Are there any weight classes in sumo? How do sumo wrestlers live and why are they so big. Composition of the panel of judges

Sumo wrestling is one of the oldest martial arts that originated in Japan. The story begins from the second decade of the seven hundredth years - it is in the documents of that time that the mention of sumo first appears.

Then this type of struggle was a special, extremely significant court ritual. Representatives of absolutely every province were required to participate in the competition.

Simultaneously with sumo “for noble persons”, another version of this wrestling appeared - for ordinary people. But this subspecies bears little resemblance to the original. The "common" sumo often had an entertainment character and was more of a folk amusement than a real martial art.

Sumo like martial arts traveled a long way from antiquity to the present. Honoring their traditions, the Japanese have preserved to this day many rituals that accompany all fights. In addition to the fight itself, there is something to see here. To date, sumo wrestling is not just a traditional japanese view sports, but also a means of obtaining a solid income.

For all its simplicity, sumo is a very spectacular and spectacular sport. This is a rather peculiar martial art in which the main thing is a wrestler's weapon is his weight. To defeat the enemy, sumo wrestlers, with the help of their mass and a variety of techniques, must:

or push one another out of the boundaries of the area where the duel takes place;
or force the opponent to touch the floor (what part of the body does not matter).

Therefore, sumo wrestlers have more than well-fed forms.

How much does a wrestler weigh

Sumo wrestlers are famous for their weight. Weight categories in professional sumo not available, however mass is one of the main advantages. Already on the first rung of the career ladder, a beginner sumo wrestler must weigh at least one hundred and ten kilograms.

Only wrestlers who have “passed over” a centner have a chance for a successful career as a sumo wrestler. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, but this happens extremely rarely.

The fact that weight is the best way to advance a career in sumo is actively confirmed by multiple winners of the competition. famous sumo wrestler Konishiki- the heavyweight record holder, weighing almost two hundred and eighty kilograms, managed to keep ozeki title, in other words - champion.

However, in addition to heavyweights, the so-called "lightweights" - sumo wrestlers, whose weight does not exceed two hundred kilograms, can also have considerable success. The wrestler Harumafuji also received the title of ozeki, and Chienofuji the title of yokozuna. Lightweights have an advantage over heavyweights in that they are more agile and agile. They can do more sophisticated tricks.

Of course, the “light” weight of sumo wrestlers (up to two hundred kilograms) is not light by the standards of normal people. As rosy as the prospects may be, we should not forget that big mass is not a 100% guarantee of success. But it is an absolute guarantee of health problems. We can say that there are no healthy people among sumo wrestlers. Big weight has a negative impact on internal organs sumo wrestler and his mobility.

At the same time, it is important for health that, like in any contact sport, there is a high probability of serious injury in sumo. Moreover, in this fight, this is aggravated by the fact that the internal organs of the wrestler are weakened by the way of life, and the opponent has a lot of weight.

In general, we can say that the average weight of a sumo wrestler ranges from one hundred and fifty to two hundred and twenty kilograms. But, as noted above, there are no weight categories in professional sumo, so the average weight of a sumo wrestler is a relative indicator. For the same reason, the lack of specific weight categories Weight Limit wrestler is not limited in any way - who will eat how much.

Many believe that in order to get into the ranks of sumo wrestlers, a novice wrestler only needs to reach a certain body weight. But this opinion is wrong. Just eating a hundred or even a couple of hundred kilograms of weight is not enough to become a real sumo wrestler.

The initial selection for sumo wrestlers is not based on weight. The “working” weight of a sumo wrestler is not only fat, but also muscles. If a novice wrestler has already “swallowed fat”, he will first have to lose weight. Only after that, the sumo wrestler begins to gain "working" mass.

Mode and nutrition

To gain weight, sumo wrestlers need to follow a certain daily routine and eat according to a special diet.

The wrestlers wake up as soon as the first rays of the sun appear. Immediately after washing, sumo wrestlers need to start training, which lasts more than one hour. A wrestler must train by giving himself to the process completely and completely.

After training, wrestlers take hot bath. Then follows the meal according to the diet. The essence of the sumo diet is the complete absence of a diet.. There are no restrictions in nutrition, on the contrary, the more high-calorie foods, the better. There are no prohibitions for alcohol - the use of alcohol by these athletes is considered absolutely normal.

