Kaikitsune Makoto 209 Posted January 14, 2006 Having critizised Kisenosato with vigour yesterday, it must be said that today he showed his best sumo. Didn't care for the mawashi but simply kept Aminishiki away with heavy pushes and never let him have any chance. Excellent sumo today... Tochinohana has not been overwhelmed at all this basho by ozeki and other high caliber foes despite having only 1-5 record before today's bout. Only Tochiazuma bout was totally hapless. Today he was in charge all the way against Hakuho never letting Hakuho get his left hand outside grip in the play. Kept his posture and got a well-earned 2nd win. He is very genki and healthy. Good to see him back at this level after 5 years of lower back problems and other injury burdens. Tamanoshima keeps on doing good sumo for the 2nd day in a row. Kotomitsuki was quite lost what to do with him actually as Tamanoshima kept pushing him and trying pulldowns. Kotomitsuki was able to finally close up the gap and get to belt which lead to obvious result. Roho kept KaioU off the belt and KaioU couldn't get close and his center of gravity was up high. He can't do this kind of sumo with his back condition at all. KaioU 3-4. Didn't see much of Taikai-Miya due to frozen feed but saw the end where Miya pushed Taikai out and Taikai looked like "Geez I suck". Taikai is now at 4-3. Both veteran ozeki are in serious trouble. KaioU's back condition is very incapacitating one and Taikai is just plainly bad because of life itself. Migi-yotsu bout between Tenho and Osh. Osh drove twice and Tenho tried shitatenage, slipped or crumbled, Osh won. Ken. Azuma had another so and so bout with a real scare after a bad call of pulling at some point. Yet, Azuma survived cannonball's enthusiastic surge and got back to center with the help of a big ottsuke like swinging move. When back to center he then moved aside slapping Takekaze down. Takekaze had a healthy bout today. Azuma advances to 7-0 but has now had two quite difficult bouts in the last 3 days. Shoryu was close so Tenku had a chance to grope with his legs and he did. Shoryu drove him to the other side of the dohyo where something peculiar happened which is now under investigation. Maybe uwatenage. No sukuinage datta. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zuikakuyama 1 Posted January 14, 2006 Hokutoriki looks quite genki this basho and seems to have his timing back. Wakatoba tried a henka, but he still managed to get a piece of his face and slap him down. Wakanosato had to fight for his win against tochiskae. Looked awkard in his slapping attacks, but finally managed to get the best and win. Still not quite 100% yet. Kasugao finally looked good aafter many tournaments. His nage power is back, and simply overpowered the shiko man. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 45,516 Posted January 14, 2006 Hokutoriki looks quite genki this basho and seems to have his timing back. Wakatoba tried a henka, but he still managed to get a piece of his face and slap him down. I know the reason why he's back "in form". For the last few bashos, someone has been on his case ( and rightfully so) about his non-existent correct tachi-ai, i.e. getting his hands DOWN ON THE LINE as the rules state. He sort of tried that for two bashos with total failure, but now he's back to the "total abandon" tachiai, where he starts from a total upright position again. This, in my mind, is a million times worse than any henka. It just plain isn't going by the rules, and nobody is chastising him for that. Sure, not everyone has both his hands firmly down etc., but this guy has crossed all boundaries of reason and goodwill. Boo Hokutouriki. I hope you put your hands down more firmly when you're with your new wife, off topicness notwithstanding. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dale 0 Posted January 14, 2006 I know the reason why he's back "in form". For the last few bashos, someone has been on his case ( and rightfully so) about his non-existent correct tachi-ai, i.e. getting his hands DOWN ON THE LINE as the rules state. He sort of tried that for two bashos with total failure, but now he's back to the "total abandon" tachiai, where he starts from a total upright position again. This, in my mind, is a million times worse than any henka. It just plain isn't going by the rules, and nobody is chastising him for that. Sure, not everyone has both his hands firmly down etc., but this guy has crossed all boundaries of reason and goodwill. I just looked at the past three days. He bends down, plants his left hand then makes a token brush towards the line with his right. Doesn't seem that horrible to me... Boo Hokutouriki. I hope you put your hands down more firmly when you're with your new wife, off topicness notwithstanding. That would be, of course, the lovely Hokutorikette :) Dale Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Otokonoyama 2,735 Posted January 14, 2006 I know the reason why he's back "in form". For the last few bashos, someone has been on his case ( and rightfully so) about his non-existent correct tachi-ai, i.e. getting his hands DOWN ON THE LINE as the rules state. He sort of tried that for two bashos with total failure, but now he's back to the "total abandon" tachiai, where he starts from a total upright position again. This, in