Yokozuna

[abe@kaleida.com (Masumi Abe)]

>IMO, I still think the ugly make-koshi is the biggest reason he shouldn't be
>promoted after this tournament.
>-yugo
>

In addition to the winning percentage and mental toughness, there are three
categories to be satisfactorily filled to become a yokozuna, IMHO.

They are:

1. Consistancy 
- Strong enough to make sure at least 11 wins in each basho. I don't think
10-5 record is acceptable for yokozuna.  Even if an oozeki won two basho in
three recent basho, and with more than 36 wins during that time, one of
those three  is 10-5 record, (13-2, 10-5, 13-2 for expample) I don't want
to see the rikishi to be promoted to a yokozuna.  10-5 is only .667 and two
more wins than 8-7.  I would like to see yokozuna to be .700 overall
winning percentage and .750 during yokozuna.  12-3 is .800 and 11-4 is
.733.  If there are two yokozuna and two oozeki, you could lose to all
other yokozuna and oozeki and still make 12-3.

2. Dominating Power

2a. to dominate over lower rank rikishi
- No overall losing record against any rikishi under oozeki.  I could
accept .400 against one oozeki, as long as losing matches were close and
well fought matches.

2b. very rare losses against maegashira rikishi (I would say less than
thrice a year)  
- For maegashira rikishi, winning against yokozuna is called "Kimboshi",
which means Gold Star, and the maegashira rikishi will get permanent raise
with his salary base, similar to kachikoshi (wining at least 8 bouts in a
given basho).
I said three times are acceptable, but that is not a good yokozuna.  
Not-so-good but yokozuna - 3 kimboshi/year
So-so yokozuna < 3 kimboshi/year
Good yokozuna < 2 kimboshi/year
Great yokozuna < 1 kimboshi/year

2c. to dominate totally over the rikishi facing the first time 
- I remember the two examples.  The original Asashio Taro, a yokozuna from
Amami-Ooshima totally dominated against Naya, the future great yokozuna
Taihou.  Also, Taihou totally dominated against Hanada, the future great
oozeki Takanohana, the father of current Takanohana.

3. Quality of sumo
No running arround and tricky moves (Hatakikomi, Katasukashi, Tottari, etc.)
Better form and sumo styles
- Shiko (pounding with feet), Shikiri (facing each other), Tachiai (start)
& Ashihakobi (steps), etc.
- Let lower rank rikishi move first, especially when staring each other and
at tachiai.
- Don't hesitate at tachiai (if other starts too early, let referee tell him)

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Masumi Abe
Director, Japan Market Development              Tel: (415) 966-0824
Kaleida Labs, Inc.                              Fax: (415) 966-0496
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Mountain View, CA 94043                         AppleLink: ABE.M