Food for sumo wrestlers is expensive. But in Japan they would have paid more. Sumo has never been just a sport for the Japanese.

Following the meal comes sleep phase- the wrestlers should get some sleep, after which they will go to the next training session. After classes, sumo wrestlers start a hearty, hearty dinner that completes the daily routine. After dinner, the wrestlers go to bed, and in the morning everything will start all over again for them - training, food, sleep, and so on.

The fattest sumo wrestler

The title of the fattest sumo wrestler in the world rightfully belongs to Emanuel Yabrauch. The great illustrious wrestler weighs four hundred kilograms! During his career, this sumo wrestler managed to become a seven-time world champion. Such a number of victories is quite understandable - the thicker fatty layers a sumo wrestler, the easier it is for him to gain the upper hand, since the enemy simply will not be able to grab him.

Yabrauch himself has repeatedly stated that he owes his weight gain to a well-known network fast food McDonald's. It was the high-calorie foods from McDonald's that turned Yabraukh into a fat man in the blink of an eye, which inexpressibly contributed to his career.

Japanese traditional food - rice, seafood and beer - never gave such results in terms of weight gain as American fast food. Therefore, for sumo wrestlers, the United States is heaven on earth. A few habitually unlimited meals at McDonald's are enough, and future champion sumo ready!

Few people like fat people. Today, when everything more people stand on the side healthy eating and healthy lifestyle life in general, being overweight symbolizes bad taste. But not in Japan. In this country to the problem excess weight are treated quite differently.

Japanese women are of the opinion that a man of huge dimensions has incomparably greater advantages than athletes. The bigger the man, the more reliable, more gentle and more generous he is.

Sumo wrestlers for miniature Japanese women are a real fetish. All sumo wrestlers, without exception, have great success and considerable popularity among the opposite sex. Graceful and fragile Japanese women find in them powerful defenders and support.

According to the study, at least a quarter of the readers of the thematic publication "The World of Sumo" are representatives of the fair sex. So we can safely say that sumo wrestlers for natives of Japan are real sex symbols. And this is expressed not only in the form of reading a magazine.

The once incredibly popular Japanese ex-model named Sumuko married Kinishiki, a sumo wrestler weighing almost three hundred kilograms. Of course, this is not the only example of such a marriage.

Many believe that the love of Japanese women for sumo wrestlers is not influenced at all by their sympathy for such men, but only by the material side. But whether it is true or not, only the Japanese women themselves can answer.

As a summary, it is worth once again briefly answering the question: how much does a sumo wrestler weigh:

minimum weight: 100-110 kilograms;
average weight: 150-200 kilograms;
maximum weight: unlimited.

And in conclusion, some interesting facts about sumo wrestlers:

if you compare a normal person and a sumo wrestler in terms of body mass index, the latter will have an indicator two and a half times higher;
the biceps and triceps of some successful and famous sumo wrestlers are equal in volume to the leg circumference of a normal person;
in terms of weight, the wrestler is comparable to the European brown bear. If you place a sumo wrestler weighing two hundred kilograms and a brown bear on the scales, the scales will remain in balance.

Sumo wrestlers, who have a huge weight, are not only very popular, but also enjoy various privileges. For example, they can have long hair - this great honor was bestowed on them by the emperor himself. Among ordinary citizens of Japan, wearing long hair strictly prohibited.

court sumo

The first written mention of sumo is found in the Kojiki, a book dated to 712, which is the oldest existing source of Japanese writing. According to the legend given there, 2500 years ago the gods Takemikazuchi and Takeminakata fought in a sumo duel for the right to own the Japanese islands. According to legend, Takemikazuke won the first duel. It is from this hero of antiquity that the emperor of Japan traces his genealogy.

Sumo is mentioned in ancient Japanese texts dating back to the 8th century under the name sumai. In addition to its primary purpose, sumo has been associated with the ritual of the Shinto religion. To this day, in some monasteries you can see the ritual clash between man and god.

