Tim, your analysis w screenshots of the Kirishima v Wakamotoharu bout is superb. Seems like you’ve stepped up another level, buddy! If I weren’t always a broke schlub I’d give you lots of coin bc you deserve it all. I hope other followers recognize what they’re getting with and from you. Thanks sooooo much. 🙏🙏🙏
Thanks man, I really appreciate your vocal support and feedback (which is very valuable to me). After losing the gifs (for fear of being copyright struck), it's forced me to approach things a little differently. I'm having a lot of fun breaking down the bout with screen shots like that and I find that, when you freeze a bout in sumo, it can really reveal a lot about what's going on - especially when it comes to the grips (which can be hard to track in real-time and with just one camera angle).
My pleasure! (If you knew me you’d know I don’t run around indiscriminately tooting people’s horns. This is your calling, or one of them at least, and you’re doing a lot of peeps a true great service—esp the neophytes.)
Isn’t it cool when more or less by accident you stumble on a way of doing things that opens up your perspective? Sounds like getting cut off of the gifs has done that for you. And it’s true. With the second-by-second screenshots, you really do get to see things differently—the emphasis being on SEE. I know it’s real work, but I have to say again that your breakdown of the K&W bout really got me looking more carefully. These top rikishi are so good and things happen so fast that if we are not really paying attention it’s too easy to miss the many subtleties of their genius…. So much more to say, but you get the point.
Thanks! I'm big proponent of trial and error. I've done that a lot in my sumo and MMA writing career.
The speed at which sumo happens is both a blessing and curse. It can be hard to isolate and figure out what's happening in the moment. But being able to see an entire night's worth of bouts in 30 minutes is a life saver. Especially when my other gig is doing UFC play-by-play writing which is a 6-8 hour shift.
Much as I usually root for Wakatakakage, I like Takayasu almost as much and was rooting for him to win. Papa Bear's been second-best so often, I hope he makes a run for the cup. I say that knowing he has yet to meet the top rankers. Waka already has, which is why he's already in a hole.
Despite his age, when he's on he's one of the best in the game. I love how deliberate he is with what he does. He rarely spams thrusts or goes for a throw that isn't there. Everything is very methodical and thought out (despite these bouts going a mile a second).
I agree that there's not much of a story line yet but there are some fun matches. We'd have to get some really crazy days to be at the story or excitement of the last tournament.
Onosato's Sumo is really some of the best looking to me. So often it just seems fluid and technically sound, no wasted movement. Just something I've been noticing this tournament.
Oh also how does the rule break down for when someone is out of the ring but hasn't touched the ground? That Tamawashi vs Ura bout looked like Tamawashi's arm came down before Ura's feet were at ground level. I didn't get to see it too well to be sure, it was "live" so I couldn't rewind, but it made wonder how that breaks down. Like especially for a wrestler that is out of the clay area.
Whether it's the ground on the ring or the floor, who ever touches first is the loser. The exception is the notorious "dead body rule" where the decision favours whoever is doing a noticeable technique. You can see body parts hit simultaneous, or even not, and still the person who is very clearly trying an offensive move will be given the nod over the person who is just falling. Thankfully we don't see that too often, though.
Tim, your analysis w screenshots of the Kirishima v Wakamotoharu bout is superb. Seems like you’ve stepped up another level, buddy! If I weren’t always a broke schlub I’d give you lots of coin bc you deserve it all. I hope other followers recognize what they’re getting with and from you. Thanks sooooo much. 🙏🙏🙏
Thanks man, I really appreciate your vocal support and feedback (which is very valuable to me). After losing the gifs (for fear of being copyright struck), it's forced me to approach things a little differently. I'm having a lot of fun breaking down the bout with screen shots like that and I find that, when you freeze a bout in sumo, it can really reveal a lot about what's going on - especially when it comes to the grips (which can be hard to track in real-time and with just one camera angle).
My pleasure! (If you knew me you’d know I don’t run around indiscriminately tooting people’s horns. This is your calling, or one of them at least, and you’re doing a lot of peeps a true great service—esp the neophytes.)
Isn’t it cool when more or less by accident you stumble on a way of doing things that opens up your perspective? Sounds like getting cut off of the gifs has done that for you. And it’s true. With the second-by-second screenshots, you really do get to see things differently—the emphasis being on SEE. I know it’s real work, but I have to say again that your breakdown of the K&W bout really got me looking more carefully. These top rikishi are so good and things happen so fast that if we are not really paying attention it’s too easy to miss the many subtleties of their genius…. So much more to say, but you get the point.
Thanks again and please do carry on!!!! 🙏💪🙏
D
Thanks! I'm big proponent of trial and error. I've done that a lot in my sumo and MMA writing career.
The speed at which sumo happens is both a blessing and curse. It can be hard to isolate and figure out what's happening in the moment. But being able to see an entire night's worth of bouts in 30 minutes is a life saver. Especially when my other gig is doing UFC play-by-play writing which is a 6-8 hour shift.
Wow, no wonder you’re so good at it!
Much as I usually root for Wakatakakage, I like Takayasu almost as much and was rooting for him to win. Papa Bear's been second-best so often, I hope he makes a run for the cup. I say that knowing he has yet to meet the top rankers. Waka already has, which is why he's already in a hole.
I'm just glad he's healthy *knock on wood.
Despite his age, when he's on he's one of the best in the game. I love how deliberate he is with what he does. He rarely spams thrusts or goes for a throw that isn't there. Everything is very methodical and thought out (despite these bouts going a mile a second).
I agree that there's not much of a story line yet but there are some fun matches. We'd have to get some really crazy days to be at the story or excitement of the last tournament.
Onosato's Sumo is really some of the best looking to me. So often it just seems fluid and technically sound, no wasted movement. Just something I've been noticing this tournament.
Yeah, his fluidity off the tachiai is lovely. Ideally, you want a rikishi to look like they are skimming across water. And he has that down.
Oh also how does the rule break down for when someone is out of the ring but hasn't touched the ground? That Tamawashi vs Ura bout looked like Tamawashi's arm came down before Ura's feet were at ground level. I didn't get to see it too well to be sure, it was "live" so I couldn't rewind, but it made wonder how that breaks down. Like especially for a wrestler that is out of the clay area.
Whether it's the ground on the ring or the floor, who ever touches first is the loser. The exception is the notorious "dead body rule" where the decision favours whoever is doing a noticeable technique. You can see body parts hit simultaneous, or even not, and still the person who is very clearly trying an offensive move will be given the nod over the person who is just falling. Thankfully we don't see that too often, though.