Sumo is a traditional Japanese sport that dates back centuries. It is one of the most popular sports in Japan, and also attracts the attention of many fans around the world. Sumo is often seen as a spectacle rather than a sport, with imposing wrestlers battling it out in a circular ring. However, sumo is a highly technical sport requiring physical strength, speed, balance and strategy.
Origins and history of sumo
The exact origins of sumo are unclear, but it is thought to have emerged as a religious ritual associated with Shintoism. Over time, it became a popular form of entertainment, particularly at festivals and religious events. In the 17th century, sumo became an organized professional sport with the emergence of sumo stables, where wrestlers train and live together.
Sumo rules
Sumo is a seemingly simple sport, but the rules are actually quite complex. The two wrestlers, called rikishi, begin by standing face to face in a circular clay ring, called a dohyō. The aim is to push the opponent out of the ring or make him touch the ground with any part of his body other than the soles of his feet.
The fight itself is short, lasting just a few seconds. Wrestlers use a variety of techniques to try and gain the advantage, including grabbing the opponent by the waist or using kicks to throw the opponent off balance.
Sumo wrestlers
Sumo wrestlers are incredibly impressive athletes, weighing up to 200 kg and standing over two meters tall. Rikishi are classified into six divisions, from the lowest rank (jonokuchi) to the highest (yokozuna). To become a yokozuna, the highest rank in sumo, a wrestler must not only have an outstanding winning record, but also be a model of exemplary behavior.
The Life of a Sumo Wrestler
Sumo wrestlers are highly respected athletes in Japan, and live in sumo stables where they train and live together. Life in a sumo stable is very strict and traditional, with a strict hierarchy and strict rules for food, clothing and behavior.
Sumo is more than just a sport; it’s an important symbol of Japanese culture. It is rooted in Japanese tradition, religion and history, and continues to capture the imagination of people the world over. With its impressive wrestlers and complex strategy, sumo is a spectacle not to be missed.
The different grades of Sumo
Sumo uses a rank system to evaluate wrestlers based on their experience, performance and rank. Here are the ranks of the Sumo, in descending order of prestige:
- Yokozuna: The highest rank in Sumo, reserved for wrestlers considered the best in the world. Yokozuna are required to maintain a high level of performance and are considered models for other wrestlers.
- Ozeki: The second highest rank in Sumo, reserved for wrestlers who have shown consistent performance and are considered to have the potential to become Yokozuna.
- Sekiwake: The third grade of the Sumo, reserved for wrestlers who have a strong and regular performance, but who are not yet considered potential candidates for the Ozeki.
- Komusubi: The fourth grade of the Sumo, reserved for wrestlers who have shown a solid performance, but are not yet considered candidates for the Sekiwake.
- Maegashira: The fifth rank of the Sumo, which includes several ranks (Maegashira 1 to 17), reserved for wrestlers who have shown a competitive performance and are progressing in the ranks.
- Juryo: The second Sumo division, which includes wrestlers ranked 1-28, who have been promoted from the lower division or relegated from the upper division.
Wrestlers can be promoted or demoted based on their tournament performance, and their rank may change with each tournament. Wrestlers who reach the rank of Yokozuna are considered the greatest Sumo wrestlers of all time and their name is inscribed in the history of Sumo.
The different divisions of Sumo
Sumo is divided into six divisions based on the ranking of wrestlers, which is determined by their performance in tournaments. Here are the six divisions of Sumo, in descending order of prestige:
- Makuuchi: The highest division in Sumo, it has the most talented and experienced wrestlers. The top 42 wrestlers are ranked in this division.
- Juryo: The second division of Sumo, it consists of the 28 highest ranked wrestlers after the Makuuchi division.
- Makushita: The third division of Sumo, it includes wrestlers ranked 15th through 60th.
- Sandanme: The fourth division of Sumo, it includes wrestlers ranked 60th to 120th.
- Jonidan: The fifth division of Sumo, it includes wrestlers ranked 120th through 200th.
- Jonokuchi: The lowest division in Sumo, it includes new wrestlers or wrestlers ranked above 200th place.
The most talented and successful wrestlers may be promoted to a higher division, while less successful wrestlers may be relegated to a lower division.
Greatest Sumo Wrestlers
Some of the greatest Sumo wrestlers of all time include:
- Taiho: Considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, he won 32 tournaments during his career.
- Chiyonofuji: Also known as “The Great Gray Wolf”, he won 31 tournaments and is considered one of the greatest wrestlers of the modern era.
- Hakuho: Currently active, he has won a record 44 tournaments during his career and is considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.
- Asashoryu: Also active, he won 25 tournaments during his career and is considered one of the most dominant wrestlers of the modern era.
- Futabayama: He won 12 consecutive tournaments, a record that has never been equaled.
- Musashimaru: The first non-Japanese wrestler to win the Yokozuna title, he won 12 tournaments during his career.
- Kitanoumi: He won 24 tournaments during his career and was one of the most popular wrestlers of his time.
These wrestlers left their mark on Sumo history and continue to be respected and admired by fans around the world.
