Asashouryuu's tsukebito shines

[Kintamayama 45,136]

Sandanme west 50 Shinzan (23) has been Yokozuna Asashouryuu's tsukebito since his Sekiwake days-Haru 2002. Nobody in the Sumo world has trained so much and so long with the Yokozuna. Nobody has recived the physical punishment like him. Now, something has changed, and it seems he is climbing up the ranks. Last basho he was 6-1.

This basho, he is 3-0 and if he continues like this, he will reach his highest rank next basho. Yesterday he won after 2 torinaoshis. "I'm tired. It seems like I fought for a year", he said after his bout. Since he became Asa's tsukebito, it's been 20 basho-300 days. Every day during a basho he has been thrown around in training and preparations. But he always tried to give his boss a good fight. In the shitakubeya, he wears special short pants made of cloth resembling Judo attire and helps Asa get warmed up for his bouts. He himself doesn't understand why he is pushing forward at this time. "I guess it's because I have the priviledge of training with the Yokozuna every day. It's a great honor for me. Someone like me helping out the Yokozuna..", he said. 1 meter 86, 150 kilos, resembles the Yokozuna's numbers. Right hand grip, left hand grip, head clash and chest clash, he's got to do it all.

Three years ago, he fainted after being hit by a left tsuki by the then Sekiwake during training. "I fell forward but was caught by him..", he said. "But every single day after keiko, he says 'thanks for the workout', and after senshuraku, he always says 'thank you for the 15 days'.".

Shinzan winning yesterday by hatakikomi:

[karlsmom 0]

Sandanme west 50 Shinzan (23) has been Yokozuna Asashouryuu's tsukebito since his Sekiwake days-Haru 2002. Nobody in the Sumo world has trained so much and so long with the Yokozuna. Nobody has recived the physical punishment like him. Now, something has changed, and it seems he is climbing up the ranks. Last basho he was 6-1.

This basho, he is 3-0 and if he continues like this, he will reach his highest rank next basho. Yesterday he won after 2 torinaoshis. "I'm tired. It seems like I fought for a year", he said after his bout. Since he became Asa's tsukebito, it's been 20 basho-300 days. Every day during a basho he has been thrown around in training and preparations. But he always tried to give his boss a good fight. In the shitakubeya, he wears special short pants made of cloth resembling Judo attire and helps Asa get warmed up for his bouts. He himself doesn't understand why he is pushing forward at this time. "I guess it's because I have the priviledge of training with the Yokozuna every day. It's a great honor for me. Someone like me helping out the Yokozuna..", he said. 1 meter 86, 150 kilos, resembles the Yokozuna's numbers. Right hand grip, left hand grip, head clash and chest clash, he's got to do it all.

Three years ago, he fainted after being hit by a left tsuki by the then Sekiwake during training. "I fell forward but was caught by him..", he said. "But every single day after keiko, he says 'thanks for the workout', and after senshuraku, he always says 'thank you for the 15 days'.".

Shinzan winning yesterday by hatakikomi:

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Hey, the anecdotes about how Asa thanks him are heartwarming! Good for Shinzan then. (Applauding...) As Asa's sparring partner, he does get good keiko whether he likes it or not.

Just a question: If he rises up the banzuke, that means Asa will have to find a new tsukebito right? Until when does a sumotori remain a tsukebito?

[Sasanishiki 57]

A rikishi who is not in juryo and above (and thus gets a salary and his own tsukebito) is supposed to have tsukebito duties. THis varies a little bit depending on the heya, whether someone has just dropped from juryo and is expected to return the next basho, the age of the person, any other responsibilities they might have for the heya, etc.

[Fukurou 534]

Sandanme west 50 Shinzan (23) has been Yokozuna Asashouryuu's tsukebito since his Sekiwake days-Haru 2002. Nobody in the Sumo world has trained so much and so long with the Yokozuna. Nobody has recived the physical punishment like him. Now, something has changed, and it seems he is climbing up the ranks. Last basho he was 6-1.

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I wonder if any rikishi are going to wake up and pay attention to this. Perhaps it's just anecdotal evidence, but it seems to bear out the thought that practicing with the best (instead of running away from the best) can only improve your results!

Three years ago, he fainted after being hit by a left tsuki by the then Sekiwake during training. "I fell forward but was caught by him..", he said. "But every single day after keiko, he says 'thanks for the workout', and after senshuraku, he always says 'thank you for the 15 days'.".

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Good for Asashoryu! (Nodding yes...)

[Asashosakari 19,331]

I wonder if any rikishi are going to wake up and pay attention to this. Perhaps it's just anecdotal evidence, but it seems to bear out the thought that practicing with the best (instead of running away from the best) can only improve your results!

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The potential for improvement by training with Asashoryu surely is much higher for a mid-Sandanme rikishi than a Makuuchi veteran, so I'm not sure that's saying much.

At any rate, the guy is 23 and hasn't even been to the top of Sandanme yet...there are probably 150 guys currently in Ozumo who never trained with Asashoryu but achieved more than that at the same age. He's obviously a great and trusted training partner for the Yokozuna, but let's not kid ourselves about his skill level.

[Fukurou 534]

The potential for improvement by training with Asashoryu surely is much higher for a mid-Sandanme rikishi than a Makuuchi veteran, so I'm not sure that's saying much.

At any rate, the guy is 23 and hasn't even been to the top of Sandanme yet...there are probably 150 guys currently in Ozumo who never trained with Asashoryu but achieved more than that at the same age. He's obviously a great and trusted training partner for the Yokozuna, but let's not kid ourselves about his skill level.

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Perhaps you're right. But this journeyman (as I take your description) was 6-1 last tournament and is currently 3-0 in this one. Something seems to have started making a difference with him recently.

[Asashosakari 19,331]

Perhaps you're right. But this journeyman (as I take your description) was 6-1 last tournament and is currently 3-0 in this one. Something seems to have started making a difference with him recently.

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Sure, and I can tell you exactly what it was. 4 consecutive make-koshi dropping him from Sd30 all the way to Jd12. First time in two and a half years that he was back in Jonidan. That 6-1? No surprise at all at that point.

What remains to be seen is whether he got fired up for good by the demotion (much like Dewanosato's drop into Sandanme sparked his amazing run into Juryo), or if it's just a return to type. I would bet on the latter, if only because it's much more common than the former.

[Asashosakari 19,331]

FWIW, Shinzan lost today against Sd46w Shinnishiki, himself not quite a leading light of Ozumo (turns 28 on Monday, highest rank Sandanme 26).

[Kashunowaka 300]

Asashosakari, you are such a spoilsport. (I am not worthy...)

[karlsmom 0]

A rikishi who is not in juryo and above (and thus gets a salary and his own tsukebito) is supposed to have tsukebito duties. THis varies a little bit depending on the heya, whether someone has just dropped from juryo and is expected to return the next basho, the age of the person, any other responsibilities they might have for the heya, etc.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks Sasanishiki!...

[Asashosakari 19,331]

Asashosakari, you are such a spoilsport.  :-D

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I call 'em as I see 'em. (Eating...) (Laughing...)