Shoudai

[Moti Dichne]

Ozeki  Shoudai has been training recently. "I faced Yutakayama for  about 10-15 bouts today," said the ever-bewildered Shoudai. "I guess my left elbow  (injured on day 1 of the joint keiko sessions) is healed now since I am able to do sumo with no problems," he said.  Last week, he went on to lift weights after doing sumo, but today he didn't, probably conscious of the fact that there is less than a week left till Aki starts. He won the yusho last Aki basho, but since then went kadoban twice and only managed double-digit wins once more. "I know deep inside I did not do well this past year. I suffered from injuries, but I somehow barely managed to keep my Ozeki rank. I'd like to not only try and keep my rank, but to move forward and attack as well from here on..  I lost too may bouts too easily. My hips are too high? If I keep thinking about that I can't concentrate on my own sumo.. I need to be able to do my one sumo, hopefully.  I don't want to get into situations where I get pushed to the edge.." he added. He was reprimanded by Kasugano Oyakata for slacking and talking too much at the joint keiko sessions. "Because of the virus, there is no chance to speak to rikishi from other heyas so I kind of let loose and my training was a bit loose as well. He saw right through me. He was just looking out for me as a fellow ex-college rikishi," he added. "It's my last basho in my twenties (soon to become 30 years old) so i want to do my best and get my kachikoshi calmly. I have hardly been able to get a kachikoshi lately, so I'll start from there. " he summed. The negative Shoudai reemerging?