Yokozuna Comparisons
Joe Kuroda
SFM’s historian, JK, wraps his two-part article on the greatest of the tsuna wearers

Amateur Sumo's Global Aspirations
Courtesy: International Sumo Federation
What exactly is it and furthermore, what does it do? The ISF explain themselves and their purpose in existing

Rikishi of Old
Joe Kuroda
Man or myth? Sumo's first yokozuna comes under the spotlight

Heya Peek
Barbara Ann Klein
Tokitsukaze-beya and its famous find themselves the target of Barbara's peek into life inside the heya

SFM Interview
Mark Buckton
Featuring interviews with amateur sumo's European Sumo Union General Secretary and the President of the newly founded Irish Sumo Federation

Sumo 101
Barbara Ann Klein
Would chanko exist without sumo? What is chanko anyway? Find out in Sumo 101

Photo Bonanza
See the Haru
Basho through the eyes of the fans in the seats as SFM gives the mantle of photographer(s) for this basho to Barbara & Gerald Patten. And don't miss our all-Mongolian Bonanza supplied by our Editor, Barbara Ann Klein

Haru Basho Review
Lon Howard
Lon gives us his Haru Basho summary, along with the henka sightings results

Lower Division Rikishi
Mikko Mattila
Mikko Mattila covers the lower division goings on like nobody else around

Natsu Basho Forecast
Mark Buckton
Mark Buckton glances back to look forward in his ones to look out for come May

Kimarite Focus
Mikko Mattila
Our man Mikko takes us on a tour of his chosen kimarite

Sumo in Print
Mark Buckton
Our gaming thread takes a break for April so we can look at the Spanish language book on the sport not long since released

Kokugi Connections
Todd Lambert
Todd’s bimonthly focus on 3 of the WWW's best sumo sites today

Fan Debate
Facilitator – Lon Howard
April's man VS monkey debate covers the issue of reducing the number of honbasho

SFM Cartoons
Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson
Sit back and enjoy the offerings

Let’s Hear From You
What was it that
made you a sumo fan? Thierry Perran lets us in on his reasons for loving this sport

Readers’ Letters
See what some
See what our featured letter is for this issue

Sumo Quiz
The Quizmaster
Answer the Qs and win yourself next basho’s banzuke.

  goes for thrusting sumo is definitely Toyozakura.

Oshidashi, oshitaoshi, tsukidashi and tsukitaoshi together comprise 25% of makuuchi division winning techniques. The more pushing is done, the more it affects the slap/pull down frequencies since pushing sumo is more open to evasive defense tactics and slap/pull downs are one way to counter a strong pushing surge. Pushing sumo rikishi need strong pectorals, triceps and shoulders and naturally strong legs are essential for good forward momentum. Tsuki-sumo specialists require more explosive power, good rhythm and endurable wrists.
Both Chiyotaikai and Dejima were model examples of near perfect packages in their own game. Chiyotaikai had unmatched explosive power and also great general pushing power while Dejima's low aiming drive showed his extraordinarily powerful legs in full use warranting a term denshamichi sumo to be used in the context of his sumo.

One disadvantage that many pushing sumo specialists have is their inability to be competitive against belt sumo specialists if they are forced to do belt sumo. Many belt-sumo specialists are good enough at defending against pushing sumo but it is rare that a highly
specialized pushing sumo rikishi can have good defense in belt sumo. Also, whereas a belt sumo rikishi only needs to withstand the pushing onslaught and look for a chance to get close enough to get a hold of the belt or he can use slap/pull downs to beat the pushing sumo rikishi, a situation where a pushing sumo specialist finds himself in belt sumo is much more constraining. Once a strong belt sumo rikishi gets a hold of the belt, there aren't many opportunities for the pushing sumo rikishi to disengage and re-establish open sumo conditions.

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