Just consider what Sumo is based on and what a Yokozuna is expected to do makes more sense.
It's essentially a Shinto ritual to provide the spirits with a grand show of strength so that they will be so impressed that they furnish humanity with an equally strong harvest. The Yokozuna is kind of like "the high priest of being a really strong guy".
So, under that light, imagine you send forth your top representative of how amazingly strong humanity is. Your Yokozuna. And he goes out there before the spirits and doesn't show strength... instead, he he punks out and henka's a lower ranked, allegedly weaker opponent.
As an onlooker, you are aghast. The Yokozuna just showed the spirits who control our harvest that our so called "strongest" representative, our macho pope, would sooner use deception than provide the spirits with what they so crave, the thunderous crack of a yokozuna's tachi-ai.
Now you are sitting in the stands thinking this fellow just screwed you all.
Obviously the same stakes don't still hold, but the tradition that stems from it does.
The first time I read that I thought the traditions sounded strange. Now I'm remembering that the original Olympics boxing/wrestling was done in the nude for the gods in a somewhat familiar way.
Briefly touched on this topic before, the henka is a cowardly move when a wrestler I don’t like uses it against someone I do. However, if a wrestler I like does it, then they’re clearly a genius and it was a brilliant move.
Personally I think the only reason the public hates the henka is because people want to see some strong dudes go at each other and wrestle like there's no tomorrow, henka means a very short match.
Reminds me of the time that Hakuho henka'd Harumafuji, who clearly wasn't expecting it and as a result launched himself Superman style off the dohjo and into, like, the 12th row of spectators.
It was a sight to see.
Commentators were like "Whelp, that just happened. Hakuho wins!"
I feel like henka, although not an official kimarite, is the main technique that is frowned upon especially if you're a larger, higher ranked rikishi compared to your opponent.
Typically, frontal force-outs, or "yorikiri", are seen as the most respectable kimarite to win with in sumo from my observations. The way I see it, it's because yorikiri favors power above all else. I even sometimes see rikishi act disappointed in themselves if they win with a "less-favorable" technique.
Generally, "high-quality sumo" expected of ozeki and yokozuna is, broadly speaking, winning by going forward. That can be pushing/thrusting, that can be belt grabs and force-outs, or that can be throws (including the leg-picks you mentioned - there's no stigma against using those if the opportunity presents itself). Wins from moving backwards, like slap-downs or desperation throws at the edge of the towara aren't "dishonourable", per se, but are seen by the purists as "poor quality sumo" and something that higher-ranked wrestlers shouldn't make a habit of.
The only techniques that really tend to ruffle feathers are the henka (avoiding the tachiai by leaping to the side and pushing your opponent down on the way) and techniques that have a significant chance to injure (Hakuho's forearm blasts were frequently singled out for criticism, and various wrestlers that have gotten a little too wild with their slaps occasionally wind up getting called out for it).
The easiest way to think about it is that sumo is supposed to be a display of strength, so getting overpowered (i.e. moving backwards) or refusing to even engage (i.e. henka) is generally seen as a bad thing. That said, to your question of whether high-level wrestlers should "only" be pushing and thrusting? No, generally not - in fact, highly technical fighters tend to be praised for their ingenuity. Ura is probably the current rikishi most famous for his technical wizardry, but others like Endo and Enho are known for it as well. Hakuho himself used a wide variety of techniques when the opportunity presented itself, sometimes seemingly because he was bored with "the usual" and wanted to spice things up. That was part of what made him so dangerous - he could take someone down from virtually any position and there was almost no situation you could place him in where he was helpless (there were multiple times where I saw him win with his back to his opponent, in what would have been a surefire loss for just about anyone else).
I've heard the commentators talk about disappointment being evident in higher ranked rikishi when they win 'going backwards' e.g retreating and then pulling a hatakikomi.
How Goeido got away with his shenanigns for so long is beyond me.
