05/23/2026
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed with my performance at new york, finishing with 4-3 record across all my matches. Still it was a good experience overall, and a tournament I recommend going to as there's some good talent there. Its definitely a spot for those who want to be tested.
On a more positive note, I received good feedback from those I lost to, so I'm returning to practice ready to help fill in some of the gaps in my sumo. The big area I need to work on is my follow through on my tachiai. Lately I've been working on hitting, stopping, and getting a grip. Now I need to incorporate more of that gonoyama drive, this will give me an extra option off the start and keep pressure on my opponent.
I also found myself returning to thrusting this tournament, with some positive results. After worlds last year I switched to doing more belt work. Now I think its time to return to thrusting and incorporate it back into my style. I feel thrusting gives me that powerful follow through of the tachiai that I'm lacking in my sumo.
At the end of the day I want my three go to positions to be:
The wall: coming in chest to chest, getting a solid grip and waiting for the opportunity to attack. While using my size to keep pressure on them.
The old gonoyama treatment: come in hard and fast and drive through my opponent with a strong Oshidashi or yorikiri.
The abi/Daieisho: come in hard and fast to the throat and keep thrusting. Until one of two things happen, my opponent is forced out of the ring or I have an opening to close the distance and make it a battle on the belt.
I want to be able to move in and out of these positions, and change which I do off of the tachiai depending on what opponent I'm facing.
