Sumo Wrestling 101

Trying to move Koto to no avail -- the video is hilarious

When Andrea suggested Japan as a vacation destination, it was the thought of meeting sumo wrestlers that made me say yes. No, I'm not a closet sumo wrestling fan, but the opportunity to get up close and personal with some supersized human beings who have dedicated their lives to this ancient sport was intriguing. So I was thrilled that our tour itinerary kicked off with a visit to a sumo wrestling studio where we met Kumago and Koto. Read on for some of the information we learned during our visit. 

Sparring

 --There are no weight classifications in sumo. So Kumago (who weighed 400 pounds while competing) might have fought Koto even though he weighed a mere 310 pounds during his career. The heaviest sumo wrestler ever was Orora Satoshi, a fighter who tipped the scales at 645 pounds. Yikes. 

--Although size matters when you’re a rikishi (another word for a sumo wrestler), being larger does have its disadvantages. Smaller wrestlers often are speedier and have better technique.

--It’s not easy to maintain that weight. Rikishis typically consume 10,000 calories a day, mostly in the form of rice. A single meal often includes 10 bowls of rice. It’s paired with chanko, basically a chicken and vegetable soup. We partook of this lunch (in moderation) during our visit. The chanko needed salt.

--The objective of a sumo match is to push your opponent out of the 15’ ring or to get your opponent to touch the ground with a body part other than his feet. If even a lock of a rikishi’s hair touches the ground during a match, he loses. The ring is layered with sand, so it’s challenging to stay within the diameter. Strong toes are a must.

Warm up stomps

--Each match includes a warm up of 300 stomps, which are shown in this photo. Once the match starts, though, it’s best to keep both feet on the ground as much as possible to maintain your balance. Our new friends also practiced crashing into each other, which was something to see.

--There are 82 “finishing moves” to a match. Kumago and Koto demonstrated three of these techniques –  frontal push out (this is the move I tried on Koto with absolutely no effect), push out by grabbing your opponent’s mawashi (loin cloth belt) and grabbing your opponent’s mawashi over your arm and throwing your opponent to the ground.

--There are eight prohibited actions that result in immediate disqualification. They include intentionally grabbing your opponent’s top knot, striking your opponent with your fist and poking your opponent in the eye with your fingers. Kicking your opponent above his mawashi is also verboten, although leg sweeps and tripping are okay.  

More warm up moves

--The average match lasts a mere seven seconds. Four minutes is the maximum amount of time a match can run before a break is called. These guys are working hard. (And yes, in accordance with Shinto traditions, it’s only men.) In addition to the exertion required, sumo wrestlers often stop breathing while fighting so they can push as hard as possible.

--Before a match begins, rikishi engage in a ritual of purification, which includes taking an oath to fight openly and squarely. When the match is over, there is no taunting or celebrating as we see in American sports. To do so would be considered a sign of disrespect to your opponent.

--Young men can begin training to be professional sumo wrestlers as young as 15 years old. (Participation in recreational sumo often begins in elementary school.) The goal is to become one of the top ten percent of rikishis in the country. This translates into approximately 70 fighters. These top athletes are paid the equivalent of $7500/month by the government in addition to whatever sponsorship support they might have. Rankings are updated six times a year after each official 15-day tournament. 

--Beginning sumo wrestlers, along with rikishi who are not ranked, typically live in a communal training stable. In exchange for room and board, they are responsible for cleaning, cooking and other chores. The more junior the rikishi, the more chores they have to do. The junior guys also serve as sparring partners for the more seasoned rikishi, which I'm sure is both humbling and a great learning opportunity. 

I left the studio with a much better understanding and appreciation of the sport. I’m not going to subscribe to the sumo wrestling channel any time soon, but I enjoyed getting a look into this world. Our adventure was off to a great start.