Sumo Wrestling

I

Introduction

Sumo Wrestling, highly specialized form of Japanese wrestling, one of the oldest of the Japanese martial arts. In sumo, heavy men try to knock each other out of a ring by pushing, pulling, slapping, throwing, and grappling. Sumo is one of the most popular spectator sports in Japan.

II

Competition

Competitors in sumo are called sumotori, a term used to refer to one or several sumo wrestlers. The most notable feature of the sumotori is their weight, which ranges from 130 kg (287 lb) to more than 200 kg (441 lb). They achieve these proportions not only by eating great quantities of food (traditionally including a high-protein stew called chanko nabe), but also by practicing a form of abdominal development called haragei. Great weight gives a low center of gravity, which aids the sumotori in propelling opponents outside the dohyo (sumo ring).

There are 28 sumobeya (stables or schools) in Japan. They are run by retired champions who direct and control all sumotori. Sumotori enter the sumobeya at the age of 15 and follow a rigorous and strict training. Each year there are numerous sumo tournaments, including six grand tournaments, or basho: three in Tokyo, the others in Ōsaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka. Each basho lasts 15 days, during which each sumotori faces a different opponent in each match. There are no weight categories, so a light sumotori may have an opponent twice his weight. The sumotori then relies on flexibility, speed, and skill to make up for the difference in weight.

The sumotori compete barefoot and naked to the waist. They wear a fringed loin covering (mae-tate-mitsu) and a thick silk belt (mawashi). The traditional topknot hairstyle, or chom-mage, differs according to the category of the sumotori. A match takes place in the dohyo, a ring 3.66 m (12 ft) in diameter, which is covered with a roof shaped like that of a Shinto sanctuary. The floor is covered with smooth earth. A match is supervised by a referee called a gyoji who wears a silk kimono and a special court hat. He traditionally bears a fan as a symbol of authority, and a dagger, said to have been originally supplied so that a referee might disembowel himself if he gave a miscall. The Sumo Association of Japan, the national governing body of the sport, appoints a panel of five judges, who often include yokozuna (noncompeting, leading sumo wrestlers called grand champions).

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III

Ritual

Sumo is accompanied by much ritual. To begin an event, the yokozuna proceed into the dohyo for the ceremony named dohyo-iri. In front of each yokozuna walks his tsuyuharai (personal attendant or herald) and behind him comes his tachimochi (sword bearer). They perform a traditional routine in the ring. Following them, richly adorned in embroidered aprons, enter half the top wrestlers involved. They form a circle, clap their hands, hitch up their aprons, then withdraw. The rest of the sumotori then enter and carry out the same rite.

The matches begin after the opening ceremony. Two champions enter the dohyo and after flexing their muscles they scatter handfuls of salt. This purification ritual comes from Shinto. They then crouch, pound the floor with their fists and have a so-called eye battle, in which the sumotori try to break each other's confidence by means of a staring match. This ritual is known as shikiri-naoshi and lasts four minutes. Preliminary display also includes the ceremonial drinking of water and a menacing stomping. Preliminaries concluded, the opponents then charge each other.

IV

Techniques

The Sumo Association of Japan officially recognizes 70 movements, or kimarite, but traditionally there exist 48: 12 throws, 12 twists, 12 lifts, and 12 throws across the back. The objectives are either to move the opponent out of the dohyo or to knock him down. The fight ends when any part of one fighter’s body goes over the edge of the dohyo or when any part of a fighter’s body other than the bottom of his feet touches the floor. Matches can last from a few seconds to a few minutes.

A basic maneuver and method of attack is slapping, or tsuppari. A series of hard slaps delivered very rapidly can force the opponent out of the ring. Other techniques include shoving, snatching, and grabbing. Three basic techniques are: (1) hataki-komi, which involves stepping aside and pushing the opponent out of the arena; (2) ketaguri, where the opponent's legs are pulled from beneath him as he makes a rush; and (3) ashi-tori, where the opponent's leg is held until he loses his balance and falls over.

Using a grappling technique called yorikiri, the sumotori can also seize the opponent's belt. Holding onto the belt with both hands, the sumotori tries to march his opponent out of the ring. A variant, yori-taoshi, occurs when both sumotori go crashing out of the ring together with the winner on top. Sometimes a sumotori literally carries his opponent out of the ring. Another variant, utchari, happens when a sumotori, on the very point of being toppled outside the ring, hoists his rival over his stomach and throws him out of the dohyo.

A day's contests are concluded by a short ceremony (yumishiki) in which a low-ranking wrestler makes a series of stylized movements ending with a bow.

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