Ishinriki

So while watching some of the lower division matches I was doing some browsing and came across this wrestler. Apparently Takanoyama is not the first to ever have success as a lightweight wrestler. Ishinriki weighed just 81 kg or 178 pounds. He was a pretty decent wrestler for his size. Came across this video.



He never reached higher than Juryo 1 in his career, but wrestled well there, but size was always a factor. His career totals are:

Wins : 390 Losses : 372

September Basho : Day 2 Highlights

Day two was exciting. Harumafuji took a loss. Not a good start for the Yokozuna. Very disappointed. Here is all the action from day 2!

September Basho Day 1 Highlights

Highlights from day 1!

September Basho : Day 1

Well, day 1 is in the books! Stayed up way to late to watch sumo. It's currently 5 in the morning here in Kentucky.

I was very pleased with a win from Harumafuji. Very solid sumo to begin the tournament.

The prodigy Endo loses his first bout in Makuuchi to Homasho who is probably enjoying being back in the top division.

Everyone at the top who was expected to win, won so no complaints there although it's fun to see a rank in file upset an Ozeki or Yokozuna.

I'll post a video of highlights from Kintayama's channel once he posts it.

Here is my bout of the day coming from the Juryo division.

Endo the Wonder Boy

 Endo. Where did this kid come from! He is off to a great start after only 4 Basho landing a spot in the top division after a stunning 14-1 Yusho victory in his first Juryo basho.

 Could Endo be the next Japanese hope? He certainly has me convinced if he keeps this up. I personally hope that he has great success. Sumo needs it. I am going to be following him closely this Basho.

Tomonohana

I came across this video. Tomonohana vs Akinoshu. The move at the end is what gets me. Tomonohana wasn't called "Sensai" for no reason. Probably one of the great sumo technicians of all time.



His career began late but he still managed to stick it out till he was 37. Spending most of his career in Juryo after briefly gracing the rank of Komusubi he was a wrestler that could have been in many ways. But sometimes I enjoy those figures of sport more than the "top dogs".

Tomonohana preferred a migi-yotsu or right hand inside, left hand outside grip on his opponent's mawashi, and his speciality was shitatenage, or underarm throw, which was his most common winning kimarite. He used 34 different kimarite during his career, some of them extremely rare. In January 1993 he defeated Hananokuni with izori, or backwards body drop, a technique that had not been seen at sekitori level since 1964.

http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?r=52

Baruto Set to Retire

Baruto, the great Estonian wrestler has announced his retirement from Sumo. My wife actually was a Baruto fan from the time we began following sumo in 2009. In that tournament he was ranked at Komosubi and went 12-3.

It's a sad day in our house. However we sort of saw it coming.

Here is news from Araibira's facebook page.


Baruto at his intai (retirement) press conference in the Kokugikan with Onoe oyakata.
“Because of the knee I decided to retire from my active career. I'm much obliged to all in Japan,” Baruto said.
Baruto in tears: “It's sad, but the injury doesn't heal. I didn't want to drop further on the banzuke."
He said he enjoyed the nine years of sumo, and If he hadn't become an o-sumo-san, he hadn't met all his wonderful fans.
“Since the injury didn't heal, I'm not able stand on the dohyo," he said. "I reflected on several things and thought that I want to let it end here. There were many chances for a second yusho, but I always had easy losses. But it's only good memories. Sumo was the best.”



Thanks for giving us solid sumo for 9 years, Baruto. You produced exciting sumo to the end!
 And here is a highlight reel of Baruto. Enjoy!

September Rankings

 This September looks to be a great tournament. Interesting to see who goes up and down the Banzuke which is one of my favorite aspects of Sumo.

 In this Tournament we will see what the new up and comer, Endo can do. He won the Juryo division in only his 3rd Basho going 14-1! Very impressive!

 Homasho is back in the top division which is good to see.

 I'd like to see a dark horse from the Maegashira ranks challenge for Cup, but we shall see. Hakuho looks poised to bring home his 27th Yusho.