Slip's thread got me thinking that you almost never see anything about Sumo here and I thought it would be good to post some vids to give people a look at Sumo as it is done in Japan. These guys are huge, very fast, very strong , very tough and have great technique. Not at all like the stereotypes. Enjoy. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHAWtwOmClA"]YouTube - sumo[/ame] [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z83S0cZVp60"]YouTube - Bloodfest-Wakakirin -Asahimaru[/ame] [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G72bQBMZmzs"]YouTube - Sumo Falls - A Compilation of Sumo Falls, Tumbles, & Throws[/ame]
When I was stationed in Japan(1973,74) Takanohana was my favorite wrestler. He wasn't the biggest by a long shot but he was good. He's the "little" wrestler in all of these.:hat: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPwr3B2m0DE&NR=1"]YouTube - Takanohana vs. Wajima : Aki 1975 (貴ノ花 対 輪島)[/ame] [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGAOzy2mTrk"]YouTube - Takanohana vs. Wajima : Kyushu 1974 (貴ノ花 対 輪島)[/ame] [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3TtXi2Nsmc&feature=related"]YouTube - Takanohana vs. Kitanofuji : Haru 1972[/ame]
Must just be me, that is the stereotype I had of sumo wrestlers. I know almost nothing about sumo, why did that guy win, and what did he do, so fast in the first video? It looked like the guy on the right slipped...
Very fast palm strike. Open-hand strikes are legal. Closed fists are not. The first guy to step out of the ring, or to touch the ground with anything other than the bottom of his feet, loses. When he fell to his knees he lost.
Ouch!!!!!!!! Open palm strike for the cranial readjustment. Man oh man that's got to hurt. Takanohana is truly impressive. Man he's as strong as an ox!! A quick Google turned up this vid on YouTube of Takanohana taking on the Akebono... arguably one of the better known Sumos in the western world (if there is such a thing) and one who went on to fight in the early days of the PRIDE fighting championship (though granted in Pride he took an absolute beating!). Again here Takanohana is much much smaller than Akebono but holds his own to eventually get the win. Interesting. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB9I9IQMkfA"]YouTube - Takanohana vs Akebono[/ame] On a side note... surely in Japan... life insurances policies don't cover elderly frail Japanese men sitting front row at a Sumo match. Christ... all of Akebono coming down on you? Surely there have been broken bones no?
Slip, they were different Takanohanas. In Sumo the same wrestling name can be reused. I'm not sure if they retire names of outstanding wrestlers but Daiju and Wajima were both outstanding Yokozuna (grand champions) with long undefeated streaks. I haven't seen their names reused. To google the one I was showing you need to know the years he was wrestling (early to mid 70s).
Doh! Ok...hmmm I came across a vid that was a bit later showing Akebono then beating him... but now in light of the name issue... it could be an entirely different wrestler as well. There must be guys in Japan who follow this like a religion. Stats, magazines and groups of guys that meet for tea or beer and talk Sumo.
I think the Akibono and Takanohana matches are all the same wrestlers. Usually there is a gap between names being reused to prevent confusion. I'm not sure but I think the name may belong to the stable the wrestler competes for.
Ok interesting... so perhaps its similar to Muay Thai and the way nak muays take on their camp name when they fight.
That's my understanding, yes. Sumo is the greatest spectator sport ever. :love: Oh, if we could get it over here I'd totally be one of those armchair geeks who knows all the stats about the players.
