Dohyo Doings: “Yukikaze’s” Sumo Blog

Post #004: 4 December 2009

Did you know we actually have FOUR persons on the Board of Trustees, and have had since the 2008 elections? It's the truth.

The USSF bylaws actually state (in two places, no less) that the President of the United States Sumo Federation shall also function as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. I invite your attention to Article IV (Board of Trustees), Section 6 (Officers), Subsection G (Duties) on page 6:

1. President. The President shall be vested with the executive authority, shall be chairman of the Board of Trustees, shall be executive editor of all publications of the USSF, and shall perform the ordinary duties of the office.

Your attention is also invited to Article VI (Committees), Section B (Composition) on page 14:

a. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the following:

1. President, who shall serve as Chairman of the Board of Trustees

2. Vice-President

3. Secretary

4. Treasurer

You needn’t take my word for it: read it for yourself if you doubt me. (I am not a ‘climate change’ scientist/cheerleader in East Anglia.)

BTW: if a certain person tries to tell you that the Dohyo of Dreams Sumo Association is not a valid USSF club, ignore him because he is stone wrong. Richard Hopp remembered that he did transfer his affiliation to the DDSA from being "unattached" after I showed him his own E-mail. That, plus Art Morrow and myself, gives the DDSA the minimum three members – and all Life members, at that. And if you feel the need to change USSF club affiliation, you will be very welcome within the DDSA aegis.

Twelfth Month: 12th Cup For Hakuho

Runs Table for Third Zensho; Shoryu Loses Last Four

Heading south to Kyushu on the heels of taking his 24th championship in Tokyo, yokozuna-East ASASHORYU (68) (MGL) should have been feeling very satisfied with himself. Unlike Kitanoumi (55) after his “double dozen”, “The Express” had shown the doubters that his boilers still held a powerful head of steam. Nonetheless, with yokozuna-East HAKUHO (69) (MGL) not only ready to pounce on any mistake but well capable of creating his own opportunities, he couldn't afford to be complacent. And while ozeki #2-East HARUMAFUJI (MGL) had been successfully pushed to the margins for the moment, the two Sadogatake ozeki were not to be taken lightly either. With all this going on around him, the Kokusai Center in Fukuoka was no place for a letdown of any kind.

When the gates opened, both grand champions came out striking fast, hard and often with no mistakes through day 11. Day 12 was where the letdown took place, big-time: “The Express” was derailed by HARUMA, ozeki #1-East KOTOOSHU (BUL) and #1-West KOTOMITSUKI on successive days while “Sleeping Thunder” continued to roll unchecked, to lock up the Cup on day 14. Given a chance to get a 'bragging rights' win on senshuraku, SHORYU once again failed to get past the younger yokozuna, falling by uwatenage to finish at 11-4. HAKUHO thus rang up his 12th top-division championship to join Futabayama (35) and Musashimaru (67) in a tie on the list of “legendary” yokozuna (see below). That, along with his third zensho yusho, should give him some very comfortable sleep until January.

Kaio Sets New Iron Marks; Taikai Finally Falls

OSHU had the 'check mark' on his kachi on day 9. And then, just as he had done two months earlier, he went into a slide. With three losses in the next four days, and four kuroboshi in the final six, the “Bulgarian Blastwave” faded to a 10-5 mark which still led the ozeki scoreboard. Former collegian MITSUKI never got a consistent groove going: although he managed a win over SHORYU, he lost to HAKUHO and KAIO in the final days to scrape out a legally-passing 8-7. HARUMAFUJI went 5-5 in his first 10 torikumi. He wasn't lucky enough to draw a match with the struggling #3-East CHIYOTAIKAI; but he did go 3-0 against the remaining ozeki and 1-1 against the grand champions. He finished at 9-6.

It was certainly right and fitting that KAIO set the new record of 98 Makunouchi banzuke appearances in his hometown of Fukuoka, to truly crown him “The Cal Ripken of Sumo” with more than 16 years in the division. He was in the #2-West slot for his 56th consecutive tournament at ozeki rank, which was also proper since it had been more than a year since he'd posted an effort better than 8-7. His day 3 win over sekiwake-East BARUTO (EST) was number 800 in his time on the banzuke's top row, while number 805 on day 10 pushed him past Kitanoumi into sole possession of second place on the all-time shiroboshi list. Tomozuna Beya's top deshi was balanced at 7-7 going into senshuraku, but successfully arm-locked MITSUKI for yet another 8-7 record and career win number 806.

