[OT-Sumo] Natsu Basho

I have a certain fondness for sumo. It's one of very few fighting sports that don't require a weight limit because balance and agility is just as important as size and strength.
 

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It's one of very few fighting sports that don't require a weight limit because balance and agility is just as important as size and strength.

Although if Musashimaru and Akebono aren't poster-children for a weight limit I don't know what would be. ;-)
 


I followed every basho while I lived in Japan, though now it's difficult. Once I get broadband I hope to be able to watch the webcast.

I've always been a big fan of Musashimaru's, though I also got hooked on Kotomitsuki, who apparently pulled out due to injury? Does anyone know what his condition is?

It's nice to see that Asashoryu is putting up Yokozuna numbers, even if his wins having been Yokozuna quality just yet. It means that he might succeed where Wakanohana was forced to retire.

To the weight-limit thing, I think it works well. The bigger guys are at a natural disadvantage to the much smaller guys (which is why the Moose has trouble with small, mobile wrestlers.) Musashimaru and Akebono dominated because they had massive size and were also good at using that power well. Just as Asashoryu is good at using his size and speed to his advantage. If Akebono and the Moose are the poster children for needing weight classes, then Asashoryu is the poster child for just the opposite.
 

Akebono was freak, very tall and powerful to go with his sheer size.

But Musashimaru? Only 10 Basho and he regularly got owned by Asashoyu, who was half his size.

At present all the best wrestlers are in the 300-350 range. The 400+ lbers are all rank and file save for Musashimaru, and he's very clever at using his size to best advantage.
 

More and more the field narrows down. Asashoryu leads the way with one loss. Only Chiyotaikai is close, and Kaio one more step behind.

The real fun has been after Asashoryu's single loss. He was very demonstrative about not liking the judges decision.

The end result was a mild warning about not behaving like a Yokozuna. As tempermental and emotional as he gets, it'll be interesting to see how well he adapts. He'd have to do alot worse to be forced to retire, but they are watching him more closely now.
 

The real fun has been after Asashoryu's single loss. He was very demonstrative about not liking the judges decision.

What happened? Both Sumo out of the ring at the same time? Bouts that require close judging don't seem to happen all that often.

I dug out my old Sumo program from last year in Osaka. I see Asasyoryu was a Seki Wake back then. He's risen rapidly if he is Yokozuna already.

If Akebono and the Moose are the poster children for needing weight classes, then Asashoryu is the poster child for just the opposite.

A lot of my friends root for Asashoryu just because of this. Judging by peoples comments in this thread he is generally favored against the Moose? I thought the opposite; in the bouts that I've seen he just got steamrollered by the wall of flesh.
 

In most recent bouts Asashoryu outquicked the Moose. And Musashimaru steamrolled the Wolf Cub. While Chiyotaikai has a great record against Asashoryu. So it just goes to show, A Beats B beats C never means A beats C.

Kyokushuzan deteated Asashoru on day 9 in a good match. Kyokushuzan won by pulling Asashoyu down while he was backing away. Asashoyu thought Kyokushuzan stepped out before he hit the clay, protested the decision and even pointed to a mark he thought was made by Kyokushuzan. Reply showed Asashoyu made the mark himself when he fell and the ref's decision was shown to be right.

The end result was the former head of the Sumop council giving Asashoryu a warning, the first step in trying to help Asashoryu behave more like a Yokozuna. Worst case would be him eventually being forced to retire but that's pretty unlikely unless he does alot worse than protesting a decision.
 

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