August 2005

No Triskadekaphobia for Asashoryu

Junior Division Yusho Winners

   
No Triskadekaphobia for Asashoryu
Wins 13th Cup With 13-2 Effort:  Kotooshu Has Breakthrough Outing
by “Yukikaze” for SUMO SHIMPO

It would be extremely hard to find two sporting events more different than the Tour de France and the Nagoya Basho.  Yet both of them had one extremely dominant competitor who was a crushing favorite to either drink champagne from a glass while riding the streets of Paris (in one instance) or drink sake from a cup that weighed more than a Tour bicycle (in the other).

The only time “the Lance” was tied for the Tour lead was at the starting line for the first stage.  But unlike most of his recent outings, yokozuna-East ASASHORYU actually found himself in a tie for the yusho in the late stages of the tournament.  The “Mongolian Express” cruised through his first seven matches – and then had his rensho stopped on day 8 by the “Sofia Skyscraper”, komusubi-East KOTOOSHU.  Okay, one loss, no big deal – and then he was pulled down on day 11 by maegashira #6-East KOKKAI (Georgia Republic) for his first kinboshi loss since last November in Fukuoka.  That dropped SHORYU into a tie with OSHU in the race for the Cup.  That finally got his attention and reset his focus:  the “Blue Dragon of the Morning” took it to his next three opponents to stand at 12-2 on senshuraku.  When OSHU lost to maegashira #2-West WAKANOSATO, SHORYU controlled his own destiny – but then, his final torikumi would be against ozeki #1-East TOCHIAZUMA, who had bested him twice in the past year.  That was then, this was now:  SHORYU crushed AZUMA for his 13th victory of the basho.  This earned him the 13th Tenno-Hai of his career, his fifth consecutive yusho, and his fourth for the 2005 sumo year.

ASASHORYU thus moves past 35th yokozuna Futabayama and 67th yokozuna Musashimaru to take sole possession of sixth place among the “legendary” champions.  The next milestone on the list is 54th yokozuna Wajima and his 14 championships.  His current win-loss record for 2005 stands at 57-3 - which is exactly where 55th yokozuna Kitanoumi was at this point in 1978 when he set his 82-8 mark.

Once again, the ozeki failed to mount any serious attempt to gain a position at the pyramid’s apex.  #2-West KAIO was kadoban coming into the festivities, but erased the vulnerability with his eighth win on day 11.  He stood at 10-3 after day 13 (the win over KOKKAI was top-division victory number 621, which moved him past Wajima on the 600-win list) with a slim chance to become a factor in the yusho race; but losses to SHORYU and sekiwake-West KOTOMITSUKI left him at 10-5 for top score among the men of the ‘great barrier’.  TOCHIAZUMA’s performance was a study in balance:  three wins, two losses, two wins, one loss and like that.  He was on pace for ten wins but his loss to the yokozuna left him still treading water at 9-6.  The kadoban ‘buck’ is now in the hands of ozeki #1-West CHIYOTAIKAI – again.  Kokonoe’s top deshi was never really ready to answer the bell at the Prefectural Taiikukan:  he was at 3-5 before he finally withdrew on day 9 to finish at 3-6-6.

With five sekitori, Sadogatake Beya can lay claim to the power stable status that Futagoyama and Musashigawa used to enjoy.  The current “Eurogashira”, KOTOOSHU’s 12-3 record, coupled with his defeat of the yokozuna, gained him the jun-yusho as well as the first Shukun-Sho (Outstanding Performance Prize) awarded since last September.  The sekiwake-East banzuke slot will be a ‘slam-dunk’ for OSHU to occupy:  it would be so even if he didn’t possess NBA-calibre height.  KOTOMITSUKI had a narrow chance of making kachi despite standing 5-7 on day 12.  Unfortunately for him, day 13 put him on the tracks in front of the “Express”; but he still has a chance of remaining in the sanyaku on the Aki banzuke.  Sekiwake-East HAKUHO (Mongolia) won 6 of his first 7 matches, but pulled out on day 9 and finished at 6-3-6 headed for certain demotion.  Komusubi-West MIYABIYAMA was at 6-4 at the two-thirds point of the basho, and only had hiramaku on his plate for the rest of the way.  But those maegashira ate his lunch, roughed him up good and left him staggered with a 7-8 record and another drop from the ranks of the joi-jin.

