Thread by @SumoFollower

OK, here are some news from the combo practice, mostly days 2 and 3. I assume most of you watched Day 1 live, so you know most of the stuff, but maybe you missed out on Shodai getting grilled by Kasugano oyakata, who didn't like his weak butsukari and his chatter.

(1/15)

Shodai, having injured his arm in the practice, has since bowed out of the practice.

So on to other stories, start with Enho:

Contrary to day 1, his day 2 practice had better results.

(2/15)

nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/ne…

He started with Makushita rikishi, then moved on to the Juryo moshi-ai, ending up with 7W2L, including some enthusiastic exchange of tsuki-oshi with Oho:

(3/15)

https://twitter.com/sumokyokai/status/1430317169246539776

"I'm not there yet, but at least I'm doing multiple matches. That's top priority".

His current source of inspiration is Ura, who used to be a "small rikishi" but is now 140kg, much of it muscle.

(4/15)

daily.co.jp/general/2021/0…

"I feel he is stronger than before. His style has also changed. I'd like to observe how he gets this big - food, training?" says Enho. He got a menu from a dietician, which helped him pass 100kg last basho, but he is 97kg again at the moment.

(5/15)

He eats a lot of carbohydrates and finishes with Amazake or tomato juice. Rather than forcing himself, he hopes that by eating properly and training properly, the weight will follow. Currently aiming at that 100 again.

(6/15)

Next up: Mitakeumi

He had only 5 bouts on day 1, but on day 2 did 15, including Takayasu and Ichinojo, ending 7W8L.

He was rather pleased, though. "I increased the number of matches."

(7/15)

nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/ne…

Michinoku oyakata who was on coaching duty, said to him "If you practiced enough, you'd have been an Ozeki". Mitakeumi interpreted that as a great compliment "I was amazed that a former Ozeki would care enough to say that to someone like me".

(8/15)

This pushed him to put in more effort. In addition, Michinoku also gave him some coaching: He noticed Mitakeumi is weak when his mawashi gets caught, so he coached him in quick evasive action, as well as the proper way to move to cut the opponent's grip.

(9/15)

Mitakeumi: "Practice is a matter of will. And today I had energy".

Nevertheless, after day 2 he bowed out of the combo practice.

(10/15)

Next up: Ichinojo. He had 14 energetic matches with Mitakeumi et al. "The only way to practice with other sekitori right now is the combo practice, so I want to do the whole four days".

(11/15)
hochi.news/articles/20210…

Terunofuji is his BFF since before high-school. Reacting to his Yokozuna promotion, Ichinojo said: "He's damn strong. Amazing. [I'll also] do my best."

He finished last basho 10-5. "My aim is to do my best and not drop down the banzuke".

(12/15)

And we finish the Day 2 news with Takayasu:

He had 10 bouts in the sekitori moshi-ai, and won all of them. When practice was over, he said "I felt like doing some more".

(13/15)

tokyo-sports.co.jp/sports/sumou/3…

After finishing last basho 7-6-2: "It didn't go so well. I want to prepare my body, I have to find the way to do that in time for shonichi".

(14/15)

His aim for the combo practice: to practice with as many sekitori as possible, to gain proper sumo sense, and improve his strength at the same time. "That's the theme".

Nevertheless, he, too, bowed out after Day 2.

(15/15)