Asashōryū was a relative lightweight early in his career, weighing just in 2001, and relied on speed and technique to compete against often much heavier opponents.
Asashōryū's favoured techniques according to his Sumo Association profile were migi-yotsu/yori, a left hand outside, right hand inside grip on his opponent's mawashi (belt), and tsuppari, a series of rapid thrusts to the chest [REF].