WAKANOSATO used this trip down the ‘erebeta’ to demonstrate his qualifications for returning to the sanyaku.  His 11-4 record was the top score among the maegashira and guarantees him a heavier paycheck in the near future.  Other excellent hiramaku efforts:

#3-West FUTENO (10-5) – Gino-Sho (Technique Prize)
KOKKAI (9-6) – Kanto-Sho (Fighting Spirit Prize) (kinboshi)
#8-West IWAKIYAMA (9-3-3)
#9-West AMINISHIKI (9-6)
#11-West TAKAMISAKARI (10-5)
#12-East TOKITENKU (Mongolia) (9-6)
#14-East TAMAASUKA (9-6)
#16-West TOYOZAKURA (9-6)
#17-East ISHIDE (9-6)

In Juryo, #3-West TOKITSUUMI won the yusho (and a return to the ‘bright lights’) with an 11-4 record.  Other noteworthy showings among the ranks of the ‘ten-ryo’ guys:

#4-East SHIMOTORI (9-6)
#5-East WAKATOBA (10-5)
#5-West KASUGAO (South Korea) (10-5)
#7-East HARUNOYAMA (10-5)
#8-East KASUGANISHIKI (9-6)
#9-West USHIOMARU (9-6)
#10-East KOBO (10-5)
#13-West YOSHIKAZE (10-4-1)

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JUNIOR DIVISION YUSHO WINNERS

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“Legendary” Yokozuna (10+ Yusho)

(updated after Nagoya 2005)

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The 600-Win Club (after Nagoya 2005)

* Non-Japanese

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List Of Officially-Chartered USSF Sumo Clubs

(as of August 8, 2005)

* in formation

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2012 OLYMPICS TO LONDON
Baseball, Softball Out; No New Sports In!
by "Tonkatsu" for SUMO SHIMPO

At a meeting in Singapore last month, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded the 2012 Olympic Games to London.  The British capital beat out Moscow, Madrid, New York City and Paris (which were eliminated in that order).  The voting format was ‘devil take the hindmost’:  in each round of balloting, the city with the lowest number of votes was eliminated.

Later in the week, the IOC then voted to drop baseball and softball, the first sports dropped from the Olympics in sixty nine years.  They were dropped because they failed to get votes from a majority of the representatives.  They then voted on whether to add golf, rugby, karate, squash and one other that slips this writer’s mind (it certainly wasn't sumo).  Interestingly, it takes a two-thirds vote to add a spot:  none made it.  So, there will only be twenty-six sports at the 2012 Games instead of twenty eight.

There has been a lot of talk in certain quarters recently about sumo being an Olympic sport in 2012.  We don't know what that was based on, but such hopes appear to have been dashed.  One of the reasons that baseball was dropped was because the top athletes (aka:  the professionals) didn't compete in the Games.  Given that, we assume that if sumo ever happens to become an Olympic sport, they will expect the pros to compete.

We think it is time for amateur sumo to take a reality check - and the reality is that sumo isn't likely to be an Olympic sport anytime in the near future.  We are hardly alone in that.  The only time that rugby (which is played in more countries than such current Olympic sports as field hockey and team handball) has been in the Olympics was as a demonstration sport in London in 1948.  We have an annual World Championships, and we are a World Games sport.  Let's build on those!

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IF YOU REALLY LOVE SUMO AND WANT TO STAY CLOSE TO IT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME…

MAKE THE COMMITMENT!!

