SOS - Shinjinrui on Sumo   Chris Gould Wrapping up his look at increasing the popularity of sumo, Chris Gould caps a series the NSK would do well to refer to. Sumo Souvenirs   Mark Buckton Souvenirs are a part of every sport and sumo is no different - or is it? A look at collectibles and the downright trashy, the bona fide versus the unproven. Rikishi of Old   Joe Kuroda Joe Kuroda's latest look at times past focuses on former makunouchi man Dewagatake. Eric Evaluates   Eric Blair Eric takes a no-nonsense look at the claims of fixed bouts in the Japanese media. Rikishi Diary   Mark Kent Mark Kent - English pro-wrestler and amateur heavyweight sumotori - takes us through the first month or so of his training and preparation for the various European events lined up in in 2007. Heya Peek   Chris Gould SFM's Chris Gould was in Japan for the Hatsu Basho and popped along to the new Shikoroyama Beya to give SFM an online exclusive peek into sumo's newest heya. SFM Interview   Mark Buckton Mark interviews Mark - Buckton on Kent that is as Mark Kent, the UK's only active heavyweight amateur answers a few questions on his own recent entry into the sport. Photo Bonanzas   Sumo Forum stepped in to take the weight off the shoulders of SFM as far as Hatsu went so we could sit back, relax, enjoy the sumo and take a few more select pics you won't see anywhere else. Hatsu Basho Summary Lon Howard Lon wraps the Hatsu Basho and chucks in a few bits on the rush of henka that threatens to sully the good name of at least one foreign ozeki. Sumo Menko   Ryan Laughton Sumo cards of old brought to life by expert collector Ryan Laughton. None of your BBM here. Haru Ones To Watch Carolyn Todd Carolyn ponders and puts fingers to keys on the ones to watch come March and the Haru Basho. Kimarite Focus   Mikko Mattila Mikko's latest look at sumo's kimarite offers unequalled analysis and in depth explanations. Amateur Angles   Howard Gilbert Howard looks at the 'sumo factory' of lore - Nichidai. Kokugi Konnections Todd Lambert Click on Todd's bimonthly focus on three of the best the WWW has to offer. Fan Debate Facilitator - Carolyn Todd Moti Dichne comes back for more and takes on Bradley Sutton on the subject of 'Modernize the heya - yea or nay?' SFM Cartoons Benny Loh & Stephen Thompson In this issue's cartoon bonanza, sit back and sample Benny's artistic offerings. Sumo Odds & Ends SFM's interactive elements - as always includes Henka Sightings, Elevator Rikishi and Eternal Banzuke! Let's Hear From You What was it that made you a sumo fan? Ryan Laughton - sumo fan and menko expert reveals all. Readers' Letters   See what our readers had to say since we last hit your screens. Sumo Quiz The Quizmaster Answer the Qs and win yourself a genuine banzuke.

only tsumatori in makuuchi since 1990 appeared in an Akebono-Tosanoumi bout in the Haru 2000 basho. Akebono instinctively used Tosanoumi’s foot for support  during an erratic finish at the edge and tsumatori became the accidental kimarite. Akebono said in an interview after the bout that he wasn’t even aware of such a kimarite.  Three years ago, tiny kainahineri expert Furuichi won with tsumatori in the makushita division on Day 15 in the Hatsu 2004 basho against Toyonokuni. Furuichi used dashinage to cause Toyonokuni to stumble forward, dived down to grab Toyonokuni’s foot and evidently had a grip on Toyonokuni’s toes when driving him out from behind. This tsumatori wasn’t accidental.

Susotori also targets the ankle and can be either a well thought-out strategy or a fast reaction to an off-balance situation. In most cases the opponent is in sideways stance while the attacker reaches down to the ankle furthest away, pulls that leg up and drives the opponent down. Mongolian rikishi have attempted this technique every now and then but the success rate in sumo isn’t that high and exposure to slapdown and throws is clear when reaching down towards the ankle.  The last susotori in makuuchi was seen in Haru 2002 basho when Aminishiki showed his fast reflexes in a bout against Hamanishiki and swept Hamanishiki’s ankle when falling down. Since 1990 there have been only four susotori in the makuuchi division and in the lower

divisions, the technique isn’t performed more than a couple of times a year at most. Recently retired Kyokushuzan had only one susotori win in makuuchi but went for it numerous times. Grabbing the lower leg, ankle, foot or toes is certainly more of an anomaly in sumo than an often seen technique.  There have been only 7 appearances in makuuchi altogether in over 30 000 bouts since the beginning of the Hatsu 1990 basho. Easy mathematics leads to the conclusion that less than one in 4000 bouts ends with this type of technique in the makuuchi division. Home Printable Version