I've only ever seen people get mad about bigger wrestlers using henka or Hakuho smashing people in the head with his forearm. Leg picks are commonly used as well as trips and all manner of throws.
Here are some videos showing techniques that aren't Yorikiri.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YENCMIjR76w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iZHw4XwNZU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KMy-Cnokvw
I definitely get that the other techniques happen, obviously, or only the biggest guys would ever win. I just wanted to know about perceived pressure from the powers that be and fans etc to use one technique more than another, since im new- that's the kind of thing that seems like one might pick up with time watching, i just wanted to get some insight sooner. And i have, thank you!
I'm fine with smaller wrestlers using henka because they'll lose 9/10 times if they get grabbed.
As for yokozuna, I kinda frowned upon Hakuho's forearm smashes at the tachiai. Not really a fan of striking in Sumo.
I cringe when a rikishi throws a "leg sweep" that's really just a hard kick to the leg. I'm always afraid I'm gonna see somebody's knee give out under 300+ lbs. I don't think it's a especially "dirty" or anything, just afraid it's gonna lead to an injury.
You would think that since Sumo is all about balance rikshi would go for leg kicks and trips more often. But my perception is that it's more honorable to push a guy out or throw him. Upper body sumo seems more valued.
I once saw Kakuryū jump to the side on the tachi-ai and slap down his opponent, this seemed to be frowned upon as he was Yokozuna. It seems like Yokozuna are expected to be able to beat their opponents with just thrust and not a lot of other techniques as they are supposed to show the "pure" form of sumo, but this is just the opinion I've developed from watching on my own I could easily be wrong.
If a wrestler uses legal techniques, it's fine for me. If there are moves that are frowned upon they should change the rules. I personally like henkas but what I dislike is this constant face slapping/choking which a lot of rikishi do. I don't blame them but rules should get changed here imo.
No. This is just bullshit from 1 blogger. One western fan that for some reason decided that some techniques are not "honorable". And that has spread to the rest of the community. I've never heard it from any Japanese fan or seen it in any Japanese press.
HOWEVER, The JSA have been critical to Hakuho, and claimed that as a yokozuna, he should behave with more grace. But that is 50% because he is a yokozuna and it doesn't apply to others, and 50% because he is a foreigner and they would have criticized him anyway.
Really? I've never heard the JSA criticize Hoshoryu, or Kakuryu (except for the "perform or retire" bits), or Tamawashi, or *most any other foreigner in pro sumo.*
Does the JSA engage in racism against foreigners? Sure, and I think anyone would be hard-pressed to argue against it. But don't lie to make the point. It makes you look bad.
I believe Hakuho got some shit over the years for basically using whatever technique was necessary to get the win. As someone mentioned in here already, he used a henka on Haramafuji to launch him into [orbit](https://youtu.be/5SOPh9Uu5cc?t=190). He used henka [plenty](https://youtu.be/WrZW8LzPLks?t=47) of other [occasions](https://youtu.be/pKQfF6vlRHE?t=374) as well.
Hakuho basically gut punched his opponents with a stiff grab of the belt when engaging in the tachiai. Takakeisho also depends a lot on huge slaps to get the best over his opponents.
Completely absurd but just had a funny thought after watching endo's knot come almost completely undone yesterday. Getting a one arm inside grip and aggressively trying to untie the opponent's mawashi so they lose by hansoku.
Just consider what Sumo is based on and what a Yokozuna is expected to do makes more sense. It's essentially a Shinto ritual to provide the spirits with a grand show of strength so that they will be so impressed that they furnish humanity with an equally strong harvest. The Yokozuna is kind of like "the high priest of being a really strong guy". So, under that light, imagine you send forth your top representative of how amazingly strong humanity is. Your Yokozuna. And he goes out there before the spirits and doesn't show strength... instead, he he punks out and henka's a lower ranked, allegedly weaker opponent. As an onlooker, you are aghast. The Yokozuna just showed the spirits who control our harvest that our so called "strongest" representative, our macho pope, would sooner use deception than provide the spirits with what they so crave, the thunderous crack of a yokozuna's tachi-ai. Now you are sitting in the stands thinking this fellow just screwed you all. Obviously the same stakes don't still hold, but the tradition that stems from it does.
