bit of pain getting to his knees during his latest Ozeki promotion ceremony, so how will he be able to manage the Dohyo-Iri?

If Terunofuji does get the rope, his dohyo-iri isn't going to be as pretty as Harumafuji's was - and he's probably going to need his knee braces on to get through it.

[orandashoho 720]

Ah, Harumafuji's dohyo-iri... now that was something. Using that foot shuffle during the buildup before a match, too. Maybe just only to remind Hakuho of his foot sole injuries... rubbing it in so to speak.

[ryafuji 815]

I shudder to think of what Konishiki's dohyo-iri would have been like if his tsuna run had been successful. I sometimes  wonder if that was in the back of the Kyokai's mind when they denied him. 

[rhyen 1,846]

  On 04/04/2021 at 08:57, RabidJohn said:

If Terunofuji does get the rope, his dohyo-iri isn't going to be as pretty as Harumafuji's was - and he's probably going to need his knee braces on to get through it.

Even if they get Isegahama oyakata & Harumafuji to teach him?

[WAKATAKE 2,672]

Teru's career will probably be cut shorter because of having to do the dohyo-iri.

[Asojima 2,874]

  On 05/04/2021 at 01:02, WAKATAKE said:

Teru's career will probably be cut shorter because of having to do the dohyo-iri.

or he will make minor changes in emphasis on some of the moves that cause him trouble.  The dohyo-iri is a ceremony, not the end-all of being a yokozuna.    Some guys are known for a great dohyo-iri, and for some, it sucks.

Edited April 5, 2021 by Asojima

[Atenzan 1,084]

I remember reading something about Musashimaru (I think) in his later years consciously doing an iffy dohyo-iri to avoid aggravating his knees.

[yorikiried by fate 2,029]

Maybe he will develop a new style. The curse wants to be reactivated.

[Gospodin 219]

Compared with many others here I know close to zero about sumo. But I mean, and my apologies if come across as being ignorant, does anybody really think somebody who can wrestle at yokozuna level cannot get up from a crouch, or down into one, a few extra times ?  It´s not that he´s suddenly being asked to catch a doubleheader before his bouts.

[themistyseas 242]

  On 05/04/2021 at 21:02, Gospodin said:

does anybody really think somebody who can wrestle at yokozuna level cannot get up from a crouch, or down into one, a few extra times ? 

I think, probably, one should divorce the performance of a rikishi on the dohyo from the responsibilities that come with achieving great performances. The rank is a reflection of an incredible achievement (by anyone), but the means by which that achievement was completed are rarely similar. Each rikishi has overcome a differing set of challenges (physical, mental, the nature of their opposition) to reach that rank.

In Terunofuji's case, in terms of what we've seen on the dohyo over the past year+ and also comments that have been made (even recently by Isegahama in his re-promotion interview), I think it's clear that he has reached his current level because he's been able to reconfigure his performance because of his injury, and accomplished what he has in spite of it. It appears to be often difficult for him to mount/dismount the dohyo. He is not incredibly mobile during bouts. In spite of this, he is able to use his other incredible physical gifts and abilities to overcome this deficit, and his opponents.

It's not necessarily about the stamina required (re: your doubleheader comment) to perform the activity, but that the performance of an activity such as a dohyo-iri necessarily exerts strain on the specific part(s) of his body that is (are) most damaged. So I can understand the concern, and also the interest from folks here in terms of how he could perform a dohyo-iri in order to mitigate the risk of further strain/injury. Since we haven't seen many yokozuna recently, it's easy to forget that the Yokozuna dohyo-iri can be a very impactful part of the sumo experience. But yes, if he became a Yokozuna, I think he would figure it out. :)

[Churaumi 745]

Meh, he'll be fine. I bet some days will be better than others, but I don't care how gimpy his dohyo-iri is as long as he puts up a good showing at the end of the day.