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Post by elliott on Dec 3, 2017 17:21:19 GMT -5
Kiyoshi Tamura vs Volk Han (RINGS – 9/26/1997)
The third and final match between two of the greatest wrestlers of all time. I’ll have this ever so slightly behind their January match. So probably still in the top 15 at worst. It’s Han vs Tamura. The most exciting mat work of all time.
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Post by GOTNW on Jan 4, 2018 15:50:27 GMT -5
My favourite from their fantastic trilogy. A great showcase of how learned psychology and storytelling can very much be used in shoot style, and I felt this had an edge in aggression and struggle over their January match which probably had better flash and insane mat sequences, but didn't resonate with me as a whole on that all time scale as much as this one. Of course since it's Tamura and Han it's not like the "work" is going to suffer just because they have a stronger focus.
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Post by microstatistics on Jan 5, 2018 2:01:31 GMT -5
Here Tamura combines his confidence and improved skill from the previous match with new found maturity and so is a much bigger threat. Probably the best Volk Han performance ever with the desperation, urgency, incredible submission assaults and even some arrogance. Tamura weathering the storm and cerebrally going for kill shots is excellent. The best of the trilogy.
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Post by superstarsleeze on Feb 3, 2019 19:46:31 GMT -5
I think I need to re-watch the trilogy because this was the least. Thats not an indictment as all three matches will make my top 100. I love how Volk Han is so aggressive with double wristlock early and looks unstoppable. Then Tamura gets those two knockdowns and everything changes absolutely thrilling match. All three matches are locks, but as of now, this is my 3rd place in the trilogy.
Volk Han vs Kiyoshi Tamura - RINGS 9/26/97
Some people find God, I found Volk Han. Fan-fucking-tastic. I love how aggressive Han comes out in this match. He wants to rip Tamura's arm off. The normally stoic, nonchalant Tamura was even caught off guard. Han ripped him to the ground and hit a wicked palm strike to break the clasp of Tamura's hands preventing the cross-armbreaker. It set the tone for the entire match. The drama was off the charts. On the second scrap, Han loses the grip on his clasp for a second and then quickly regains before Tamura get him all the way over. That was crazy. Han was just so into the double wristlock. Great double wristlock rip takedown. Tamura is a great fighter, but Han was just imposing his well. Han wraps Tamura up in a pretzel and Tamura escapes right into a double wristlock. Tamura shows some signs of life when he gets a kneebar and forces a ropebreak. Then all of sudden the match changes. Tamura has all this pep in his step and Han has kind of gassed himself. Tamura throws some AMAZING kicks in this match. Han is knocked down but quickly springs to his feet as if to stay dont charge me with a knockdown. The first two times they dont but Tamura is just blitzing him and evrntually Han has to take counts. Two knockdowns are scored back to back. Han catches the next kick, but Tamura wraps him in a guillotine choke. It was all Han in the first part, but Tamura is whuppin' him now. So Han does for his trusty double wristlock, but Tamura partially blocks but it leads to a Han cross armbreaker and Tamura needs a rope break. Han is feeling better and again goes back to the double wristlock, but cant get the right positioning. My favorite moment of the match is when Tamura reverses into a cross armbreaker but just as he breaks the clasp, his grip slips and he loses Han's hand! Han immediately grabs the legs! A close second is right after this, Han comes in with a wicked combination of palm strikes and knocks Tamura down! Han's cocky celebration is magnificent. I fucking love him! Not to be outdone, the finish sequence is a beauty. The struggle it took for Tamura to yank Han down to the mat with a side headlock takeover into a cross armbreaker was awesome! Perfect reaction upon tap out...Tamura is fucking pumped and Han slams the mat in disgust.
The only reason I know more perfect matches exist is because I like the other two more, but this is terrific. It is absolutely thrilling with so many character touches. All three of Han/Tamura matches will make my Top 100. ****3/4
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Post by cactus on Nov 19, 2021 2:57:17 GMT -5
I used to struggle with shoot-style as I thought it was too focused on hyper-realism and not the story-telling and character work that I love in my wrestling, but I was so wrong about shoot-style not having good story-telling after sitting down and watching all three of the Han/Tamura trilogy. You need to watch all three matches to get the whole picture and see how one Kiyoshi Tamura starts the series as a promising upstart and ends it as a RINGS legend who's able to tap out the iconic Volk Han. Han looked like a damn anaconda at times when he would wrap his body around Tamura in an effort to tap him out with many types of unique submissions. Tamura felt like the best fighter in the world when he tried to take out Han with his deadly strikes. Just perfect execution and body language. This was the perfect way to wrap up the trilogy. ★★★★★
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Post by puropotsy on Mar 20, 2023 18:45:54 GMT -5
Brilliant stuff. The typical volleying for leg and arm submissions but the working in of Tamura’s kicks including a wonderful head-kick, a leg-kick and the dreaded kick to the gut was mind-blowing for me. And then Han keeps working like a oobra ready to strike until Tamura pulls out the arm submission to make him tap. This is my favorite of the trilogy.
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