In parallel with the temple and court, there was also street, folk, square sumo, fights of strong men or just townspeople and peasants for their own amusement and amusement of the crowd. There were various sumo-like wrestling games in the merry quarters, such as duels between women (often with obscene wrestling names), duels between women and the blind, comic wrestling, and the like. Street sumo was repeatedly banned, because street fights sometimes escalated into mass brawls and urban riots. Women's sumo was also subject to restrictions and practically disappeared by the beginning of the 20th century, only being preserved as a rare temple ritual and at an amateur level.

Basic information

Playground for wrestling

The sumo wrestling ground is a square platform 34-60 cm high, called dohyo. Dohyo is made of a special grade of rammed clay and topped with a thin layer of sand. The duel takes place in a circle with a diameter of 4.55 m, the boundaries of which are laid with special wickerwork made of rice straw (the so-called "tavara"). In the center of the dohyo are two white stripes representing starting positions wrestlers. The sand around the circle is carefully leveled with brooms before the start of each fight, so that it can be determined from the footprints in the sand whether one of the rivals has touched the ground outside the circle. On the sides of the dohyo, steps are made in clay in several places so that wrestlers and gyoji can climb it.

The site itself and the many objects surrounding it are full of Shinto symbols: the sand that covers the clay dohyo symbolizes purity; thrown salt symbolizes purification, the expulsion of evil spirits; the canopy over the dohyo (yakata) is made in the style of a roof in a Shinto shrine. The four tassels on each corner of the canopy represent the four seasons: white for autumn, black for winter, green for spring, red for summer. The purple flags around the roof represent the drifting clouds and the changing seasons. The referee (gyoji), among other duties, performs the role of a Shinto priest.

Entrance to doha for women according to ancient tradition is prohibited.

Training dohyos are made in a similar way, but the circle is flush with the floor. They also undergo a purification ceremony.

In amateur sumo, a dohyo is simply a marked circle, not necessarily on a raised platform. The ban for women is not observed, there is also an amateur female sumo.

Gyoji Kimura Shonosuke

Clothes and hair

The only clothing worn by a wrestler during a duel is a special belt called "mawashi". This is a dense wide fabric tape, most often in dark shades. Mawashi is wrapped in several turns around the naked body and between the legs, the end of the belt is fastened behind the back with a knot. An unwound mawashi leads to the disqualification of the wrestler. Wrestlers high level mawashi silk. Hanging ornaments are suspended from the belt - “sagari”, which do not perform any other function than purely decorative. The wrestlers of the two top divisions have another, special, kesho-mawashi belt (jap. 化粧回し, 化粧廻し kesho: mawashi) , outwardly resembling an apron decorated with embroidery, each in its own way, which is used only in rituals. In amateur sumo, mawashi is sometimes worn over trunks or shorts.

Hair is collected in a special traditional bun at the crown, in the two highest divisions the hairstyle is much more complex. In addition to beauty, such a hairstyle has the ability to soften the blow to the crown, which is possible, for example, when falling head down.

Wrestlers' clothing and hairstyle are strictly regulated outside of the competition. The rules depend very much on the level of the wrestler. As a rule, the clothes and hairstyle prescribed for wrestlers in everyday life are very archaic. Hair styling requires a special art, almost forgotten outside of sumo and traditional theater.

Rules

In sumo, it is forbidden to hit other than with an open palm, as well as in the eyes and in the genital area. It is forbidden to grab the hair, ears, fingers and the part of the mawashi that covers the genitals. Choke holds are not allowed. Everything else is allowed, so the arsenal of wrestlers includes slaps, pushes, grabs for any permitted parts of the body and especially belts, as well as throws, various trips and sweeps. The duel begins with a simultaneous jerk of the wrestlers towards each other, followed by a collision (“tatiai”). It is considered good form, as well as a more successful tactic, to fight offensively. Tricks based on evasions (such as avoiding contact at the start of a duel, for example), while acceptable, are not considered pretty. Due to the wide variety of techniques, rarely anyone owns their full arsenal, so there are wrestlers who are more prone to either grabs and wrestling in the belt (for example, ozeki Kaio), or, on the contrary, to fight with pushes at a distance (for example, Tiyotaikai).

Two basic rules are used to determine the winner of each bout:

the first person to touch the ground with any part of the body other than the feet is considered the loser.
the first person to touch the ground outside the circle is the loser.