Become a United States Sumo Federation LIFE MEMBER

A one-time tax-deductible donation of $200.00 eliminates your worries about annual USSF dues FOR LIFE.  If you compete in USSF-sanctioned amateur sumo events for ten years or more, a Life Membership will pay for itself.  It also shows you are very serious about the sport, and is a definite ‘resume enhancer’ if you decide to seek office in the USSF or any other amateur sports body.

Application form is available here:  USSF Life Member Application

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Current USSF Dan Rank Holders

Current USSF Life Members

World Games 2005:  Japan Dominant, but US Strong
Special to SUMO SHIMPO by Troy Collins

The 2005 World Games were held in Duisburg, Germany.  The sumo wrestling was held in the nearby city of Bottrop on July 19th and 20th.  Noteworthy matches included Catherine Hurley defeating former world champion Rie Tsuihiji (JPN); Wade Strober defeating Yuya Hanada (JPN) and me having two matches go to judge’s meetings.

I made it into the final round for the middleweight championship, fought Katsuo Yoshida and Seietsu Higake (both JPN) and David Tsallagov (RUS) and finished fourth overall.  I also tied for fifth place (with Strober) in the openweight division, losing only to Keisho Shimoda (JPN) and Hikage.  James Brewster Thompson took sixth place in the men's heavyweight division, while Hurley took sixth place in women's heavies.  Alesia McFarlane was scheduled to wrestle in women’s middleweights, but was over the weight limit.  She drew a tough match against Ekatarina Keyb (RUS) in the openweight division.  Keyb won, and eventually took the bronze.

With Thompson being the oldest competitor at 52 years old, myself third-oldest at 38, and McFarlane second-youngest at 16, the USA team gave a strong showing in the two-day competition.  With a few more practices and competitions, the USA team will be sure to have medal winners in future World Championships.  It should also be noted that Thompson was clearly the fan favorite.  After both the heavyweight and openweight competitions, he found himself being held over for some 20 minutes to sign autographs and have pictures taken at the request of numerous fans.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had members in attendance to watch the event.  With a lot of hope and a little bit of luck, the IOC will decide to have Sumo in the 2012 Olympics in London.  The key factors will be more participation from female competitors, and more fans to watch and support Sumo.  Help spread the word to everyone.

“Yukikaze” edited and formatted this report.

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Troy has just been named the “Best Downtown Athlete” by the editors of the LA DOWNTOWN NEWS.  The citation text reads as follows:

LAPD Sumo Wrestler Troy Collins

When Troy Collins entered his first sumo wrestling tournament in 2001, he had never before tried the sport; he finished third.  Soon after, he was the U.S. middleweight champion.  These days, he continues to don the mawashi (no, it's not a loincloth) after he finishes his shift as a Downtown police officer.  What stands out about Collins - besides the cut, six-foot-two, 253-pound frame - is that he's a great ambassador for the sport.  He has exposed hundreds to it, and eagerly discusses the intricacies.  Keep your unapproachable Kobe, your injured Gagne, your no-name hockey players - we're rooting for Troy!-JR

World Games Sumo Photos (contributed by Troy Collins)

<<The Middleweight podium (l to r):  Seietsu Higake (JPN) (silver), Katsuo Yoshida (JPN) (gold) and David Tsallagov (RUS) (bronze).

>>The (USA) World Games sumo team (l to r):  Wade Strober, Troy Collins, Catherine Hurley, Alesia McFarlane, and James Brewster Thompson.

<<Troy with the male members of the (JPN) sumo team:  Keisho Shimoda, Katsuo Yoshida, Yuya Hanada and Takayuki Ichihara.

>>Troy with Mr. Tanaka (the president of the International Sumo Federation) in the dohyo after the closing ceremony.

