#yorikiri

[blackmawashi]

January 2016, Day 15, Shodai v Gagamaru.

Shodai brings his favorite tachiai, throwing a strong right shoulder into Gagamaru’s chest. From that point on he’s forced into defending against Gagamaru’s nodowa (throat push) attack, and manages to survive until he can slip inside and maneuver Gagamaru out to his eighth loss and make-koshi. Shodai finishes with a most excellent 10-5 record, and should see a good promotion next tournament.

[blackmawashi]

January 2016, Day 14, Kotoshogiku v Tochiozan.

Kotoshogiku, ladies and gentlemen. Massive slap with his left hand to Tochiozan’s face at the tachiai. Fast, powerful step-hops to the edge, staying low, moving forward, feet keeping up with his upper body. A final mighty shove to seal the deal. He sits alone atop the leader board with a record of 13-1. One more win tomorrow against the floundering Goeido and all his dreams come true.

[blackmawashi]

January 2016, Day 13, Harumafuji v Kisenosato.

Long video to wrap up Day 13. It’s nice to see a little bit of the pre-bout ritual, where the wrestlers settle themselves, throw some salt, stare each other down, and get psyched up. The bout itself takes all of two seconds, with Harumafuji blasting Kisenosato out the other side of the dohyo. But a ring judge calls for a conference, and all five judges join the referee in the center. They talk for about two and a half minutes (cut out of the video) before announcing the result: Harumafuji and Kisenotaso hit the ground simultaneously - it’s a rematch! The wrestlers perform an abbreviated version of the pre-bout ritual, and clash again. It’s a repeat of the first bout, with Harumafuji blasting Kisenosato out the other side of the dohyo. The only difference is Harumafuji keeps his feet underneath him, leaving no doubt as to the winner. Harumafuji stays in the title picture with two losses.

[blackmawashi]

January 2016, Day 12, Shodai v Takayasu.

Great tachiai from Shodai, throwing the big right shoulder hard into Takayasu. From there he gets both hands inside and prevents his opponent from working his left arm under, taking a short trip straight out the back of the dohyo. Solid stuff from the 24-year-old Kumamoto-ken native to secure his kachi-koshi (winning record of 8 or more) and a promotion next tournament.

[blackmawashi]

January 2016, Day 10, Kakuryu v Kotoshogiku.

‘Giku will not be denied. With each win his hopes of a championship get tantalizingly closer. Today he rolls right through Kakuryu, wrapping up the Yokozuna and taking not a single step backward on his march out of the dohyo. Kakuryu puts up a struggle at the edge, but Kotoshogiku uses his bulk and superior arm position to stifle the resistance. Kotoshogiku and Yokozuna Hakuho are still alone atop the leaderboard with their 10-0 records. Tomorrow they meet for the fifty-first time, with the championship possibly on the line. Kotoshogiku will have to try and not think about the fact that out of fifty head-to-head bouts, he’s only beaten Hakuho four times. Can’t wait!

[blackmawashi]

January 2016, Day 8, Yoshikaze v Hakuho.

Going into today’s bout, Yoshikaze had only beaten Hakuho once in eleven tries. So what do you do when you don’t have a chance? You do what Yoshikaze does - you throw everything you’ve got at your larger, better-skilled, more experienced opponent. Valiant effort by Yoshikaze today, who furiously attacks the Yokozuna and enjoys a good two or three seconds of offense before Hakuho has enough and secures a right-hand overhand grip, spelling doom for Yoshikaze. You can tell that Hakuho was a little rattled by Yoshikaze’s energy, because he dumps him pretty hard at the end. Hakuho likes to play a little psychology from time to time, and offers a not-so-subtle reminder of who’s in charge. Hard to tell from the video, but I think that’s Yoshikaze’s blood on Hakuho’s shoulders. So Hakuho and Kotoshogiku are both 8-0, but with seven days remaining literally everyone in the top division is mathematically in the title hunt. Realistically, not so much. It’ll get clearer in the next couple of days.

[blackmawashi]

January 2016, Day 8, Kisenosato v Kotoshogiku.

One of the nice things about having three Yokozuna and four Ozeki is you get Ozeki versus Ozeki action as early as Day 8! Today it’s Kisenosato, who was being touted pre-tournament as a championship hopeful, against Kotoshogiku, who is putting in a performance that has kept him undefeated alongside Hakuho, with an actual chance to win the tournament. This is just good quality sumo between two guys of about the same size and skill, and it all comes down to that old sports cliche, “who wants it more?” Kotoshogiku wants it more. And also has better footwork - seriously, watch it again and just watch his feet.

[blackmawashi]

January 2016, Day 6, Tochinoshin v Hakuho.

Today’s contestant on Sack O’ Potatoes™ is Tochinoshin! How do you feel about your chances today, Tochinoshin? “Feelin’ good, hoping to run right into Hakuho’s left-hand overhand grip, struggle vainly to keep my posture against his strong right arm keeping me elevated, maybe wiggle around a bit without any chance at a belt grip before getting dumped by a textbook uwatenage.” Ok, buddy, let’s see how that goes for you . . . aaaaaand . . we have a winner! Tochinoshin wins! (at losing to Hakuho)