The body is considered everything, up to the ends of the hair. In some cases, the judge declares the winner of the wrestler, the first to touch the ground. This happens when his opponent, even if he touched the ground second, had no chance of winning: he was thrown very effectively, or taken out of the circle, torn off the ground (the “dead body” principle). An attempt to carry out a prohibited technique, for example, grabbing hair, also leads to unconditional defeat.

Often the duel lasts only a few seconds, as one of the wrestlers is quickly forced out of the circle by the other, or knocked down by a throw or sweep. In rare cases, the duel can last several minutes. Particularly long bouts may be suspended so that wrestlers can take a breath or tighten up weakened belts. At the same time, the position and capture are clearly fixed by the gyoji, in order to accurately restore the relative position of the wrestlers on the doha after the timeout.

The life of a wrestler

The Association manages a large part of the funds raised, distributing them among the hae according to the level of performance of their wrestlers. In addition, Haya may also receive funding from outside sources, such as sponsorship groups or through Association-approved advertisers.

The life of the association is governed by many unwritten rules.

Contractual fights in sumo

Until very recently, the existence of paid contractual bouts or gratuitous "mutual assistance" of wrestlers has not been proven. The topic was loved by the “yellow press”, suspicions were most often based on the fact that wrestlers perform noticeably better if the fight means a lot to them (for example, with a score of 7-7). On the other hand, such a phenomenon could be explained by the high motivation of the wrestler. At the end of January 2011, a scandal erupted when the police, studying (for a completely different reason) SMS on the phones of some wrestlers, found messages that unambiguously testify to fixed fights for money. The amounts were in the thousands of dollars. The scandal that broke out led to exceptional consequences, for example, the March spring tournament in Osaka (Haru basho) in 2011 and all exhibition performances (jungyo) in 2011 were canceled. This indicates colossal problems - tournaments are canceled extremely rarely, in last time the regular tournament was canceled in 1946 due to the post-war difficulties of the devastated country. Throughout the previous war, even after the atomic bombings, tournaments were not canceled.

Kinds

University sumo

amateur sumo

In 1980, the Japan Sumo Federation held the First All Japan Amateur Championship, which invited teams from abroad to increase competition. As a result, the first international amateur sumo tournament took place. Since then, the number of foreign teams participating in this event has increased every year, and in July 1983, Japan and Brazil created an organization that became the forerunner of the modern International Sumo Federation (IFS). In 1985, due to the increase in the number of participating teams, the name of the tournament changed to International Championship by sumo. In 1989, the 10th anniversary championship was held in Sao Paulo. On December 10, 1992, to commemorate the creation of the IFS, the name of the championship changed again.

Professional sumo

The first World Sumo Championship, held under the auspices of the IFS, brought together a total of 73 participants from 25 different countries. The tournament has become an annual event, and the number of participating countries continues to grow. The World Championship is held in individual and team events. Athletes are divided into four weight categories: light, medium, heavy weight and absolute weight category.

In 1995, five continental federations of amateur sumo were created, which hold qualifying tournaments for the right to participate in the world championship. IFS currently has 84 member countries. In 1997, the first World Women's Sumo Championship was held. The Federation actively promotes women's sumo.

Foreigners in sumo

Although assimilated Koreans have long performed in sumo, the real starting point for the internationalization process should be considered 1964, when the American sumotori Takamiyama, known worldwide as Jesse Kuhaulua, appeared on Doha. The Hawaiian-born wrestler became the first foreigner to win the Imperial Cup. He reached the level of sekiwake, which is a sign of a quite successful career, and was very popular. He also became the first foreigner to lead the hei. Following him and under his influence, such prominent wrestlers as Konishiki, Akebono (takamiyama's best student) and Musashimaru appeared in sumo. Many foreign wrestlers, in particular the Chinese, Americans, Brazilians, Argentines and even Senegalese, did not do well and went unnoticed. Since the end of the 20th - the beginning of the 21st century, the influx of fighters from Mongolia, as well as from the Caucasus, has been most noticeable. The first ozeki of European origin and the first European to win the Imperial Cup is Kotoosyu Katsunori, a Bulgarian professional sumo wrestler with the rank of ozeki.

