[sumo] [Spoiler] Asashoryu's bout

[Lon Howard]

On Jul 13, 2008, at 5:37 PM, John James wrote:

>
> I was watching on the NSK feed so it was a bit fuzzy but did  
> Asashoryu put his hand down before he had to?  It looked like they  
> were both still balanced then he just reached down and touched the  
> ground.  I am guessing their balance was tipping that way but I  
> would have thought they would have gotten a lot further off balance  
> before making a move to brace for the fall.

I thought the same.  It was very surprising seeing Asashoryu do  
that.  Pure speculation (but that's what we do...) but maybe he  
instinctively felt a need to protect his body?  Ring sense not there  
because of less keiko?  Pure speculation, now.

- Shomishuu