HAKUHO
Posted on 02/16/2016 5:32:33 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Tokyo (AFP) -- Japan's giant sumo wrestlers lack the mean streak needed to repel the flood of foreigners who have dominated the roly-poly sport in recent years, according to the country's first homegrown champion in a decade.
Kotoshogiku, who last month ended an excruciating wait for a Japanese-born winner, said Tuesday it was no accident that Mongolians had taken over Japan's ancient sport over the past decade and a half.
"All the Japanese wrestlers want to win championships," the 32-year-old told a news conference.
"We eat the same meat and vegetables as them," he added. "But sumo is about winning. Maybe we Japanese are too set in our ways, maybe we lack the greed to win at all costs."
The foreign invasion began in earnest with Hawaiian behemoth Konishiki, who was nicknamed the 'Dump Truck' and tipped the scales at a whopping 285 kilogrammes, and other hulking Pacific islanders in the 1990s.
But the subsequent rise of the Mongolians, led by the brilliant but temperamental Asashoryu and latterly by Hakuho, who has racked up a record 35 Emperor's Cup victories since 2006, has tormented sumo traditionalists in the absence of a serious Japanese challenge.
"We can learn from them," insisted Kotoshogiku, wearing a grey kimono and perched precariously on two chairs hastily bound together with sticky tape.
"Hakuho has so many weapons, like his fleetness of foot and how he puts you off balance. For many Japanese wrestlers, sumo is a test of strength and we charge head first.
"There are things we could definitely learn from," he added. "Like the angle of attack, coming in from lower down. You can understand why (Mongolian wrestlers) are so strong."
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
I remember bits and pieces of the MAD magazine guide to Sumo Wrestling.
I had the chance to watch a Sumo match when I was in Japan. It really is a surprisingly engaging sport. There’s a lot of skilly to it, and boy howdy, those dudes are STRONG. They may have a thick layer of fat on top, but Sumo wrestlers have plenty of muscle underneath.
I loved sumo.
Watching a 435 pound guy doing one armed pullups gives you some respect. If you took the fat of the top guys they would intimidate an NFL linebacker in many cases.
And yes, there is real strategy and skill. My Sensi was 70 lbs less than me and could send my ass flying out of the cicle before you could say ‘rising sun’.
er, skill. Not skilly. Darn Engrish.
It was revealed in 1995 or so that almost all bouts are YAOCHO:
Rigged.
The outcomes are pre-arranged.
After that disclosure TONS of fans went away.
I liked the sport, but I don’t understand why, in view of the history, fans are coming back...?
That’s weird.
YAKUZA UP THE YING-YANG..!!!
No suspense for me.
Those people that you see at Wal-Mart aren’t grossly out of shape, they are merely in training...
Jus' wait'll the Scots come to town!
Sumo came from Mongolia in the first place, and there have been Hawaiians, Samoans, Bulgarians, and Georgians in the top ranks for the past 30 years.
Have you watched that video?
I remember that fight, the golden days of MMA back then, I mean good grief talk about a BOSS battle from a videogame.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.