Restrictions on the number of foreigners are constantly tightened. The introduced total quota (40 people) was later changed to a requirement of one person per heya. In February 2010, the Board of Directors of the Association further tightened the conditions for the admission of foreigners: a wrestler is considered a foreigner not by citizenship, but by origin. This finally closes the loophole for the oyakata, who previously resorted to tricks - gathering entire fraternities according to a common quota (like the Ooshima school) or transferring fighters to Japanese citizenship. The new restriction came into effect at the end of the traditional spring recruitment of 2010 . In part, the access of foreigners is limited by the age limit of the debutant, 23 years. Since a foreigner enters wrestling on a general basis, non-Japanese amateurs who have proven themselves very often run the risk of not being on time or getting "on the last step of the last carriage." In practice, the quota leads to incidents, for example, brothers who intended to train together - Roho and Hakurozan, fall into different heya. There are heya who basically do not accept foreigners, there are heya who are hotbeds of foreigners, for example, Ooshima and Tatsunami, actively attracting Mongols. Quotas do not save from the dominance of foreigners in the major leagues, for example, at the November 2010 Basho in major league makuuchi had 20 fighters of foreign origin (out of 45 positions), of which in sanyaku (ranks of komusubi and above) - 7 (out of 9 positions), including three ozeki out of four and the only yokozuna. As of November 2012, the Japanese wrestler last won the Imperial Cup in 2006, the Mongols took the rest, except for two cups, which were taken by a Bulgarian and an Estonian.

The restrictions are justified, since it is commonly believed that sumo is not only and not just a sport, and the influx of foreigners, with alien manners and outlook on things, is capable of violating the purely Japanese spirit inherent in sumo. This, as a result, will allegedly reduce interest in sumo in Japan and, ultimately (although it is not customary to talk about it openly), the income of the Association. On the other hand, more than once it was foreigners, such as Musashimaru and Akebono, and then Asashoryu, that greatly fueled interest in sumo, both in Japan and in the world.

A foreigner does not have the rights of a fighter in full. Thus, foreign yokozuna and ozeki, unlike their Japanese counterparts, do not have voting rights in the Association. Without transferring to Japanese citizenship, a foreigner cannot, after resignation, remain a coach.

Recently [ when?] foreigners were involved in a number of scandals that led to their disqualification: Kyokutenho was disqualified for a tournament for driving a car, Asashoryu - for two tournaments for playing football in public, despite the fact that he did not participate in official demonstration performances, as injured, and three Russian wrestlers - Wakanoho, Roho, Hakurozan - for life, after the scandal associated with their alleged use (and Wakanoho - also proven possession) of marijuana. Last case had a great resonance and led to the resignation of the President of the Association, Oyakata Kitanoumi.

Sumo in Russia

After the end of his career, Taiho tried to establish friendly relations between Japan and the countries of the former USSR. He founded a sumo association in Kharkiv, the city where his father was a native. A stroke prevented the Taiho from visiting the city in person.

In some countries close to Japan, such as Mongolia and Korea, types of wrestling similar to sumo are common. However, the Mongolian wrestling Bukh has one significant difference: it is not held in the ring, but in an open field, without designated boundaries.
According to one version, until the 16th century, the dohyo analogue was located on a hill, and there were sharp stakes outside it. Historical evidence supports the existence of this type of "sport", but it has not been clarified whether it has anything to do with sumo.
The proportion of fat in the mass of the average sumo wrestler is almost the same as that of the average layman of the same age. With a large overweight, muscle mass is also very large. A number of sumo wrestlers, such as the great wrestler Chiyonofuji, were substantially drier than average.
Wrestlers of any level are prohibited from driving a car on their own. Those who violate this rule will be punished, for example, Kyokutenho, who was caught in 2007, was disqualified for one tournament, which meant a significant loss in rank. Usually, wrestlers go by taxi or they are transported by special minibuses.

clothing

Competitors must wear a loincloth - mawashi. However, in amateur sumo, it is allowed to wear swimming trunks or tight-fitting black shorts under mawashi. The width of the mawashi is 40 cm, no specific length is prescribed, but the length of the mawashi must be sufficient to allow it to be wrapped around the athlete's torso 4-5 times.