CHIYOTAIKAI had successfully skirted 13 previous kadoban situations in 65 basho as an ozeki, both records. But number 14 finally brought an end to his long sojourn at sumo's second rank. Kokonoe Beya’s heyagashira went 1-4 against hiramaku-level talent: this was a very bad sign, since he would have to face other joi-jin the rest of the way. And the sumo gods must have wanted an extra touch of irony: the kuroboshi that sealed the demotion was delivered by none other than ASASHORYU – who was making his first and only Jonokuchi Division appearance when CHIYO received his ozeki promotion in March of 1999. He did not answer the yobidashi's ki for his day 11 match with MITSUKI, and officially withdrew the following day. It's possible for him to regain his parking space and other perquisites with 10-plus wins in January; but if he couldn't get eight this time or last, this writer certainly won't risk the rice farm on the chances of him taking ten in Tokyo. The next question of the moment: does TAIKAI accept the smaller paychecks, the drop-off at the curb and the walk into the building, and the inevitable slide out of the sanyaku and into the maegashira ranks (re: Konishiki, Kirishima, Takanonami, Dejima, MIYABIYAMA)? Or does he retire while he's (technically) ahead (re: Musoyama, Tochiazuma)? Stay tuned, sportsfans.

With one exception, the lower sanyaku had a tough time of it. BARUTO was 5-3 after day 8, then went into a tailspin to lose his next three. But he closed out with four shiroboshi to end the proceedings with a 9-6. This gives him 21 wins in two consecutive tournaments: with an ozeki slot now open, 10 wins or more in January could bring him a promotion. The big Estonian was the only one in this area of the banzuke to post a winning record. Sekiwake-West KAKURYU (MGL) lost seven of his first 9 matches. Three wins in the next three days wouldn't be enough to save him. A day 13 loss sealed his make-koshi, and the two victories in the final two days meant a 7-8 posting that will probably place him in a komusubi slot at Hatsu 2010. The two who held “killer rank” slots this time out were beaten down and kicked onto the slide leading back to the maegashira ranks. East-sider KISENOSATO finished at 6-9, while West-side man GOEIDO ended at 7-8.

Former Ozeki, Eurikishi Share Top Hiramaku Honors

#8-West TOCHINOSHIN (GEO) and #9-West MIYABIYAMA both finished at 12-3 to not only share the best effort among the hiramaku, but garner jun-yusho honors and the Kanto-Sho. Other maegashira performances worthy of note:

#2-East KOTOSHOGIKU (10-5)

#5-East TOYONOSHIMA (11-4) (Gino-Sho)

#9-East YOSHIKAZE (10-5)

#11-East TAMAWASHI (MGL) (10-5)

#13-West MOKONAMI (MGL) (9-6)

The Shukun-Sho was not awarded. There were no kinboshi.

Three-Way Playoff for Juryo Title

#5-East KITATAIKI, #6-East KORYU (MGL) and #8-West TOKUSEGAWA (MGL) all finished regulation tied for the Juryo Division lead at 10-5. KITA prevailed in the playoff for the yusho. Other honorably-mentionable second-division efforts (all 9-6):

#9-West WAKAKOYU

#11-East TOSANOUMI

#12-East CHIYOHAKUHO

#12-West SHIRONONAMI

#13-East KASUGANISHIKI

#13-West HOSHIKAZE (MGL)

Noteworthy en passant: Ounomatsu Beya deshi won two of the four junior yusho.

“Legendary” Yokozuna (10+ Yusho) (after Kyushu 2009)

YOKOZUNA	No.	Heya	Jidai	Yusho	Zen
Taiho	48	Nishonoseki	1961 - 1971	32	8
Chiyonofuji	58	Kokonoe	1981 - 1991	31	7
ASASHORYU*	68	Takasago	2003 - present	24	5
Kitanoumi	55	Mihogaseki	1974 - 1985	24	7
Takanohana II	65	Futagoyama	1994 - 2003	22	4
Wajima	54	Hanakago	1973 - 1981	14	3
HAKUHO*	69	Miyagino	2007 - present	12	3
Musashimaru*	67	Musashigawa	1999 - 2003	12	1
Futabayama	35	Futabayama	1937 - 1945	12	8
Akebono*	64	Azumazeki	1993 - 2001	11	0
Kitanofuji	52	Kokonoe	1970 - 1974	10	3
Tochinishiki	44	Kasugano	1954 - 1960	10	1
Tsunenohana	31	Dewanoumi	1924 - 1930	10	1
Wakanohana I	45	Hanakago	1958 - 1962	10	1