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<<VICTORY (OR IS IT?)…Middleweight Troy Collins  (USA) appears to have downed Katsuo Yoshida (JPN) by hatakikomi; but a mono-ii gave the victory to Yoshida, who went on to take the gold while Collins finished fourth in the World Games event.  (Photo:  Troy Collins)

>>THIS BOILER STILL HAS LOTS OF STEAM… 52-year old James Brewster Thompson (USA) lines up against Stanley Somerville (RSA) in World Games heavyweight competition.  Thompson won this match and eventually finished sixth in a strong field.  (Photo:  Troy Collins)

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O-Side Sumotori Have Fun in Texas
Special to SUMO SHIMPO by Tom “Ikioinowashi” Zabel
Photos by Ian Zabel

The Texas Lone Star Sumo held their second tournament for the year on Saturday, July 16th^. with 14 sumotori competing.  We would like to thank the travelers from Oceanside, California (Trent Sabo, Devon Kobashikawa, Justin Crite, Larae Crite, and Michelle Pike) for making the long journey to boost our numbers and the level of competition. 

We started the men’s open competition with a round-robin format and nine wrestlers.  The tournament was hosted in the backyard of Tom Zabel from San Antonio.  Other participants included Jeremy Bowie (San Antonio), Bart Harris (La Marque), John Hidalgo (Round Rock), Joe Spradlin and Brian Starek (Killeen), and Trent, Justin, and Devon from California. 

Justin Crite dominated the competition by going undefeated with an 8-0 record and taking top honors.  Tom, Bart, and Trent finished the round-robin tied for 2nd place with a 5-3 record and they competed against each other again to determine the 2nd and 3rd place medal winners.  Tom defeated Bart and Trent to take the silver medal, and Trent outwrestled Bart for the bronze.  Competition was awesome all day with great matches fought by John, Joe, and Devin and promising newcomers Jeremy and Brian.

The women’s competition looked like it was going to be a small field with only the two ladies from California.  When the Texas ladies got wind of that, they joined in and doubled the field.  Jeanette Spradlin and Jennifer Starek donned the mawashi and helped Larae and Michelle hone their sumo skills.  The ladies wrestled each other twice to give them six matches on the day.  Larae finished the competition on top with a fine 5-1 record, losing her only match to Michelle.  Michelle and newcomer Jennifer tied for 2nd with a 3-3 record.  Because of a strained knee, Michelle forfeited the playoff match to Jennifer who took home the silver medal.  Michelle took the bronze medal and also captured the Kanto-sho, “Fighting Spirit” award.

The event had a few “firsts” associated with it:  first time wrestlers Brian, Jennifer, and Jeanette; first competition for Jeremy; first women’s sumo competition in Texas, and the first time non-siblings fought each other in the kid’s category, where Jason Harris defeated Drake Spradlin.

Upon completion of the competition, a few of the guys faced off against each other and received some additional training from Trent, who will be going to the World Championships in October as the USA lightweight champ.  The competition was hot, but the sun was even hotter, so a dip in the backyard pool was a must.  After “cooling off” we hit “RUDY’S BBQ – The Worst BBQ in Texas” for a down-home Texas feast.  Thanks again, California dudes and dudettes, for making the trip!

 
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Asashoryu Proves Mettle with 5th Consecutive Yusho
Special to SUMO SHIMPO by Kurt "Tachikaze" Rightmyer (from Nagoya) 

	After five years away, I was finally able to return to Japan in July with my wife, mother, and sister.  One of the highlights of our 12-day vacation was attending Day 10 of the Nagoya Basho.  My wife and I had previously attended on Day 4 of the 1999 Nagoya tournament, won by a then-unstoppable Dejima, and we were both anxious to see how much the  banzuke had changed in our absence.

While Sumo Shimpo readers have witnessed Asashoryu’s charge into the ethereal regions of the sumo hierarchy, many of us have wondered just how good he is, and whether or not he would have fared as well against the stronger Makunouchi divisions of the past.  I hoped seeing him in person would give me a better indication of his true talents.

