[sumo] Day 8 videos & torchbearer results [spoiler]

[Barbara]

Barbara Ann wrote:
> Having said that, I also believe that the choice of ultimate kimarite is
> also determined by the flow of the bout. Sure, a guy can think "I want to
> win this by, say, hikitoshi", but events during the bouts themselves can
> easily abort a planned kimarite effort and end up with one that may seem
> meant to inflict pain, but is not intentionally done so. I would cite the
> Asashoryu/Ama bout. I firmly do not believe that Asa thought "let me inflict
> pain on one of the rikishi that I most like and respect", but that the
> movement came out naturally from his instincts.

In most cases I agree that there is probably not much of a plan, but I 
made the comment written there after watching the slow motion of the end 
  of the bout over and over.  Asashoryuu makes two attempts on that arm, 
in exactly the same way both times.  Only the second attempt succeeds. 
So, I feel that, for at least those 20 seconds or so, an armlock on 
Ama's right arm is the technique uppermost in Asashoryuu's mind. He had 
plenty of time to think about it.

But possibly I was being harsh in implying that he wanted to inflict 
pain on all his opponents after his loss to Dejima. Maybe the way he 
tries harder is to increase the level of his game.  But I do feel that 
part of his "game" is the use of pain, fear, and domination.  Sumo 
allows that. Perhaps encourages it.  I would like to see more limits on 
that myself.  Some of the traditional limits on brutal tactics are ones 
of honor. It seems that it can be "expected" that one will restrain 
themselves slightly against an opponent who has a disadvantage, whether 
it is rank, injury, or experience. Asashoryuu doesn't restrain himself 
often.

But his behavior toward Dejima after his loss, refusing to render a bow, 
is what angered me most.  No matter how awesome his technical ability, 
he is not measuring up to my image of how an honorable sportsman should 
behave. He is a great yokozuna but I am no fan of his at this point.

Barbara Murasakihana