* non-Japanese

The 800-Win Club (after Kyushu 2009)

Rikishi (Top Rank)	MD Basho	MD Wins	Wins/Basho
Chiyonofuji (Y58)	81	807	9.96
KAIO (O)	98	806	8.23
Kitanoumi (Y55)	78	804	10.31

The Yokozuna Watch (after Kyushu 2009)

Rikishi (Top Rank)	MD Basho	MD Wins	Wins/Basho
ASASHORYU (Y68)	54	583	10.79
HAKUHO (Y69)	33	395	11.97

Junior Division Yusho Winners (Kyushu 2009)

Division	Rank	Shikona	Heya	Record
Makushita	23-E	KUROSAWA	Ounomatsu	7-0
Sandanme	14-W	TAKANOIWA (MGL)	Takanohana	7-0
Jonidan	25-E	AOIYAMA (BUL)	Tagonoura	7-0
Jonokuchi	20-E	TERASHITA	Ounomatsu	7-0

Holders of USSF Dan Rank (as of Kyushu 2009)

Rank (Degree)	Name (Club)
Sandan (3rd)	Tom Zabel (LSSA), Kelly Gneiting (SRSA)
Nidan (2nd)	Hiroshi Matsuzaki (SCSK), Harry Dudrow (SCSK), Jim Lowerre (DDSA), Doug Cochran (GSS), Art Morrow (DDSA)
Shodan (1st)	Jeff Riddle (GSS), Andrew Freund (CSA), Troy Collins (CSC), Rene Marte (JKC), Tyler Olsen (GEM), Trent Sabo (OSK), Marcus Barber (SCSK), Kurt Rightmyer (SCSK), Bart Harris (LSSA), Packy Bannevans* (GSA)

* Rank conferred by the Japan Sumo Federation

United States Sumo Calendar for 2009

CLASSES/TRAINING SESSIONS

SESSION	DAY	START	END	FEE	LOCATION	STAGING ORGANIZATION
GSS Practice	SU	ongoing	ongoing	Yes	Combined Martial Science 13611-A 12th Street, Chino, CA	Golden State Sumo (Doug Cochran)
LSSA Practice	TH	ongoing	ongoing	?	Korea-America TKD Academy 9589 Braun Road, San Antonio, TX	Lone Star Sumo Association (Tom Zabel)

Contact the listed STAGING ORGANIZATION for the latest fee schedule and other information.

COMPETITIONS

EVENT	DATE	LOCATION	STAGING ORGANIZATION

All information on this calendar is subject to change. Contact the listed STAGING ORGANIZATION for the latest information.

If you have a sumo tournament or demonstration happening in the near future, and you are a USSF member club, send the 411 to me at jimlowerre@yahoo.com.

Post #003: 13 October 2009

Asashoryu Makes His “Double Dozen” In Tokyo

Wins First 14; Takes Hakuho In Playoff To Join Kitanoumi

At the 1984 Natsu Basho, it is likely that few fans (if any) at the Kuramae Kokugikan were paying any attention whatsoever to Kitanoumi (55). It had been fourteen tournaments since his last yusho, and the intervening time had seen him perform at a sub-par level (when he wasn't on the Kosho Seido shelf). It was probably thought that the big man from Hokkaido was 'washed up' and the day now belonged to the younger, more charismatic Chiyonofuji (58). But “Northern Ocean” gave his opponents one last cold bath, rolling over the field like Hokusai's “Great Wave” to pound out his seventh zensho performance and take his 24th (and final) championship.

Fast forward 25 years and 152 basho, to the 2009 Aki Basho at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. Slotted at yokozuna-West, ASASHORYU (68) (MGL) was not in the same long drought situation as Kitanoumi, having won his 23rd championship in January. But with the rise of yokozuna-East HAKUHO (69) (MGL) and the emergence of other powerful rikishi such as ozeki #2-East HARUMAFUJI (MGL), he no longer enjoyed the dominance that had propelled him to 14 of 18 championships from 2004 to 2006 (including all six yusho in 2005). The inevitable accretion of small but nagging injuries had also affected him. Was the fan community already thinking he was ‘washed up’?

