[sumo] SPOILER? An analysis of some of the Osaka sumo

["Barbara Ann" <baklein@attglobal.net>]

The following article was in today's Asahi.com and analyzes some of the sumo 
of Asashoryu, Hakuho, and, Kotooshu.

Southpaw slaps key to Asashoryu's win
04/01/2005
By TATSUO YOSHIDA
Contributing Writer
Although yokozuna Asashoryu lost a bout, the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament 
that ended Sunday was one of the most stable performances he has put on in 
the 11 tournaments he has won.
Against the lower-ranking opponents, he didn't even allow anyone in to get a 
belthold.
And, other than his loss to Tochiazuma, he kept the senior wrestlers from 
mounting an attack as well.
Asashoryu never had to come from behind. Of his 14 wins, eight were the 
result of him slipping his left hand in after the face-off, two from the 
right, and the rest off of thrusts.
His deft use of the left was what led to his success. His only loss came 
after he tried to go in with the right. He probably did so because he didn't 
want to allow Tochiazuma, who favors the left side, to go that way.
But Tochiazuma got a hold on the front of his belt and bottled Asashoryu up 
from the right, before pushing in from the left.
Asashoryu had little choice but to go for the front of Tochiazuma's belt as 
well, but he was too straightened up to be effective. Tochiazuma kept low 
and drove in to defeat the yokozuna.
Against Kaio, Asashoryu went left and toppled the ozeki after he came in for 
a throw. Whether or not he uses his left may be a good measure of how well 
Asashoryu is faring.
Hakuho did well to hang on from a 4-7 to get a winning record in the end.
He is outstanding. His peak came on Saturday against Kotomitsuki. Both went 
into a migi-yotsu grappling position. Kotomitsuki has a tight grip. Hakuho 
knew that, and averted trouble. It took him three tries, and made him 
vulnerable, but he showed great persistence and determination in getting a 
narrow victory. It will leave a good impression and it was a good experience 
for him.
Tochiazuma was also a new man toward the end of the tournament. After 
beating Asashoryu, he was filled with confidence.
Although timid in the early days, he came out tough against Kaio, pushing in 
and thrusting him back so Kaio couldn't get a hold. Afterward, he said he 
realized he could fight like this if only he didn't give up hope, a 
realization we hope he will carry toward the tournament in May.
Kotooshu hit the wall that divides the top wrestlers from the lower ones.
He was undoubtedly surprised to have lost in the double-digits. The 
difference between Kotooshu and Hakuho was the belt grip. Hakuho searches 
for the grip with his little finger, while Kotooshu uses his thumb. The 
former can be done with one's elbow close to one's side, but the latter 
usually involves opening up, which creates a hole that one's opponent can 
exploit.
Kotooshu's problems were underscored against Dejima. He stopped Dejima's 
forward motion, but allowed him to get his right shoulder in and got thrown. 
It is proof of just how bad his position was that he would be thrown by an 
opponent who is almost always a thruster.
It is easy for Kotooshu to get a front grip because he is so tall, but that 
could hurt him in the end. He should come up with better ways to use his 
height advantage.
This is his point to work on in the future.
Kaiho won one of three special awards for keeping in low and moving well, 
and Tamanoshima for thrusting effectively. He will be tested next time out 
when he meets the top opponents.(IHT/Asahi: April 1,2005) 


[EndPost by "Barbara Ann" <baklein@attglobal.net>]