Athletes are not allowed to go to the fight wearing items that can injure the opponent. This primarily applies to metal jewelry (rings, bracelets, chains, etc.). The wrestler's body must be completely clean and dry, fingernails and toenails must be cut short. The emblem of the club, federation, number, etc. it is allowed to attach (tie) to mawashi.

Competition Venue: Doha

Sumo competitions are held on a square area with a side of 7.27 m, which is called dohyo.

There are two types of dohyo:

mori-dohyo - clay or earthen trapezoid 34-60 cm high;
hira-dohyo - flat dohyo, which is used for training and for competitions in the absence of mori-dohyo.

The arena is a circle with a diameter of 4.55 m, the center of which is the intersection of two diagonal lines of the square specified in paragraph 5.1. The arena of the fight along the perimeter is limited by a bundle of rice straw - cebu-dawara.

In the center of the circle on the east and west sides of the dohyo, two white starting lines (sikirisen) are applied to the surface at a distance of 70 cm from each other. Shikirisen is 80 cm long and 6 cm wide.

Inside the circle is sprinkled with sand. Sand is also scattered outside the circle, along the shobu-dawara, to a width of about 25 cm, so that a “control” strip is formed - janome. In controversial cases, the presence or absence of marks on janome helps to correctly determine the outcome of the fight.

Composition of the panel of judges

The panel of judges includes: chief judge of the competition, deputy chief judge, chief secretary, judges, informants and other service personnel.

The Chief Referee is responsible for enforcing all provisions relating to general rules refereeing, including the appointment of refereeing teams.

Composition of the judging panel

The refereeing team should consist of 6 people:

brigade leader - simpante,
referee - gyoji,
4 side judges - simpans.

wrestling rules

Except in special situations, the following provisions determine the winner of the bout:

the wrestler who forces the opponent to touch the dohyo with any part of the body outside the shobu-dawar wins;
the wrestler who forces the opponent to touch the dohyo with any part of the body, except for the soles of the feet, within the shobu-dawar, wins.

Special situations include the position of shinitai (“dead body”) - a complete loss of balance, inevitably leading to defeat.

The attacker does not lose the fight by touching the dohyo with his hand in order to soften the fall and avoid injury at the end of the technical action, as a result of which the opponent enters the shinitai position. This situation is called kabaite.

The attacker does not lose the fight, standing up for the shobu-dawara in order to soften the fall and avoid injury at the end of the technical action, as a result of which the opponent falls into the position of shinitai. This situation is called kabaiashi.

The attacker does not lose the fight, standing up for the sebou-dawara, when he, having raised the enemy, takes out and lowers him behind the sebud-dawara. This situation is called okuriashi. However, the attacker loses the fight if, while performing this technical action, he goes behind the Sebu-Dawara backwards.

The attacker does not lose the fight if, when performing a winning throw, the rise of his leg touches the dohyo.

It is not a defeat if the horizontal front of the mawashi (orikomi) touches the dohyo.

A wrestler may be declared defeated by the decision of the judges in the following cases:

If he is unable to continue due to injury,
If he performs kinjite (forbidden actions),
If he ends the fight on his own,
If he deliberately did not rise from his original position,
If he does not follow the commands of the gyoji,
If he did not appear in the holding sector after the second official call,
If maebukuro (codpiece) mawashi is untied and falls off during the fight.

If the bout lasts longer than the set time, but the winner is not determined, it stops and a new bout is held.

Prohibited Actions (Kinjite):

Punching or poking with fingers.
Kicking in the chest or stomach.
Hair grips.
Throat grip.
Grips for the vertical parts of the mawashi.
Twisting opponent's fingers.
Biting.
Direct blows to the head.

rituals

In sumo, as in other traditional martial arts of Japan, rituals and etiquette are preserved and honored.

The rituals consist of ritsu-rei (standing bow), chiritezu (cleansing with water) and shikiri (preparation).

Chiritezu is a unique ritual originating from the ancient Japanese custom of washing a warrior before a battle.

Chiritezu is performed by both wrestlers at the same time when entering the doha. They squat down in a sonoke position, balancing on their toes. The heels are torn off the floor, the torso and head are held straight, the hands are lowered to the knees. The wrestlers put their hands down and nod to each other. Then the athletes bring outstretched arms at chest level, spread them apart with palms down and again bring them together in front with a clap of palms, straighten their arms and spread them to the sides parallel to the ground with palms up, and at the end of the ritual turn them with palms down.

