The attack on the armMidorifuji: Countering the overhook https://youtu.be/4Jny14Ha5q8?si=1Ex5eTFybf3RluT4 Last basho, Terunofuji broke the internet when he snatched up the arm of Ura in a shoulder crank. This move has been such a staple of the c…
Last basho, Terunofuji broke the internet when he snatched up the arm of Ura in a shoulder crank. This move has been such a staple of the current Yokozuna's game. In the March basho, we caught a glimpse of how to counter Terunofuji's arm control by none other than sumo's perennial small-man, Midorifuji.
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The attack on the arm
Before we begin with Midorifuji, let's rewind to that section of Terunofuji attacking the arm in sumo to get a better understanding of what we are countering.
On day one of the Hatsu basho of 2024, Terunofuji returned to action after three straight basho with injury. The Yokozuna roared back and reminded everyone that he was the top dog in the division with a crank on the shoulder of the ever athletic Ura.
Off the tachiai, (1) Terunofuji will reach for the overhook and (2) pull the arms of Ura upward, similar to a whizzer. From here, Terunofuji looks to grab the back of the mawashi. But here, he wasn't able to get a grip.
In our next example, Terunofuji tries to push Ura to the edge of the dohyo, (1) Ura will plant and have a good strong base. Instead of overpowering Ura with his shot knees, (2) Terunofuji steps back with his right foot and keeps the overhook. He also locks his hands to sink in the grip and locking in Ura's arm. (3) He will then switch hip direction and look to throw Ura by the arm.
From that section, we can see how Terunofuji attacks the arm and uses the isolation to control his opponents.
Midorifuji: Countering the overhook
With Midorifuji being such a small rikishi, one of the best ways to beat him is to grab a hold of him and take his speed away by not letting him go. In an answer to that, Midorifuji has had to develop footwork and wrestling techniques on the inside as a result.
On day 11 of the Haru basho in 2024, Midorifuji displays the answer to someone looking to control the arm like that of Terunofuji. He took on the former ozeki Shodai.
We will be looking at the same exchange from two spots and break it down in two sections: the hand fighting and the footwork.
When Midorifuji and Shodai clash in the middle, Shodai (1) immediately corrals Midorifuji's right arm. He wrenches it in, like Terunofuji does to Ura. What Shodai did not do was control the left arm of Midorifuji. He (2) swims his left arm over and uses the right, corralled arm as an underhook and (3) throws Shodai to his left side guiding with his arms.
But this isn't possible without Midorifuji's footwork. Let's examine that next.
(1) We start again after the initial contact between the two rikishi. With his arm controlled, Midorifuji will (2) shift his footwork to that side. Notice his grip in this frame. Midorifuji uses that to push Shodai out. But his footwork is not in the clear. Midorifuji will (3) shift to his right again to allow for Shodai to fall unimpeded.
Midorifuji consistently uses these techniques to stop the over hook and the whizzer. Being a smaller man in a sport of 400 pound behemoths, he's had to develop a unique and exciting style. He is a member of the Isegahama stable that actually houses Terunofuji, the best in the game at these arm locks and drags. It's only fitting that he is part of that stable and has the tools to develop a game to counter the over hook with Isegahama housing some of the best rikishi in the over hook game.
Check out the full study on Terunofuji attacking the arm below!
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