my mind, is a million times worse than any henka. It just plain isn't going by the rules, and nobody is chastising him for that. Sure, not everyone has both his hands firmly down etc., but this guy has crossed all boundaries of reason and goodwill.Boo Hokutouriki. I hope you put your hands down more firmly when you're with your new wife, off topicness notwithstanding. :-P Step right up! Dr. Kintama's patented cure for premature tachiai!! Get one for yourself, and one for a friend! Step right up...don't be shy!! All the talk of a total upright position, total abandon, and more firmly... :-( ;-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 45,516 Posted January 14, 2006 (edited) I just looked at the past three days. He bends down, plants his left hand then makes a token brush towardsthe line with his right. Doesn't seem that horrible to me... Dale OK, day 1-legal, day 2 totally not, day 3- no movie, day 4-totally not, day 5 legal and almost lost, day 6 legal and should have lost or at least a monoii, day 7, jumped the gun. Ok, so it's not totally upright. Ok, maybe I judged him a tad too severely. Ok, all this notwithstanding, he is borderline at best. As for my patented cure, only eunuchs don't buy my medicine! Edited January 14, 2006 by Kintamayama Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coo-cook 0 Posted January 14, 2006 Today he was in charge all the way against Hakuho never letting Hakuho get his left hand outside grip in the play. Kept his posture and got a well-earned 2nd win Indeed, very good bout by Tochinohana. Hakuho's pull down attempt was soo unnecessary and untimely he got "awarded nicely" for that. I thought Ama had some chances when he stayed longer in the bout defending Futeno's arms. As Futeno lifted his chest with his under belly grip it was all over. By the way, all makuuchi Mongolians did bite the dust except Asa, yesterday. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaikitsune Makoto 209 Posted January 14, 2006 Azuma had another so and so bout with a real scare after a bad call of pulling at some point. Yet, Azuma survived cannonball's enthusiastic surge and got back to center with the help of a big ottsuke like swinging move. When back to center he then moved aside slapping Takekaze down. Takekaze had a healthy bout today. Azuma advances to 7-0 but has now had two quite difficult bouts in the last 3 days. There was not pull actually. Takekaze just did well to get inside for an attack. Tochiazuma wasn't really in big danger either. Takekaze simply had a good bout and kept his composure very well throughout the Azuma arm-fencing approach. Tomorrow is the big bout Tochiazuma-Hakuho which should be interesting and one should feel a compelling urge to watch the bout intensely if one is a true Sumo. I thought Ama had some chances when he stayed longer in the bout defending Futeno's arms. As Futeno lifted his chest with his under belly grip it was all over. Futeno finally broke his XOXOXO-streak. Didn't get alarmed even when Ama got morozashi but changed the grip and then used power to oust. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted January 14, 2006 I just looked at the past three days. He bends down, plants his left hand then makes a token brush towards the line with his right. Doesn't seem that horrible to me... Dale OK, day 1-legal, day 2 totally not, day 3- no movie, day 4-totally not, day 5 legal and almost lost, day 6 legal and should have lost or at least a monoii, day 7, jumped the gun. Ok, so it's not totally upright. Ok, maybe I judged him a tad too severely. Ok, all this notwithstanding, he is borderline at best. As for my patented cure, only eunuchs don't buy my medicine! Kinta is an incorrigible snake oil salesman, but in this case, his arguments can stand up to the most rigid of tests. Hokutoriki is also incorrigible. He is such a chronic offender that he is warned repeatedly by the Kyokai. In fact, during the basho when he went to a yusho ketteisen with Ryu, he was reprimanded by the authorities for tachiai irregularities. I don't normally watch him too closely but I sensed something strange from the very beginning of this basho. He seemed to be getting a clear jump on his opponents at tachiai. Poor Toyozakura didn't even know what hit him on Day 4. Hard-core fan that I am, upon reading Dr. Kinta's diagnosis, I, as Dale did, went to the movies. Day 5 and 6 were borderline legal with Hoku perfunctorily touching downwith his right hand. Day 4, against Toyo, was as I suspected-- Hoku ramrodding his hapless victim even before he realized what had happened. Just a few minutes ago, I took a look at Day 7, when Hoku didn't even bother to lower his right hand. The point is this: Tachiai is supposed to be fair. A fraction of a second of a drop on the aite gives one a huge advantage. I was just reading an article in a Sumo magazine where either a gyoji or oyakata was lamenting the current state of tachiai. His contention is that rikishi are standing at their own pace oblivious to the opponent. In the spirit of "sumodo" and sportsmanship, a rikishi is supposed to attempt to synchronize his tachiai with the opponent. Touching down with both hands is a "technicality" to assure such fairness. To use a Kinta-esque analogy, it should be "Was it good for you, too, dear?" not "Slam Bam. thank you, ma'am." By seemingly being "legal" on some days, Hoku is even a worse offender. His opponents never know for sure when he is coming. