Rank-and-file grappler Tobizaru outmaneuvered lone yokozuna Terunofuji at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday, adeptly using a pushing and thrusting strategy to pull off the upset.
Knowing the grand champion would be virtually unbeatable if he secured a belt grip, No. 1 maegashira Tobizaru (1-1) kept Terunofuji (1-1) at arm's length with a series of well-directed blows before forcing him out.
"I just did not want the yokozuna to get any kind of belt grip. That was my game plan, just going all-out with my offense," said Tobizaru, who earned his first "kinboshi" gold star award for defeating a grand champion while fighting from the rank and file.
In one of the other highly anticipated bouts on Day 2 at Ryogoku Kokugikan, demotion-threatened "kadoban" ozeki Mitakeumi stayed unbeaten by defeating komusubi Ichinojo, champion of the July tournament.
Mitakeumi attacked Ichinojo (1-1) from a low angle and kept the 1.9-meter, 212-kilogram giant backpedaling before pushing him over the straw.
Takakeisho bounced back from his opening-day loss to Ichinojo by manhandling No. 1 Midorifuji (0-2), slapping him to the clay as he came in looking for a belt grip.
Komusubi Kiribayama (1-1) displayed impressive footwork and agility in his win over ozeki Shodai (1-1), escaping a pair of push-out attempts before forcing his opponent off the dohyo.
Sekiwake Hoshoryu (1-1) crushed out No. 2 Kotonowaka (1-1) in a battle between two of the most exciting young wrestlers competing at the 15-day tournament.
Sekiwake Wakatakakage, the champion in March, remains winless after a frontal thrust-out loss to former sekiwake and current No. 2 Meisei (1-1).
