Sumo Wrestling

I

Introduction

Sumo Wrestling, form of Japanese wrestling of a highly specialized kind and one of the oldest of the Japanese martial arts. The most notable feature of the sumotori (competitors) is their size. They are gargantuan men, who seldom weigh less than 130 kg (285 lb). Often they are much heavier and may be 200 kg (440 lb) and more. They achieve these proportions not only by eating prodigious quantities of food (including a high-protein stew called chanko nabe), but also by practising the art of haragei, a form of abdominal development called by the Japanese soul in the stomach. Great weight gives them a low centre of gravity and this makes them more stable.

There are 28 sumo stables or schools in Japan which are run by retired champions who direct and control all wrestlers, who become apprenticed at the age of 15. The training is rigorous and the discipline strict. There are numerous tournaments, including six grand tournaments or basho each year: three in Tokyo, the others in Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka. Each lasts 15 days, during which every wrestler faces a different opponent each time. There are no weight categories, so a light sumotori of 100 kg (220 lb) may have an opponent twice his weight. Everything depends on suppleness, speed, and skill.

II

Rules of Competition

The wrestlers fight 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 is ancient and called o-icho-mage or chon-mage according to the category of the sumotori. A fight takes place in a circular ring which has a diameter of about 3.66 m (12 ft), which is covered with a roof shaped like that of a Shinto sanctuary, called a dohyo. The floor is covered with smooth earth. A fight 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. There is also a panel of five judges—often yokozuna (ex-grand champions).

Sumo is accompanied by much hallowed ritual. To begin an event the yokozuna process into the arena 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, caparisoned in embroidered aprons, enter half the top wrestlers involved. They form a circle, clap their hands, hitch up their aprons, and withdraw. The rest of the sumotori then enter and carry out the same rite.

These formal manifestations of strength and prowess completed, the real business gets under way. Two champions enter the ring and after some easing and flexing of muscles they pick up handfuls of salt and scatter them. This is a shinto purification ritual. They then crouch, pound the floor with their fists and have an “eye battle”. This ritual is known as shikiri-naoshi and is allowed to go on for four minutes. Preliminary display also includes minatory marching to and fro. Preliminaries concluded, the opponents then charge each other.

There are 48 movements in sumo wrestling: 12 throws, 12 twists, 12 lifts, and 12 throws across the back. Each has its name. They come under the comprehensive heading of kimarite. The objectives are either to get the opponent out of the arena or to get him down. If any part of the body goes over the edge of the arena the fight is over. If any part of the body above and including the knee meets the floor the fight is also over. Most fights last less than half a minute. Some are concluded in a few seconds.

A basic manoeuvre and method of attack is slapping. This is called tsuppari. A series of hard slaps (sledgehammer blows to ordinary mortals) delivered very rapidly can force the opponent out of the ring. There are also shoving, snatching, and grabbing techniques. Three basic ones 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; (3) ashi-tori, where the opponent’s leg is seized and held on to until he loses his balance and falls over.

In grappling techniques the basic manoeuvre is to seize the opponent’s belt. Using this as a hold and lever the wrestler tries to march his opponent out of the ring. This is called yori-kiri. A variant is yori-taoshi in which both wrestlers go crashing out of the ring together with the winner on top. Sometimes a wrestler literally hoists his opponent out of the ring. Another variant is uttchari. This happens when a wrestler, on the very point of being toppled out, hoicks his rival over his stomach and throws him out, at the same time following his opponent to land on top of him.

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

III

History

Early evidence of sumo is contained in the Nihon-Shoki, an 8th-century chronicle which refers to a contest in 23 bc. Originally, the object was to force an opponent to surrender unconditionally, or even to kill him. Sometimes battles were avoided and also decided by having two sumo experts fight to resolve the issue. At an early stage religion was involved and fights were staged to propitiate the gods. They were also associated with harvest festival celebrations, and sumo demonstration matches are still held at some shrines in autumn to give thanks for the harvest. Many of the early sumotori became famous and were granted privileges. During the Heian period (794-1185) sumo became a widespread spectator sport and in the 12th century the bushi (warrior classes) developed it for battle combat. During the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568-1600) it became more of a sporting activity and professionalism came in. During the 20th century it has become increasingly popular in Japan and since the early 1980s has developed a considerable following in Britain, Europe, the United States, and elsewhere. In 1993 the Hawaiian-born Akebono became the first foreign-born rikishi (wrestler) to be promoted to the top rank of sumo wrestler, that of yokozuna.