What is Sumo WrestlingWhat is Sumo Wrestling

Sumo is a competitive contact sport Sumo is a competitive contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force one where a wrestler attempts to force one another out of a circular ring or to touch another out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally. The Japanese practiced professionally. The Japanese consider sumo a modern Japanese martial consider sumo a modern Japanese martial art,even though the sport has a history art,even though the sport has a history spanning many centuries.spanning many centuries.

RankingsRankings

Sumo wrestling is divided in to ranks, the higher the rank Sumo wrestling is divided in to ranks, the higher the rank you are the more you get payed and the more you are you are the more you get payed and the more you are respected as a sumo. Here are the rankings in orderrespected as a sumo. Here are the rankings in order..

A wrestler who is ranked below juryo is considered a trainee A wrestler who is ranked below juryo is considered a trainee and does not receive payment.and does not receive payment.

yokozuna

ozeki

sanyaku

maegashira

Juryo

SalarySalary

In order of highest to lowest ranking

yokozuna: 2,820,000 yen or $24,500 US yokozuna: 2,820,000 yen or $24,500 US ozeki: 2,347,000 yen or $20,400 US ozeki: 2,347,000 yen or $20,400 US sanyaku: 1,693,000 yen or $14,800 USsanyaku: 1,693,000 yen or $14,800 US maegashira: 1,309,000 yen or $11,300 maegashira: 1,309,000 yen or $11,300

US US juryo: 1,036,000 yen or $9,000 US juryo: 1,036,000 yen or $9,000 US

Life as a professional sumo Life as a professional sumo wrestler wrestler

On entering sumo, they are expected On entering sumo, they are expected to grow their hair long to form a to grow their hair long to form a topknot, similar to the samurai topknot, similar to the samurai hairstyles of the Edo Period. They are hairstyles of the Edo Period. They are also expected to dress in traditional also expected to dress in traditional Japanese clothing when in public. Japanese clothing when in public. Therefore, sumo wrestlers can be Therefore, sumo wrestlers can be identified immediately when in identified immediately when in public.public.

The Wrestling Ring The Wrestling Ring

Sumo matches take place in a dohyo, Sumo matches take place in a dohyo, a ring 4.5 meters in diameter, made a ring 4.5 meters in diameter, made of rice and straw bales on top of a of rice and straw bales on top of a platform made of clay mixed with platform made of clay mixed with sand. Its area is 1600 meters squared sand. Its area is 1600 meters squared and its perimeter is 20 meters. At the and its perimeter is 20 meters. At the center are two white lines. A roof center are two white lines. A roof resembling a Shinto shrine may be resembling a Shinto shrine may be suspended over the dohyo.suspended over the dohyo.

Bout PreparationBout Preparation

In the changing room the wrestlers change into their fighting In the changing room the wrestlers change into their fighting mawashi (clothing) and wait for their bouts. The wrestlers reenter mawashi (clothing) and wait for their bouts. The wrestlers reenter the arena two bouts prior to their own and sit down at the side of the arena two bouts prior to their own and sit down at the side of the ring. There are no weight divisions in sumo, and considering the ring. There are no weight divisions in sumo, and considering the range of body weights in sumo, an individual wrestler can the range of body weights in sumo, an individual wrestler can sometimes face an opponent twice his own weight. When it is sometimes face an opponent twice his own weight. When it is their turn they will be called into the ring by a announcer and they their turn they will be called into the ring by a announcer and they will mount the dohyo.will mount the dohyo.

When mounting the dohyo the wrestler performs a number of When mounting the dohyo the wrestler performs a number of rituals derived from Shinto practice. Facing the audience, he claps rituals derived from Shinto practice. Facing the audience, he claps his hands and then performs the leg-stomping exercise to drive his hands and then performs the leg-stomping exercise to drive evil spirits from the dohyō.evil spirits from the dohyō.

Finally the wrestlers crouch down at the starting lines, each trying Finally the wrestlers crouch down at the starting lines, each trying to stare the other down. When both reach unspoken agreement, to stare the other down. When both reach unspoken agreement, they spring from their crouch for the initial charge, In the upper they spring from their crouch for the initial charge, In the upper divisions, they almost never charge on the first occasion. Instead, divisions, they almost never charge on the first occasion. Instead, after staring they return to their corners for more mental after staring they return to their corners for more mental preparation. preparation.

Winning A MatchWinning A Match The winner of a sumo bout is either the first wrestler The winner of a sumo bout is either the first wrestler

to force his opponent to step out of the ring. Or first to force his opponent to step out of the ring. Or first wrestler to force his opponent to touch the ground wrestler to force his opponent to touch the ground with any part of his body other than the bottom of with any part of his body other than the bottom of his feet. his feet.

Matches often last only a few seconds, as usually Matches often last only a few seconds, as usually one wrestler is quickly ousted from the circle or one wrestler is quickly ousted from the circle or thrown to the ground. However, they can thrown to the ground. However, they can occasionally last for several minutes. Each match is occasionally last for several minutes. Each match is preceded by an elaborate ceremonial ritual. The preceded by an elaborate ceremonial ritual. The wrestlers themselves are renowned for their great wrestlers themselves are renowned for their great girth, as body mass is often a winning factor in girth, as body mass is often a winning factor in sumo, though with skill, smaller wrestlers can topple sumo, though with skill, smaller wrestlers can topple far larger opponents.far larger opponents.

A Sumo Wrestlers DietA Sumo Wrestlers Diet

A sumo wrestler eats between 8000 A sumo wrestler eats between 8000 and 20000 calories a day, their main and 20000 calories a day, their main meal consists of a stew made with meal consists of a stew made with broth, fish, chicken, rice and broth, fish, chicken, rice and vegetables. Also a sumo will drink a vegetables. Also a sumo will drink a lot of alcohol mainly beer as it has a lot of alcohol mainly beer as it has a a high amount of calories.a high amount of calories.