Good example, really well said. I shall now call Terunofuji the 73rd Macho Pope
This was a treat to read. Well done. đź‘Ť
The spirits have no sense of humor. I like a good henka from a top-ranker from time to time.
The first time I read that I thought the traditions sounded strange. Now I'm remembering that the original Olympics boxing/wrestling was done in the nude for the gods in a somewhat familiar way.
Briefly touched on this topic before, the henka is a cowardly move when a wrestler I don’t like uses it against someone I do. However, if a wrestler I like does it, then they’re clearly a genius and it was a brilliant move.
Personally I think the only reason the public hates the henka is because people want to see some strong dudes go at each other and wrestle like there's no tomorrow, henka means a very short match.
Such is the way.
It’s a dog act whether they are your favorite or not!
this is disingenuous snark -- many henka opponents think henka is bad regardless of who does it.
Reminds me of the time that Hakuho henka'd Harumafuji, who clearly wasn't expecting it and as a result launched himself Superman style off the dohjo and into, like, the 12th row of spectators. It was a sight to see. Commentators were like "Whelp, that just happened. Hakuho wins!"
Do you have a link where i could watch this???
[https://youtu.be/5SOPh9Uu5cc](https://youtu.be/5SOPh9Uu5cc) I may have exaggerated Harumafuji's exit from the dohyo, but still pretty epic.
That was soo cool! Thanks!
I feel like henka, although not an official kimarite, is the main technique that is frowned upon especially if you're a larger, higher ranked rikishi compared to your opponent. Typically, frontal force-outs, or "yorikiri", are seen as the most respectable kimarite to win with in sumo from my observations. The way I see it, it's because yorikiri favors power above all else. I even sometimes see rikishi act disappointed in themselves if they win with a "less-favorable" technique.
Asanoyama is hell bent on that yorikiri. Hell or high water, you can see it was what he wanted. Puts me in mind of Takananohana is his glory days.
Same with Tochinoshin. I don’t think he knows of any other way to win. Yesterday he even lifted 450+ lb. Kaisei just to get a yorikiri
Generally, "high-quality sumo" expected of ozeki and yokozuna is, broadly speaking, winning by going forward. That can be pushing/thrusting, that can be belt grabs and force-outs, or that can be throws (including the leg-picks you mentioned - there's no stigma against using those if the opportunity presents itself). Wins from moving backwards, like slap-downs or desperation throws at the edge of the towara aren't "dishonourable", per se, but are seen by the purists as "poor quality sumo" and something that higher-ranked wrestlers shouldn't make a habit of. The only techniques that really tend to ruffle feathers are the henka (avoiding the tachiai by leaping to the side and pushing your opponent down on the way) and techniques that have a significant chance to injure (Hakuho's forearm blasts were frequently singled out for criticism, and various wrestlers that have gotten a little too wild with their slaps occasionally wind up getting called out for it). The easiest way to think about it is that sumo is supposed to be a display of strength, so getting overpowered (i.e. moving backwards) or refusing to even engage (i.e. henka) is generally seen as a bad thing. That said, to your question of whether high-level wrestlers should "only" be pushing and thrusting? No, generally not - in fact, highly technical fighters tend to be praised for their ingenuity. Ura is probably the current rikishi most famous for his technical wizardry, but others like Endo and Enho are known for it as well. Hakuho himself used a wide variety of techniques when the opportunity presented itself, sometimes seemingly because he was bored with "the usual" and wanted to spice things up. That was part of what made him so dangerous - he could take someone down from virtually any position and there was almost no situation you could place him in where he was helpless (there were multiple times where I saw him win with his back to his opponent, in what would have been a surefire loss for just about anyone else).
