Lack of Podcasts and a great Basho

 Well, the podcasting did not go as planned. I simply couldn't fit one podcast a day into my schedule. So my goal is to do a week one recap and week 2 (final day) recap in the future. Not as in depth as I'd like but it will have to do for now.

 So far a great tournament. Up for grabs at this point. Kakury holds the lead at 9-0 with Hakuho trailing at 8-1. Tied with him are Kisenesato and the 40 year old veteran Kyokutenho.

Day 4, No Podcast

 Well, my goal to keep up every day with a new podcast is slipping. I was unable to do it today, but I intend to do a podcast tomorrow covering both Day 4 and 3 action.

 Just to discuss day 4 for a second.

 Harumafuji falls to Tochiozon for his second loss of the basho. Tochiozon managed to fight off Harumafuji's attempts to get a grip on the belt and drive forward.

 Ichinojo is handed a loss by Ozeki, Goeido. He falls to 2-2 while Goeido improves to 2-2.

 Hakuho remains perfect. More to come in the podcast tomorrow!

Grand Sumo Podcast Episode 4 : Kyushu Basho Day 3 Recap

Recap of day 3's action! Please be sure to check out Kintamayama's Day 3 Recap Video. 

Also we are now on iTunes! Please subscribe! 

Grand Sumo Podcast Episode 3 : Kyushu Basho Day 2 Recap

 Episode 3! Sorry this is up so late in the day and that it is a short one. Thanks for listening. Comments and ideas for the show are certainly welcome.
 Please watch Kintamayama's Day 2 Recap Video. 

Grand Sumo Podcast Episode 2 : Kyushu Basho Day 1 Recap

 Here it is! Day 1 recap! Thanks for listening to my sumo ramblings. 

 Please be sure to watch Kintamayama's Day 1 Recap. 

Harumafuji is Back

Harumafuji has confirmed that he will be wrestling in this upcoming basho. His first opponent, the Mongolian Giant, Ichinojo. Harumafuji is going to have to be incredibly focused going into the first day. Ichi is out to prove he belongs in the top division.

 Keys to a Harumafuji win : Keep Ichi off his belt and off balance. Disorient him with thrusts out of the gate and keep him circling. Bring back that circling technique. Much like this.




 Keys to an Ichinojo victory : Get a deep belt grip and keep his weight centered driving Harumfuji to the edge, but be mindful of Harumafuji turning and throwing.

Grand Sumo Podcast : Episode 1

 It' here! Episode 1 of the new Grand Sumo Podcast. I'm going to try to keep up with it through the tournament so bare with me. Enjoy! 

 Here it is on Podomatic.

Takamiyama : The World of Sumo

 So excited to have found a copy of this book at a antique store in Illinois. I always tend to scan the shelves of books intensely so that I don't miss anything of interest. I was looking and right on the bottom shelf in big bold letters I see "TAKAMIYAMA". I immediately snatched it up. Six dollars later it was mine.

 What an inspiration Jesse was. The first foreign born wrestler to win a Yusho and the first American wrestlers to break through into the world of Sumo. I am currently reading the book and so far enjoy it very much. Jesse has great insight into the world of sumo and I am learning things about it I did not know. 

Takamiyama

 His account in the prologue of the book, about beating Asahikuni to win the Yusho in July of 72', is very good. Made me cry in fact. What an achievement!

 I highly recommend the book already. 

 Takamiyama beats Asahikuni to win the Yusho.

Kyushu Basho 2014

 November is probably always my favorite time for Sumo. I think mainly because the first tournament I ever watched and followed was the November Kyushu Basho. The faces in the top division have changed much since then. Hakuho was still dominating and beat out Asashoryu with a perfect 15-0 record.

 This November the big story is the Mongolian Giant, Ichinojo. In only his 6th tournament, he has reached the rank of Sekiwake with a Jun-Yusho and 13-2 record with his only losses coming against Ikio (which will be one of the great classic bouts of all time) and Hakuho. I'm amazed at his poise and calmness in the ring. He never looks rattled or bothered by any opponent. He practically breezed through the Ozeki ranks without breaking a sweat. He's incredibly smart and very patient. I look for him to do great things this tournament. 

 In other tournament news, Tochinoshin has finally climbed back into the top division. He is really looking fantastic. In his two tournaments he posted 13-2 and 15-0 records for his 2nd and 3rd Juryo Yusho's. He will be wrestling at Maegashira 8.

 Amuru, the Russian wrestler who several years ago went down with injury right as he was about to make Maccuchi, has finally made it into the top division. He will wrestle at the rank of Maegashira 14.

 Yokozuna Harumafuji will give an answer soon as to wether or not he will compete since sustaining a fracture around his eye last Basho.

 “My vision isn’t blurry anymore,” said Harumafuji, who went through the motions to check his tachiai with makuuchi returnee Homarefuji on Sunday.

“If I were afraid I wouldn’t be fighting anymore. I have to break through my own anxieties.”

 I hope we see him back.

 Well it's going to be a really exciting tournament! Stay tuned!

The End of Tamanishiki

32nd Yokozuna, Tamanishiki 

 Tamanishiki was one of the greatest Sumo Wrestlers of his time and certainly in the long history of sumo. From 1929 to 1936 he won a total of 9 Yusho and dominated sumo until the rise of Futabayama.

 He was born in 1903 and would grow up and join the Nishonoseki Stable. This stable was very small at the time and he would often Dewanoumi Stable where he would be trained by 27th Yokozuna and Pioneer of modern sumo, Tochigiyama. 

27th Yokozuna, Tochigiyama

 He won 3 consecutive Yusho in 1930-31 but was unable to achieve Yokozuna rank. During the Shunjuen Incident, a wrestlers strike, Tamanshiki stayed on in Sumo.

Futabayama in Kokei 

In May of 1932 he won his 5th Yusho and was finally given the rank he deserved. He would eventually train his heir apparent, Futabayama and would fight is final bout against him and lose. Shortly after he would die of a delayed appendectomy.

Kakuryu Wins First Ever Bash, Secures Possible Yokozuna Promotion

 It is possible when we reconvene for the May basho we could be looking at three Yokozuna's. Kakuryu won the Basho beating both Hakuho and Harumafuji and securing his Basho by beating Kotoshogiku.

Kakuryu vs Kotoshogiku Day 15 Sumo Haru Basho March 2014 from Araibira Sumo Coverage on Vimeo.