Shoudai

[Moti Dichne]

Shoudai trained at home against 4 college rikishi from his alma mater and 4 lower rankers form his heya and went 11-3.  He had one bout against each of the college guys and beat them all, but was 7-3 against his heya's lower rankers, and had his ups and downs against them, looking great at times, and not so much  also. "I'm still not back to my usual tachiai. I want to hit harder. I'd like to get kachikoshi in March. When I injured my toe last basho i heard a nasty snapping sound. I had the same injury when i was in college. My body remembered that.. I may be a bit scared to fully step on it at the tachiai, " he said. He has been training lately with sekitori,  the likes of Hokutofuji and Nishikigi who came around for degeiko. "I intend to use painkillers during the basho and if the need arises, will be getting an injection as well. Dropping to hiramaku for the first time in three years doesn't necessarily mean i need to retire.. I have no wish whatsoever to call it quits. I will gambarize to be able to stay at the joi and sanyaku ranks.." he summed.