Yokozuna dohyoiri

[abe@kaleida.com (Masumi Abe)]

Yokozuna dohyoiri is also called "dezuiri".

There are two different types of dezuiri style, Unryu-gata and
Shiranui-gata, and each yokozuna choose one style as their dezuiri.
Unryu-gata is more common than Shiranui-gata.

The difference:
                                represent               arms*              
            rope loop (s)**
Unryu-gata              defence                 one arm streched           
    one
Shiranui-gata           offence                 two arms streched          
    two

*arms is the arm position when a yokozuna faces shomen (main stand) and
rise up-right from squatting with feet widely open position. Unryu-gata
streches one arm side way with the tip of the other hand touches around
front-side of upper belly or lower chest area.
**rope loop is the loop of yokozuna rope tied behind Yokozuna.

There were Yokozuna Unryu and Yokozuna Shiranui in Edo (or Yedo) Period in
early 19 century. People might think that Unryu-gata is from Yokozuna
Unryu's dezuiri style and Shiranui-gata from Yokozuna Shiranui's dezuiri
style. 

That is NOT the case. 
Surprisingly, The fact is that Yokozuna Unryu's style was the style now
called Shiranui-gata, 
and Yokozuna Shiranui's style was the style now called Unryu-gata.

It's hard to believe, isn't it.

Mr. Kozo Hikoyama, the most famous authority of sumo is the person
responsible of this mixed-up. When Yokozuna Tachiyama of Meiji Era started
performing his new dezuiri, Mr. Hikoyama described it as Shiranui-gata
dezuiri, without further research. His style was actually similar to that
of Yokozuna Unryu's style. Since he was the most admired sumo authority, no
one has been brave enough to fix this mixed-up situation.

Now when sumo historians need to describe Yokozuna Unryu and Yokozuna
Shiranui, they need to pay extra attention that each name of dezuiri style
is not representing the style of dezuiri actually performed by these two
yokozuna from Edo Period.

Lesson: Don't trust any authority blindly.

I like to see both styles. Yokozuna Tamanoumi's (from Kita-Tama Era)
dezuiri was Shiranui-gata. Was there any other yokozuna with Shiranui-gata
dezuira style, recently?

-Masumi
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Masumi Abe                               阿部　加史（あべ　ますみ）
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