5 fascinating curiosities about sumo
Sumo is a fight in which a participant, called a rikishi, must force his opponent out of the fighting circle or have him touch the ground with a body part other than his feet. History tells that the sport originated from Shinto rituals several centuries ago, which at that time only had one dance. The ring appeared in the 16th century.
Despite being practiced professionally only in Japan, sumo has fans in many countries. So, let's meet 5 curiosities of this traditional fight:
1. The rikishi wasn't always fat
Nowadays we always think of big fat fighters as sumo practitioners, but that has gradually changed - something that can be noticed in many other sports. The big difference for Western fights is that there is no differentiation of fighters by weight, meaning everyone can fight everyone. Sometimes this disparity is quite curious for those not used to seeing a sumo fight.
2. Foreigners can participate
If you are a gaijin, ie a foreigner who wants to participate professionally in a sumo championship, know that you can! In fact, many of the best fighters were not even born in Japan. However, each stable, the training venue, restricts the presence of foreigners to only one participant.
3. Extreme Dedication
Do not think that it is enough to be fat to fight sumo: it is necessary to strictly follow the rules of the Japanese Association of Sumo. Most fighters need to live in the stables, which define their entire training, eating and clothing routine.
4. Fighters also dance
Upon entering the ring, each fighter must perform a ritual quite similar to a dance. They trample the floor and clap their hands in a tradition that means kicking evil spirits out of the ring. They also face each other, clap their hands together and open their arms to show that they are unarmed.
5. Women also fight sumo
The Japanese Sumo Association does not allow women to participate in championships or enter the ring, as this would be a violation of the purity of the venue. However, this does not prevent some from venturing into the sport and practicing it spontaneously in Shinto temples.
* Posted on 3/24/2017