What is sumo?
Sumo is a very old Japanese sport that grew from ceremonies of thanks and prayer. A bout is short, often only a few seconds. Wrestlers wear a thick belt called the mawashi. Bouts take place in the dohyo, a raised ring of clay and sand with a straw border, about 4.55 m across. Two lines (shikiri-sen) mark where the wrestlers start.
How a bout is won: push or throw the opponent out of the ring, or make any part of the opponent's body except the soles of the feet touch the ground. In school sumo we use a soft mat and wear shorts or a training belt.
Basic movements (shiko, suriashi)
Shiko (leg stamp)
- Stand with feet wide and knees bent, hands on the knees.
- Shift your weight to one leg.
- Lift the other leg sideways, as high as you can, and hold your balance.
- Bring it down hard with a stamp.
- Repeat on the other side.
Shiko builds balance, leg strength and hip flexibility.
Suriashi (sliding step)
Keep the hips low and the knees bent. Slide the feet along the ground, with the soles always close to the surface. The feet never cross. Suriashi lets you move fast without losing balance.
Other training
- Matawari: sitting with legs wide and bending forward to stretch.
- Teppo: pushing against a wooden post with the open hands.
Pushing and grappling
The charge (tachiai)
Both wrestlers rise together from a crouch and crash shoulder to chest. A strong, low charge decides much of the bout.
Pushing (oshi)
- Oshidashi: pushing the opponent out with the hands on the chest. Use leg power and keep the elbows in.
- Tsukidashi: thrusting out with quick open-hand pushes.
Grappling (yori)
- Yorikiri: holding the belt, staying close, and walking the opponent out.
- Uwatenage: an arm throw from above the opponent's arm, holding the belt.
Rules for safety: no punching, no hitting the face with a closed fist, no pulling hair, no choking and no attacking the eyes or throat.
Respect and rituals
Sumo is full of manners. Wrestlers bow, clap hands and throw a pinch of salt into the ring to "clean" it. They shake hands or bow to end the bout. The bow is part of the sport, not a decoration.
Try it
In the 3D, scrub the slider slowly in the Push step and watch the rear wrestler's hips. Then try shiko at home on a clear floor, with an adult near: feet wide, hands on knees, lift one leg to the side to a comfortable height and put it down firmly. Do 5 on each side. Is your balance steady? Try with your eyes on one spot on the wall.
Key formulas and definitions
- Dohyo = round ring about 4.55 m across (radius about 2.275 m)
- Win = opponent out of the ring OR touches the ground with anything except the soles of the feet
- Shiko = leg lift and stamp; suriashi = low sliding step
- Tachiai = first charge; oshi = push; yori = belt grip; nage = throw
- Mawashi = belt; dohyo = ring; shikiri-sen = start lines
Worked examples
1. The dohyo is about 4.55 m across. What is its radius?
Radius = diameter / 2 = 4.55 / 2 = 2.275 m.
2. A wrestler's heel touches the ground outside the straw border. What happens?
The wrestler is out of the ring, so the opponent wins the bout.
3. A wrestler does 10 shiko on each leg. How many in all?
10 + 10 = 20 shiko.
4. Why should the pushing wrestler keep the hips low?
A low body is more stable and the legs can push with full force. A tall wrestler is easier to move off balance.
Common mistakes
- Standing tall and pushing with the arms only. Push with the legs and keep the hips low.
- Lifting the feet high when sliding. Suriashi means the feet stay near the ground.
- Crossing the feet while moving. This makes you unstable.
- Attacking the eyes, throat or hair. These are banned moves.