Information About Sumo

The sport of sumo originated in Japan over 1,500 years ago. Although similar to belt-wrestling styles found in other ancient civilizations, sumo began as a form of ritual to the gods, with prayers for an abundant harvest. Throughout the centuries, sumo has evolved from Shinto ceremonies, to warrior combat training, to an entertaining sport for all social classes. Modern sumo exhibits much of this history through its disciplined training, pre-bout rituals, and mutual respect between athletes.

The object of sumo is to force your opponent out of the 15-foot ring, or onto the ground. You can push, thrust, trip, or flip your opponent, but punching and kicking are prohibited. A common strategy for controlling your opponent is to grab the mawashi (belt). The simplicity of the rules, combined with the variety of winning techniques, makes sumo an exciting spectator sport.

In addition to being Japan’s national sport, sumo is growing in popularity around the world. Professional sumo has over 20 foreign wrestlers, while International amateur sumo has participants from over 80 countries. The International Sumo Federation is even recognized by the International Olympic Committee, with hopes of sumo becoming an Olympic sport in 2016. The ancient ideals of respect, honor, and self-improvement make sumo a popular sport among athletes of all cultures.