Sumo Technique Article #2 (fwd)

Forwarded message:
Subject: Re: Sumo - tachiai & other questions #2 - soc.culture.japan #26468

In article <C7LvCq.D7F@ulis.ac.jp>, hiraga@ulis.ac.jp (Yuzuru Hiraga) writes:
As before: where
	YT: Yokichi Tanaka
	JS: John Swain
	JC: John Crossley
	MM: Michiaki Masuda


(3) AIBEYA ((non-existence of) stable-mate matches)

In <1993May20.235916.28730@til.til.com>:
YT> Why doesn't Takanohana and Wakanohana wrestle each other more often?

In <1993May21.044653.12973@rusun.cs.reitaku-u.ac.jp>:
JS> It is only because they are stable mates.  That is the rule.  Stable mates 
JS> don't wrestle each other unless it is a playoff for the championship.

YT>Alas, this just made this sport quite wimpy in my mind.

In <C7F65t.Dqq@ncifcrf.gov>:
MM> To the contrary, this rule is supposed to make it more dfficult to "fix" 
MM> the bout.

I believe this is the sole reason for no stable-mate matches.
Even in the current system, there are lasting rumors of cheating,
of wins being lent/borrowed... note the high percentage of 7-7 wrestlers
converting to a winning majority (KACHIKOSHI) in the final day.

YT>Strategically, one can increase his chances of success by joining
YT>a strong stable.  How lame.

Perhaps not.  By the time you reach higher ranks, your seniors(ANI-DESHI)
may have already retired.
And it may not be a good idea to enter a HEYA with so many seniors,
as you have to serve their needs (practically, a slave).

YT>Say, for the sake of argument, Musashimaru
YT>and Konishiki were also in the Futagoyama stable.  Akebono would have 
YT>to wrestle Takanohana, Wakanohana, Musashimaru, Konishiki, Takatouriki,
YT>Takanonami.  Whereas the Futagoyama folks would only have to contend
YT>with 1 (Akebono) top notch wrestler.  Their yuushos are diluted.

True.
But there is also the other side.
Suppose you are one win behind a fellow mate; there is no chance for you
to catch up with him on your own i.e. by JIRIKI. :-)
Examples abound: e.g. Hokutoumi against Chiyonofuji.

Anyway, considering the current Futagoyama situation,
I, too, vote for retracting this restriction, even considering all odds.

Some 30 or 40 years ago, this restriction applied not only to individual
HEYA's, but also to a whole ICHIMON.  The HEYA's themselves have a
family-tree connection, and an ICHIMON is the set of HEYA's belonging
to the same family (considering HEYA=stable, should they be called ranches?).
This restriction was lifted to the current situation,
so we can expect further change.


(4) KIMARITE (winning techniques)

JC>While on the sumo thread, does anyone have a list of the recognised
JC>different techniques (the 'kimarite': kotenage, uetenage, oshidashi, etc)
JC>with explanations?  I'd really like to hear more about these, and also the
JC>historical background of how they were chosen.  For example, I know that
JC>there is an official list of these techniques, and that a bunch of 'new'
JC>techniques were added during the reform of how sumo was run following WWII.
JC>But on what basis is it decided whether something is a 'kimarite'?  Is it
JC>possible that new things will be added to or removed from the official
JC>list?

The saying is that there are 48 (SUMO SHIJUU-HATTE), but actually,
there are 70+ such approved KIMARITE's.  Since the list has been expanding,
yes, there is a possibility of further increase (removal: I don't think so).
Sorry, I don't have the list now (I'll try looking up).
Meanwhile, here are some common ones.

First of all, there are two basic ways to win: drive the opponent out of
the DOHYOU, or topple him down.
Another dimension of classification is whether the two are grappled
(in scrummage) or standing apart.  In the former case, the arms cross,
and whether the winner's arm is on the outside/inside of the opponent's,
whether has grip of the MAWASHI (belt? girdle?),
or whether legs were effectively used, gives further subdivision.

1. drive opponent out
  1.1 standing apart
	OSHI-DASHI	push opponent out, arms folded/bent
	TSUKI-DASHI	shove opponent out, arms stretched/churning
  1.2 in scrummage
	YORI-KIRI	hold the opponent and drive out: most common KIMARITE
	TSURI-DASHI	hold the opponent by the MAWASHI and lift out
	OKURI-DASHI	have at least one hold of MAWASHI, push opponent out
			from behind
	UCCHARI		while cornered to the DOKYOU border, topple over
			opponent outside.  This commonly results as an
			upheaval from what would have been a YORIKIRI.
	KIME-DASHI	drive opponent out in the posture of both arms
			on the outside and clenched together
2. topple opponent down
  2.1 standing apart
	OSHI-TAOSHI	push down opponent on his back
	TSUKI-TAOSHI	shove down opponent on his back
	ABISE-TAOSHI	topple opponent on back, landing on top
	HATAKI-KOMI	fall opponent on his front by slapping on back
			or pulling forwards
	TSUKI-OTOSHI	gee, I forgot this one
  2.2 in scrummage
	UWATE-NAGE	throw opponent with one arm, arm on outside of
			opponent's and with MAWASHI grip
	SHITATE-NAGE	throw opponent, arm inside with grip
	KOTE-NAGE	throw opponent, arm outside without grip
	SUKUI-NAGE	throw opponent, arm inside without grip
	UWATE-DASHI-NAGE	same as UWATE-NAGE except that the two
			are in side-by-side instead of facing posture
	SHITATE-DASHI-NAGE	SHITATE version of DASHI-NAGE
	UWATE-HINERI	hold a UWATE, pull forward and fall opponent
			while half rotating his body
	SHITATE-HINERI	SHITATE version of HINERI
	TOTTARI		hold opponent's one arm with both arms and throw over
	KUBI-NAGE	wrap arm around opponent's neck and throw.
  2.3 legs crossed
	SOTO-GAKE	cross leg from outside opponent's and topple
	UCHI-GAKE	cross leg from inside opponent's and topple
	ASHI-TORI	hold opponent's leg with arm(s) and topple
			One of Mainoumi's favorite
	
There are others I can think of (KETAGURI, UCHI/SOTO-MUSOU, KAWAZUGAKE, ...),
but I'll leave it to the complete list.
The above list, I believe, will account for over 90% of the actual KIMARITE's.
	

(5) etc.

From: swain@reitaku.cs.reitaku-u.ac.jp (Jhon D.Swain)
>Message-ID: <1993May24.233031.18436@rusun.cs.reitaku-u.ac.jp>
>In article <1tq97hINNg2k@nsat.ipp-garching.mpg.de> bds@uts.ipp-garching.mpg.de (Bruce d. Scott) writes:
>>Victor Lin writes:
>>
>>> Futabayama holds the record for the most consecutive wins at 69.
>>> It is said that this record may never be broken.
>>
>>I thought it was Taiho at 70.
>
>It is Taiho at 69.

That's a slip.  Victor Lin is correct.
And at the time of Futaba (before WWII), there were only 4 tourneys/year,
and 10 days/tourney (or was it already 15?).
That is, Futaba did not lose for well over a whole year.

Further back in the Edo era, there were only 2 tourneys/year
and 10 days/tourney.
Hence the saying: "ICHINEN WO HATSUKA DE KURASU II OTOKO"
This is rather difficult to translate because "II OTOKO" has the connotation
of both "fortunate", "to be envied" and "well deserved"; the disparity
being the rhetoric.  Anyway, it describes a Sumo wrestler as one who can
make a living working only 20 days an year.

-Yuzuru Hiraga (hiraga@ulis.ac.jp)