On day 10, Asashoryu’s opponent was rank-and-filer Hokutoriki.  Certainly not much on paper, the match was even less in person.  So quickly did Asashoryu dispose of his opponent by yorikiri, it left me stunned.  Yorikiri, in general, is not a very exciting technique to watch, but Asashoryu was so deft in cutting off the ring to his right, getting a dual grip on the mawashi of Hokutoriki and hoisting his opponent over the edge that it appeared to be a perfectly seamless one-piece execution.  The whole match lasted all of three seconds and looked exactly like a walk-through demonstration, with Hokutoriki acting as the willfully compliant and defenseless assistant.  Absolutely amazing.

On the final day of competition Tochiazuma put up a valiant defense against the reigning yokozuna, but was ultimately forced out by oshi-taoshi on the second try.  Again, Asashoryu was impressive because he immediately came back with the same move after Tochiazuma had repelled the previous effort.  It was Asashoryu relying on his brute strength, playing smashmouth sumo and saying, "I’m doing the same thing again.  Let’s see if you’re up to it."  It won him his fifth straight yusho with a 13-2 mark.  This was last accomplished by Chiyonofuji some twenty years ago.

Asashoryu's most notable loss in the tournament was a spectacular headfirst fall with Bulgarian Kotooshu, who finished 12-3.  Kotooshu would have been in a playoff for the title himself, except for an extremely sloppy and unbalanced effort on the final day that left the young komusubi vulnerable to an embarrassing shove-down into the clay by powerhouse Wakanosato.  As for the rest of the old gang, they are clearly showing their age.  Chiyotaikai sat out with injuries.

Kaio came back from being kadoban with a 10-5 mark, but his losses were passive and weak.  Tosanoumi finished with a dismal 5-10 record, Kotonowaka worse at 4-11, and Miyabiyama and Dejima's 7-8 marks, while better, were completely uninspiring.  Takamisakari was the only wrestler who showed noticeable improvement.  His 10-5 mark, despite a hard final day loss to Georgian Kokkai, was solid.

Is Asashoryu one of the greatest ever?  Clearly, he has the tools.  At this point I’d say Takanohana was still better, because he had more patience and a greater bag of tricks.  But Asashoryu has become every bit the sumo hero.  He has an intensely strong dohyo-iri, one that will never be confused with the sleep-inducing version offered up by Musashimaru.  And clearly, by now, the Japanese fans have taken a liking to him.  His post-match interviews on TV were both gracious and happy-go-lucky and showed a totally different side of him from the ferocious one we see in the ring.

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A Point of Diminishing Returns
by “Tonkatsu” for SUMO SHIMPO

Did anyone who read the charts in the “I Hate to Say It,” article in the last issue (besides me, that is) notice that between the 1985 Natsu Basho and the 1995 Natsu Basho, Konishiki went from 221kg (486 pounds) to 275kg (605 pounds), a gain of 54kg (119 pounds).  The question is, did he benefit from the extra pounds?

It has long been my belief that there is a point of diminishing returns when it comes to gaining extra weight and in fact a point where the extra pounds are a liability.  We believe that such was the case with Konishiki, Akebono and Musashimaru and perhaps even with Takanohana.  On the amateur level, it was certainly the case with Manny Yarbrough (who went from 600 pounds in 1993 to 720 pounds in 2001 and eventually to over 800).

To test our theory, we once again sent our intrepid research editor Matsuzaki-san out to his garage to chart the weights of Konishiki, Akebono and Musashimaru from the beginning of their sumo careers to the end of same.  We leave it to you, our readers, to decide if there was a point of diminishing returns and when it occurred.

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California Sumo Calendar for 2005

CLASSES/TRAINING SESSIONS

Fees may be charged for training session attendance.  Contact the listed STAGING ORGANIZATION for latest information.

COMPETITIONS

All information on this calendar is subject to change:  contact the listed STAGING ORGANIZATION for latest information.

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