#kotenage

[blackmawashi]

January 2016, Day 14, Harumafuji v Kakuryu.

If you’re going to beat Yokozuna Harumafuji, it’s best to do it before he gets a hold of your belt. He may be small, but he’s ridiculously strong and notoriously hard to shake once you’re in his grip. Yokozuna Kakuryu feels this pressure - Harumafuji gets the deep left-hand underhand grip all the way around the back of Kakuryu’s mawashi, and comes within a hair’s breadth of getting the right-hand overhand grip before Kakuryu strikes. He shifts his hips and applies all his strength to an armlock on Harumafuji’s left arm, crushing Harumafuji into the dohyo. Harumafuji loses for only the third time this tournament, but on Day 14 this puts him out of contention for the championship.

[blackmawashi]

January 2016, Day 10, Aminishiki v Sokokurai.

Aminishiki knows better than to pull a henka or inashi at the tachiai against Sokokurai - the smaller wrestler is too mobile and wary to fall for that. And Sokokurai knows that Aminishiki is capable of any number of tricky moves, so they both start tentatively. Aminishiki pulls Sokokurai into a double-underhand grip, and seems to have the upper hand (an underhanded upper hand?), but Sokokurai defends well at the edge of the ring, twisting his body sideways and using the arm bar on the left side to dump Aminishiki with a kotenage.

[blackmawashi]

November 2015, Day 11. Terunofuji v Yoshikaze.

Poor Yoshikaze really gives it his best shot today against the big Ozeki Terunofuji, but it just isn't enough. Not for lack of trying. He tries tsuppari, nodowa, pulling techniques, good lateral movement setting up attempts at hikiotoshi and katasukashi, even the leg pick that worked against Tochinoshin on Day 9. But Terunofuji is too solid, and once he clamps down on Yoshikaze's left arm, the kotenage (arm bar throw) follows close behind.

[blackmawashi]

November 2015, Day 11. Gagamaru v Daieisho.

Sorry, sorry, I've actually had work to do today, so I'm just now getting to this. I know you're all itching with anticipation. Without further ado, or much detailed analysis other than to say this bout makes my arm hurt with sympathetic pain, may I present Gagamaru vs. Daieisho, and a good win by kotenage (arm bar throw).

[blackmawashi]

November 2015, Day 10. Ikioi v Shohozan.

Good tachiai from both guys, but then Shohozan doesn't follow through. His tsuppari seems insincere. Is he really trying to slap Ikioi in the face, or is he just going through the motions? (sigh . . . ) Either way, Ikioi jumps on the opportunity and grabs hold of Shohozan's arm, throwing him down and out for the kotenage (armlock throw). Shohozan falls to 8-2, Ikioi is one win away from his kachi-koshi with a 7-3 record.