Sumo
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AN OLD SPORT Sumo is an ancient sport dating back about 1500 years. It's roots are religious rituals dedicated to the gods. Even today many of the rituals, costumes, and rules of the game carry over from ancient times. |
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THE RING |
The
match is performed in a "dohyo" which is 18 feet square and 2
feet high, constructed of clay which is covered with a thin layer of sand.
The actual bout takes place in a circle a little bigger than 15 feet in diameter. Over the ring is suspended a roof resembling a Shinto shrine. |
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THE BEGINNING CEREMONIES Before the matches begin the "Entering the Ring" ceremony parades the ranking wrestlers in reverse order down the isle and around the ring wearing elaborate silk, richly embroidered, aprons. Once inside the ring, they perform short ancient rituals. Then they exit. |
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THE MATCH |
When
the two wrestlers enter the ring to begin a match, both go through a series
of symbolic movements. They cleanse their mouths by rinsing with water
and purify the ring by scattering a handful of salt.
When the match begins the wrestlers squat and face each other in the center of the ring. They crouch in a "get set" position with their fists on the ground glaring at the opponent. |
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| But
the match doesn't start yet, for they go back to their corners for more
salt, then return to glare some more. They can continue this for up to
four minutes, according to the rules.
The interesting part is that many matches are much shorter than these warming up exercises. When the wrestlers feel ready (and the spectators have worked themselves to the proper level of excitement), the match gets underway. |
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The
rules prevent striking with fists, pulling hair, eye gouging, choking,
or kicking in stomach or chest. The opponent cannot hold on to the loin
cloth covering the vital organs. Since there are no weight limits a wrestler
can fight against someone twice his own weight.
There are 48 classical throws and each wrestler is known by his expertise of certain throws. |
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| THE WINNER
The winner is victorious when he succeeds in throwing his opponent out of the inner circle or down in the ring. To lose, it is only necessary to have any part of the body touch the ground or touch over the straw that marks the circle. |
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ENDING CEREMONY |
The last ceremony after all the matches is the "bow dance." Here the wrestler performs a twirling routine with a bow which ends the matches and shows the satisfaction of the winning wrestlers. | |||
| There
are six tournaments a year, three are in Tokyo, one in Osaka, Nagoya, and
Fukuoka. Each tournament lasts for 15 days and each wrestler fights once
every day with a different opponent. The winner is the one who has the
most wins over losses.
The wrestlers are ranked according to their win-loss records and the top five rankings are the most prestigious. The "Yokozuna" is the grand champion. The hair style of the fighter indicates his rank. Lowest ranked wrestlers do not fight every day; but the ones who do, start early in the day, while the higher ranked wrestlers fight towards the end of the day. |
THE RANKINGS
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At
the end of the
tournament the players are re-ranked based on their records. Only the grand champions cannot be demoted. However, if they cannot maintain a winning record, they must eventually retire. |
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Even without knowing Japanese, you can enjoy Sumo if you become familiar with the wrestlers and their strengths. It's fun to watch a cunning, smaller man overcome a larger opponent. Chiyonofuji (pictured under The Rankings) was one such adroit wrestler. |
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