When the starting bell rang, both grand champions came out hitting hard and hitting fast. The separation occurred on day 6, when HAKUHO got careless and was pulled down for a kinboshi by maegashira #2-East SHOTENRO (MGL). Meanwhile “The Express” continued to batter his way through the lineup without letup, to arrive at senshuraku with 14 wins to face “Sleeping Thunder” in the final match of the tournament. Only it would not be the final match: HAKUHO gave the senior yokozuna the yorikiri treatment, tying their records at 14-1 and setting up a playoff. This was dangerous territory for SHORYU: in past playoffs against the younger grand champion, he was batting under .500. But he went in hard and fast yet again, and topped HAKUHO to win the Tenno-Hai for the 24th time. This places SHORYU alongside Kitanoumi in third place on the list of “legendary” yokozuna (see below).

Three Ozeki Finish 9-6; Kaio Ties Historic Mark; Baruto Shines Bright

Both of Sadogatake's champions started off well, winning their first six torikumi and locking up kachi-koshi on day 9. Then the “Sofia Skyscraper” toppled over: #1-East KOTOOSHU (BUL) lost his next five matches before winning on the last day to finish with a 9-6 mark. His stable brother #1-West KOTOMITSUKI fared no better, batting .500 on his next two torikumi before losing his last four to also post a 9-6. HARUMAFUJI's effort was an unsteady one, standing 2-3 after day 5. Five wins in the next five days helped straighten things for the Natsu 2009 winner; but his final 9-6 score shows he's not yet ready or able to make a place for himself on sumo's pinnacle.

This was the 97th instance in which KAIO's kanji have been situated on the top row of the banzuke, which tied him with former sekiwake Takamiyama (now the former Azumazeki Oyakata) for the most career Makunouchi Division appearances. Operating from the #2-West position, the “Cal Ripken of sumo” traded wins and losses through the first six days. He then won four straight, only to lose four straight to stand at 7-7 going into senshuraku. There his powerful mawashi attack downed MITSUKI for his eighth win of the tournament and the 798th “white star” of his career. The problems that bedeviled #3-East CHIYOTAIKAI in March seemed to return with a vengeance. After going 2-2 in the first four days, the “Round Mound” completely collapses and lost his next six matches before finally withdrawing from the action on day 11. November will mark his 13th instance of kadoban vulnerability in the 60 basho he has held ozeki rank. (It might just be a coincidence; but Kokonoe Beya's #2 deshi, juryo #3-East CHIYOHAKUHO, also pulled out of the tournament on day 11 after going 3-7. Maybe something in the chanko?)

The big story in the lower sanyaku was BARUTO. Fighting out of the traditionally-tough komusubi-East slot, the massive (184kg/400+ pound) Estonian was bested by both yokozuna in the early going. But he successfully manhandled any and all other comers, both joi-jin and hiramaku, before losing on day 14. He finished with a senshuraku win over sekiwake-East KISENOSATO to emerge from his “killer rank” experience with a sparkling 12-3 record, the Kanto-Sho, and the sekiwake-East position in November. KISE was 5-3 after day 8. He lost his next four, won the following two and was 7-7 going into the final day: the loss to BARUTO will push him downwards, but he will probably keep a joi-jin position. Sekiwake-West KOTOSHOGIKU did not have to face OSHU and MITSUKI (probably does more than enough of that at daily keiko) but between the yokozuna, BARUTO and one of TAIKAI's rare wins, Sadogatake's #3 deshi got pounded early and often on his way to a 6-9 showing. Joining him on the next ‘erebeta’ down to the hiramaku ranks will be komusubi-West AMINISHIKI. After losing his first four matches (and seven of his first nine), AMI won his next five and was in balance on senshuraku. But a loss to surging maegashira #3-West KAKURYU (MGL) sealed his fall.

Three-Way Tie for Top Hiramaku Honors

KAKURYU, #12-East TOCHIOZAN and #14-West HOKUTORIKI tied for the best maegashira record at 11‑4. KAKURYU was also awarded the Gino-Sho. Other honorably-mentionable hiramaku performances:

#5-East GOEIDO (10-5)

#5-West TAKAKAZE (9-6)

#10-West BUSHUYAMA (10-5)

#11-East KAKIZOE (9-6)

#13-West WAKANOSATO (10-5)

#15-East YOSHIKAZE (9-6)

The Shukun-Sho was not awarded.

