Just finished watching this, and this seemed to be a really impressive day of matches!
There was a good variety of matches from very quick side steps at the beginning, to a few with a lot of back and forth domination, and of course the exciting Ura match with the do over. Seeing the one attempted side step fail after the 2 successful ones this day and the one in day 7 was very exciting too. I was starting to wonder why more people didn’t attempt this, but setting it just as easily backfire was a good surprise.
I like that even though I’m starting to get some favorite wrestlers, I didn’t mind much when they lose, because it often feels the opponent just really did better that matchup, and that it feels like real combat, as all it takes is one small mistake or a creative counter for the match to go a different direction. Kirishima losing today was a perfect example. I like watching him, but his opponent really seemed to have earned this exciting win. Also loving Ura, his matches are always exciting and so creative even if he doesn’t always win. It just feels like a bonus if he does win, either way it’s often the highlight of the event for me.
Things I’m left thinking about after watching this far:
It seems like the platform should be larger. So many guys tumble out of the ring and it seems a huge opportunity to get hurt rather than to serve any purpose.
Those string belts seem the most obnoxious thing! They fall off so often it just irks me, and I feel one of the early days of this tournament one guy slipped on his and it cost him the match when he lost his footing. From looking it up, it’s supposed to be a tribute to the old sash they used to wrestle in, but it just seems problematic. If they were sewn on or had Velcro or clips or something to keep it on, that would seem much more practical. It just seems like an unnecessary distraction or a cause of interference as is.
I’m really enjoying watching and glad I finally checked it out!
I didn’t mind much when they lose, because it often feels the opponent just really did better that matchup
I know, right? I just hope nobody gets hurt and that the guy I’m cheering for does a good job, even if they lose!
It seems like the platform should be larger. So many guys tumble out of the ring and it seems a huge opportunity to get hurt rather than to serve any purpose.
Supposedly they have padding down at the bottom, but yeah if they were really worried about safety they’d make the platform lower. But it’s a slippery slope. Putting ropes like in a boxing ring, and having them wear head protection, all of that would make it safer but it’d take away from the tradition.
Glad you enjoyed watching it! It’s a really interesting sport.
The whole arena design is a bit interesting compared to a US arena.
It feels much more “cozy” with the front seats looking very close to the ring, and the seats don’t seem to rise at as much of an angle. Boxing type ropes would block way too much of the view, and perhaps having the shorter ring shoulders let’s the panel of judges stay up close for a better view or something. I like the other sumo seem to sit around the ringside to help catch anyone that does fall out. All the wrestlers seem to get along and like each other. I did see some older video showing how the ring used to be surrounded by pillars, and I think having gotten rid of those really opens up the viewing angle.
After saying the all get along, I suppose that’s another interesting difference with other sports I’m used to: there doesn’t seem to be any rivalry. I did see something saying the athletes are moreso competing against themselves than their opponents, so if it’s accurate, that would make sense. I don’t know if there are any kind of jabs between events or in the fandom, but the guys all seem very nice to each other and they’re very calm sounding when they show the post match comments.
Other than terminology, it’s felt really easy to get into. There is no huge time investment (at least to watch the condensed YouTube feed), and all you really need to know is they can’t leave the ring or touch the ground.
All the wrestlers seem to get along and like each other.
Sumo has had a hazing / bullying problem, especially from senior wrestlers to junior wrestlers in the same stable. The association is trying to change that, though.
Generally, sumo wrestlers are expected to have “dignity” especially at the upper levels, and if they stray from that the association will reprimand them.
Just finished watching this, and this seemed to be a really impressive day of matches!
There was a good variety of matches from very quick side steps at the beginning, to a few with a lot of back and forth domination, and of course the exciting Ura match with the do over. Seeing the one attempted side step fail after the 2 successful ones this day and the one in day 7 was very exciting too. I was starting to wonder why more people didn’t attempt this, but setting it just as easily backfire was a good surprise.
I like that even though I’m starting to get some favorite wrestlers, I didn’t mind much when they lose, because it often feels the opponent just really did better that matchup, and that it feels like real combat, as all it takes is one small mistake or a creative counter for the match to go a different direction. Kirishima losing today was a perfect example. I like watching him, but his opponent really seemed to have earned this exciting win. Also loving Ura, his matches are always exciting and so creative even if he doesn’t always win. It just feels like a bonus if he does win, either way it’s often the highlight of the event for me.
Things I’m left thinking about after watching this far:
It seems like the platform should be larger. So many guys tumble out of the ring and it seems a huge opportunity to get hurt rather than to serve any purpose.
Those string belts seem the most obnoxious thing! They fall off so often it just irks me, and I feel one of the early days of this tournament one guy slipped on his and it cost him the match when he lost his footing. From looking it up, it’s supposed to be a tribute to the old sash they used to wrestle in, but it just seems problematic. If they were sewn on or had Velcro or clips or something to keep it on, that would seem much more practical. It just seems like an unnecessary distraction or a cause of interference as is.
I’m really enjoying watching and glad I finally checked it out!
I know, right? I just hope nobody gets hurt and that the guy I’m cheering for does a good job, even if they lose!
Supposedly they have padding down at the bottom, but yeah if they were really worried about safety they’d make the platform lower. But it’s a slippery slope. Putting ropes like in a boxing ring, and having them wear head protection, all of that would make it safer but it’d take away from the tradition.
Glad you enjoyed watching it! It’s a really interesting sport.
The whole arena design is a bit interesting compared to a US arena.
It feels much more “cozy” with the front seats looking very close to the ring, and the seats don’t seem to rise at as much of an angle. Boxing type ropes would block way too much of the view, and perhaps having the shorter ring shoulders let’s the panel of judges stay up close for a better view or something. I like the other sumo seem to sit around the ringside to help catch anyone that does fall out. All the wrestlers seem to get along and like each other. I did see some older video showing how the ring used to be surrounded by pillars, and I think having gotten rid of those really opens up the viewing angle.
After saying the all get along, I suppose that’s another interesting difference with other sports I’m used to: there doesn’t seem to be any rivalry. I did see something saying the athletes are moreso competing against themselves than their opponents, so if it’s accurate, that would make sense. I don’t know if there are any kind of jabs between events or in the fandom, but the guys all seem very nice to each other and they’re very calm sounding when they show the post match comments.
Other than terminology, it’s felt really easy to get into. There is no huge time investment (at least to watch the condensed YouTube feed), and all you really need to know is they can’t leave the ring or touch the ground.
Sumo has had a hazing / bullying problem, especially from senior wrestlers to junior wrestlers in the same stable. The association is trying to change that, though.
Generally, sumo wrestlers are expected to have “dignity” especially at the upper levels, and if they stray from that the association will reprimand them.
Huh, that’s a shame. I guess in something strongly hierarchical some can still be abusive even though everyone is physically intimidating.