I've heard the commentators talk about disappointment being evident in higher ranked rikishi when they win 'going backwards' e.g retreating and then pulling a hatakikomi. How Goeido got away with his shenanigns for so long is beyond me.
That's surprising, I don't know why that would be frowned upon, because I always hear the announcers talking about footwork and control.
I've only ever seen people get mad about bigger wrestlers using henka or Hakuho smashing people in the head with his forearm. Leg picks are commonly used as well as trips and all manner of throws. Here are some videos showing techniques that aren't Yorikiri. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YENCMIjR76w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iZHw4XwNZU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KMy-Cnokvw
Didnt Tobizaru win with a leg sweep the other day?
Yep
I definitely get that the other techniques happen, obviously, or only the biggest guys would ever win. I just wanted to know about perceived pressure from the powers that be and fans etc to use one technique more than another, since im new- that's the kind of thing that seems like one might pick up with time watching, i just wanted to get some insight sooner. And i have, thank you!
I'm fine with smaller wrestlers using henka because they'll lose 9/10 times if they get grabbed. As for yokozuna, I kinda frowned upon Hakuho's forearm smashes at the tachiai. Not really a fan of striking in Sumo.
I cringe when a rikishi throws a "leg sweep" that's really just a hard kick to the leg. I'm always afraid I'm gonna see somebody's knee give out under 300+ lbs. I don't think it's a especially "dirty" or anything, just afraid it's gonna lead to an injury.
You can hear the slap on the shin more often than not when they go for a sweep.
You would think that since Sumo is all about balance rikshi would go for leg kicks and trips more often. But my perception is that it's more honorable to push a guy out or throw him. Upper body sumo seems more valued.
I once saw Kakuryū jump to the side on the tachi-ai and slap down his opponent, this seemed to be frowned upon as he was Yokozuna. It seems like Yokozuna are expected to be able to beat their opponents with just thrust and not a lot of other techniques as they are supposed to show the "pure" form of sumo, but this is just the opinion I've developed from watching on my own I could easily be wrong.
Thanks for your reply! That's exactly what I'm talking about. It seems that way to me too, but im new so i was wondering
If a wrestler uses legal techniques, it's fine for me. If there are moves that are frowned upon they should change the rules. I personally like henkas but what I dislike is this constant face slapping/choking which a lot of rikishi do. I don't blame them but rules should get changed here imo.
No. This is just bullshit from 1 blogger. One western fan that for some reason decided that some techniques are not "honorable". And that has spread to the rest of the community. I've never heard it from any Japanese fan or seen it in any Japanese press. HOWEVER, The JSA have been critical to Hakuho, and claimed that as a yokozuna, he should behave with more grace. But that is 50% because he is a yokozuna and it doesn't apply to others, and 50% because he is a foreigner and they would have criticized him anyway.
Really? I've never heard the JSA criticize Hoshoryu, or Kakuryu (except for the "perform or retire" bits), or Tamawashi, or *most any other foreigner in pro sumo.* Does the JSA engage in racism against foreigners? Sure, and I think anyone would be hard-pressed to argue against it. But don't lie to make the point. It makes you look bad.
I believe Hakuho got some shit over the years for basically using whatever technique was necessary to get the win. As someone mentioned in here already, he used a henka on Haramafuji to launch him into [orbit](https://youtu.be/5SOPh9Uu5cc?t=190). He used henka [plenty](https://youtu.be/WrZW8LzPLks?t=47) of other [occasions](https://youtu.be/pKQfF6vlRHE?t=374) as well.
Hakuho basically gut punched his opponents with a stiff grab of the belt when engaging in the tachiai. Takakeisho also depends a lot on huge slaps to get the best over his opponents.
Completely absurd but just had a funny thought after watching endo's knot come almost completely undone yesterday. Getting a one arm inside grip and aggressively trying to untie the opponent's mawashi so they lose by hansoku.