[sumo] Day 12 videos & torchbearer results [spoiler]

[Barbara]

Three videos are available today:

Kasugao-Kasuganishiki. The two Kasugas meet. Once again Kasugao resorts 
to his kotenage throw - when it does not succeed the first time he 
reaches deeper to set it up a second time. Is he becoming a "one trick" 
rikishi? That might be enough to keep him in makuuchi (if he is really 
good at it), but it isn't likely to get him further. Chiyotaikai might 
be a counterexample, though. From what I've heard, even Chiyotaikai's 
oyakata is surprised that C. is still an ozeki. Maybe the difference is 
that C. can put on a stunning tachiai, whereas Kasugao's tachiai 
consists mostly of him standing up and immediately reaching for his 
opponent's belt. That won't last. But it is enough to take care of 
Kasuganishiki.


Ama-Kaiou.  I almost imagine that Ama regrets having to be one of the 
rikishi who administer humiliating defeats to the great champion Kaiou 
late in the tournament, when he is obviously stiff, exhausted, and in 
constant pain. Kaiou can hardly twist his torso or pivot on either leg. 
Please retire, Kaiou. Your magnificent career is over and we would not 
like to see you set another record for the number of times an ozeki has 
gone to kadoban (on probation; candidate for demotion) status.


Hakuhou-Kotooushu. It is an arm and upper body match, with Kotooushu 
unable to get the belt, and deciding to go for kotenage instead, while 
Hakuhou tries to defend and get in close to his opponent. The photo 
shows Kotooushu's closest point of winning, with a kotenage, but H. is 
not in the right position to go over K's hip (K. needs his right leg 
further forward). The opening allows Hakuhou to move in and walk 
Kotooushu back and out, exactly as one might move a heavy piece of 
furniture, by tilting it from side to side while applying pressure 
forward: yorikiri.


Torchbearer results:
As D12 torchbearer, Shimotori retained the torch by winning against J12W 
Wakanoho, and gave chikara-mizu to J8W Kyokunankai who won his match. On 
D13, Shimotori faces Shunketsu, whose win would take the torch below the 
lower 8-rank boundary. Each day means there are fewer opportunities for 
the torch to make it back into Makuuchi. Remember, you can revise your 
entry one time before the final day. Whichever entry is closest to being 
correct at the end of the match will win, but if two entries are 
identical the first one received wins.  If you think you know the final 
answer already, revise your entry to that answer and send it to me 
immediately before someone else does the same. If you're not playing the 
Torch game, it is easy. One email is all you need to write.  The winner 
gets a complete video set of the current basho, all 31 hours of coverage 
with the English commentary, on Xvid avi files suitable for viewing on a 
computer.  You can compose your entry now.

I added instructions for requesting a complete set of basho video in
case you don't win the Torchbearer game.

Details, pictures, videos, and explanations are at Barbara's Sumo Site,

http://www.zyvid.com/sumo

in fun,
Barbara Murasakihana