I’ve got a few of the Master videos to add today. In this first video, Konishiki describes his maezumo experience and we see footage of that first bout as well as some early training clips.
In this second video, the team demonstrate suri-ashi. Footwork is extremely important in sumo. Your form really starts from a solid base. If you raise your feet too high, you are easily thrown off-balance or leave yourself open to trips and foot grabs (ashi-tori). So, sumo wrestlers are trained from very early on to keep their feet on the dohyo and maintain a steady base.
This third video features more description of the heya life, the strict schedules, chores and the senpai/kohai relationships. We learn a bit about Konishiki’s shisho (master) and okamisan (master’s wife). There’s also a little nugget in there which seems relevant to the newest controversy coming out. No, I’m not reporting on that yet. Important details are still coming out so it’s premature to report. What I can do is post these videos, giving a sense of what the life was like back in Konishiki’s era.
More to come!
Discover more from Tachiai (立合い)
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Thanks for the videos.
In some disciplines, it is indeed impossible to achieve the aim without suffering. (Incidentally, that happens to be a motto advertised by Robert Fripp, the co-founder and only continuous member of the band King Crimson, whose 1981 album is titled “Discipline”.) After all gets done, it must be nice to sit back and laugh, as Konishiki does so well.
(Also, thanks for choosing not to report on the latest story -yet.)
I think there is truth in that. You see fraternities and other teams create strong bonds when they go through hardship…but when the hardship is unnecessary, casual and callous abuse, it seems to create a cycle. That tends to push things into that other story that I am not covering yet.
I don’t know what I love more… ❤️ 💕 ❤️…. This additional Konishiki edutainment content, or the picture of Andy battling Big Pappa ( aka Toyama)…. Andy you were obviously gambarizing to the max, your face and neck are red on the verge of purple from the Herculean effort!! Hahah.
It was difficult to try to heave him over. His shimekomi was soft, though. I think this picture was taken mere seconds before I was airborne.