#1-East TAMAWASHI (MGL) put up an 11-4 to win the yusho in the Juryo Division and earn a spot on the top of the 2009 Kyusho banzuke. Other notable marks from pro sumo’s “Triple-A” ranks:

#3-East KIMURAYAMA (9-6)

#3-West YAMAMOTOYAMA (9-6)

#5-East HAKUBA (MGL) (9-6)

#8-East ASOFUJI (9-6)

#11-East KAIHO (9-6)

#11-West SAGATSUKASA (9-6)

#13-East TOYOZAKURA (10-5)

#14-East SAKAIZAWA (9-6)

#14-West OKINOUMI (9-6)

Noteworthy en passant: non-Japanese rikishi won four of the six division titles. Kise Beya deshi won two of the four junior yusho.

Number of Basho To Reach 24 Yusho (after Aki 2009)

YOKOZUNA	MD Basho	From First Yusho
Taiho (48)	43	38
Kitanoumi (55)	74	63
Chiyonofuji (58)	63	46
ASASHORYU (68)	53	42

Kinboshi: Receivers and Givers (after Aki 2009)

Rikishi	Kin	YOKOZUNA (#)	No.*	Kin
Akinoshima	16	Taiho (48)	58	28
Takamiyama	12	Kitanoumi (55)	62	52
TOCHINONADA	12	Chiyonofuji (58)	53	29
TOSANOUMI	11	Akebono (64)	39	35
Takatoriki	9	Takanohana II (65)	49	37
Kotonowaka	8	Musashimaru (67)	27	21
Kotonishiki	8	ASASHORYU (68)	39	24
Tamakasuga	7	HAKUHO (69)	14	4
AMINISHIKI	7

*basho ranked at yokozuna

JUNIOR DIVISION YUSHO WINNERS (Aki 2009)

Division	Rank	Shikona	Heya	Record
Makushita	10-E	GAGAMARU (GEO)	Kise	7-0
Sandanme	29-E	AOKI	Kise	7-0
Jonidan	59-W	OKINOSHITA	Kokonoe	7-0
Jonokuchi	30-W	AOIYAMA (BUL)	Tagonoura	7-0

RESULTS of 2009 US SUMO OPEN (SUMO BASH)

(September 26, 2009: Aviation Gymnasium, Redondo Beach, CA)

Men’s Lights	1. Ernest Freund 2. Brad Sutton 3. Art Morrow
Men’s Middles	1. Erdenebileg Alagdaa (“Bilgay”) (MGL) 2. Robert Daniel
Men’s Heavies	1. Byambajav Ulambayar (“Byamba”) (MGL) 2. Bayanbat Davaadalai (“Bayanna”) (MGL) 3. Siosifa “Joe” Isama'u Also competing: Americus Abesamis, Foteh Mukhtorov (TJK), Mark Reiman, Dirk Sommers
Men’s Open	1. Byambajav Ulambayar (“Byamba”) 2. Erdenebileg Alagdaa (“Bilgay”) 3. Siosifa “Joe” Isama'u Also competing: Americus Abesamis, Robert Daniel, Mark Reiman

RESULTS of SHUUBUN 2009 (The Fall Equinox Tournament)

(October 10, 2009: “Dohyo of Dreams”, Garden Grove, CA)

Females	1. Judy Morrow 2. Erinn Deshinsky
Men’s Lights	1. Art Morrow 2. David Zentz 3. Hiroshi Matsuzaki
Men’s Heavies	1. Dan Kalbfleisch 2. Jim Lowerre 3. Joe Gray
Men’s Open	1. Dan Kalbfleisch 2. Joe Gray 3. Art Morrow
Men’s Masters	1. Art Morrow 2. Hiroshi Matsuzaki 3. Jim Lowerre
OFFICIALS
Referee	Jeff Riddle
Line Judges	Hiroshi Matsuzaki, Art Morrow
Scorekeeper	Jim Lowerre

Holders of USSF Dan Rank (as of Aki 2009)

Rank (Degree)	Name (Club)
Sandan (3rd)	Tom Zabel (LSSA), Kelly Gneiting (SRSA)
Nidan (2nd)	Hiroshi Matsuzaki (SCSK), Harry Dudrow (SCSK), Jim Lowerre (DDSA), Doug Cochran (GSS), Art Morrow (DDSA)
Shodan (1st)	Jeff Riddle (GSS), Andrew Freund (CSA), Troy Collins (CSC), Rene Marte (JKC), Tyler Olsen (GEM), Trent Sabo (OSK), Marcus Barber (SCSK), Kurt Rightmyer (SCSK), Bart Harris (LSSA), Packy Bannevans* (GSA)