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 45,516 Posted January 14, 2006 I guess Wakatoba sums it up best, being there and all.. Wakatoba 2-5 (losing to Hokutoriki by tsukite, 1.0 second) --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Joining at the same time as Hokutoriki and showing his rival spirit after self destructing with a rare Tsukite today) "I guess there is some timing to the whole tachiai thing but against him, it's totally hopeless. What I hate more than anything else is he hasn't done anything and he has all win record so far." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fukurou 534 Posted January 14, 2006 (edited) Tochinohana has not been overwhelmed at all this basho by ozeki and other high caliber foes despite having only 1-5 record before today's bout. Only Tochiazuma bout was totally hapless. Today he was in charge all the way against Hakuho never letting Hakuho get his left hand outside grip in the play. Kept his posture and got a well-earned 2nd win. He is very genki and healthy. Good to see him back at this level after 5 years of lower back problems and other injury burdens. For various reasons I haven't viewed any of the matches this tournament, and I don't know that I'd be able to recognize what I'm going to ask about if I had been watching... From comments and quotes I've read, I get the feeling that Tochinohana isn't all that concerned about losing to the big guys this tournament (he's pretty much come out and said this himself). Does anyone else think that he might be using this tournament as a "final tune-up" of sorts from his long sojourn in the lower divisions, before he really tries to get down to serious business in the *next* tournament? That maybe last tournament was about seeing if he could be competitive enough to stay in Makuuchi, and this one is about seeing what he needs to do to be really competitive with the Sanyaku and higher? Edited January 14, 2006 by Fukurou Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gusoyama 104 Posted January 14, 2006 but now he's back to the "total abandon" tachiai, where he starts from a total upright position again. This, in my mind, is a million times worse than any henka. It just plain isn't going by the rules, and nobody is chastising him for that. Sure, not everyone has both his hands firmly down etc., but this guy has crossed all boundaries of reason and goodwill.Boo Hokutouriki. I hope you put your hands down more firmly when you're with your new wife, off topicness notwithstanding. If I recall correctly, the last time he was this good, it was for the exact same reason. He's not even close to being fully down at the tachiai. (Bow...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 19,648 Posted January 15, 2006 I guess Wakatoba sums it up best, being there and all.. Quite unusual in his bluntness, too. Makes one wonder how widespread the discontent over Hoku's tachiai antics has become by now... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yangnomazuma 79 Posted January 15, 2006 Futeno finally broke his XOXOXO-streak. Didn't get alarmed even when Ama got morozashi but changed the grip and then used power to oust. Why would Futeno get alarmed? His mawashi was so loose that Ama had ZERO leverage. When Ama released the top layer to attempt to get a tighter second layer instead, Futeno pushed the tide of the bout in his favor. Futeno, by design or mistake, won the bout due to his loose mawashi. Ama had him in dire straights if his grip would have provided any leverage. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 19,648 Posted January 15, 2006 Tamanoshima keeps on doing good sumo for the 2nd day in a row. Kotomitsuki was quite lost what to do with him actually as Tamanoshima kept pushing him and trying pulldowns. Kotomitsuki was able to finally close up the gap and get to belt which lead to obvious result. I hope Tama didn't reinjure his elbow after the bout, he was hitting it against the dohyo edge in a rather awkward and cringe-inducing way when he jumped off the dohyo at the end of the bout... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
madorosumaru 7 Posted January 15, 2006 Tamanoshima keeps on doing good sumo for the 2nd day in a row. Kotomitsuki was quite lost what to do with him actually as Tamanoshima kept pushing him and trying pulldowns. Kotomitsuki was able to finally close up the gap and get to belt which lead to obvious result. I hope Tama didn't reinjure his elbow after the bout, he was hitting it against the dohyo edge in a rather awkward and cringe-inducing way when he jumped off the dohyo at the end of the bout... Tamanoshima is a tough hombre. He has now made 632 straight appearances since hatsu-dohyo. However, even this hard-as-nail rikishi went to his shisho, Kataonami Oyakata, for permission to go kyujo after Day 3. He was hurting that badly. Kataonami told him flatly, "No. You should be able to handle that." The unsympathetic oyakata further said, "The dohyo is a battlefield. You can't very well say, 'Take me out because I'm hurt,' during a battle." "There isn't a single guy out there that's not hurting." -Nikkan Sports Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