Shikiri- pre-launch preparatory movements. The wrestlers squat down with their legs wide apart and their torsos bent forward. At the same time, the hips and shoulders are kept horizontally, and the hands, clenched into fists, rest on the surface of the doha along the shikirisen, without touching, which corresponds to the “ready!”

The transition from shikiri to tachiai (starting jerk-up) must be carried out by athletes at the same time.

Rituals are an integral and important part of sumo and should be performed without haste, with dignity and calmness, emphasizing the harmony and grandeur of sumo.

fight

The duration of the fight is:

for age group 13-15 years - 3 minutes;
for the age group of 16-17 years - 5 minutes;
for adults 18 years and older - 5 minutes.

If after the specified time the winner is not determined, a second fight (torinaoshi) is appointed.

There is no break between contractions. The next fight begins immediately after the end of the previous one.

Calling participants

Competitors enter the dohyo-damari in the following order:

in team competitions, the two teams that are to compete next must go out and settle down in the dohyo-damari before the end of the previous match;
in individual competitions, the wrestler must be in doha-damari 2 grabs before his own.

While on dohyo and dohyo-damari, competitors must behave with dignity, avoid rude expressions, so as not to infringe on the feelings of others.

The wrestlers are invited to dohyo by the informant judge on the microphone in a loud and intelligible voice 2 times. If, after the second official call, the participant does not enter the doha, he is considered defeated.

Presentation of participants

Wrestlers take part in competitions under the numbers that they received at the draw. The informing judge introduces all wrestlers in each weight category at the beginning of the competition by name. Before the start of each bout, the participants are presented by name with their data (age, height, weight), titles and ranks.

Start of the fight

The fight begins at the command of the gyōji after the necessary rituals have been performed.

Stopping a fight

Gyoji may stop the bout one or more times due to injury, clothing disorder (mawashi), or any other reason beyond the contestant's will.

The time spent on breaks for one wrestler may be established by the Competition Regulations.

End of the fight

The fight ends when the gyōji, having determined the outcome of the fight, announces: "Cebu atta!" - and pointing with his hand in the direction of the dohyo (East or West), with which the winner started the fight. The wrestlers on this command must stop wrestling.

Announcement of the winner (katinanori)

After the end of the fight and the announcement of "Cebu atta!" the gyoji and wrestlers return to their original positions.

The loser bows (rei) and leaves the doha. The winner takes the sonkyo posture and, after the gyōji, pointing at him with his hand, announces: "Higashi no kachi!" ("Victory of the East!") or "Nishi no kachi!" ("Victory of the West!"), stretches out right hand to the side and down.

In case of termination of the fight due to the use of a prohibited hold by one of the wrestlers, the announcement of the winner takes place in accordance with the established procedure.

If it is impossible for one of the wrestlers to continue the fight due to an injury, his opponent assumes the sonkyo position, and the gyoji, in the prescribed manner, declares him the winner.

In the event that one of the wrestlers does not appear, the wrestler who came out on the doha takes the sonkyo pose, and the gyoji, in the prescribed manner, declares him the winner.

To be an athlete, it is not at all necessary to worry about the fit and beauty of your body. Sumo wrestlers, for example, eat their fill, drink beer regularly, sleep lazily after dinner, and get fat with all the responsibility inherent in the Japanese.

Konstantin Kudryavtsev

We thank our expert, three-time European champion, President of the Moscow Sumo Federation, Honored Master of Sports and Honored Coach of Russia for their help in preparing the material. If you want to know more about sumo than we did, visit moss

It is believed that sumo appeared in Japan more than two thousand years ago, and the first duel, according to the chronicles, took place between the Shinto gods Takemikazuki and Takeminakata, arguing for power over the Japanese islands. Takemikazuki became the winner, and therefore the Japanese emperors consider him the ancestor of their dynasty.

However, not imaginary deities are recognized as the founder of sumo, but a real wrestler Nomi-no-Sukune. It is known that at the beginning of our era, he participated in the battles in the palace of Emperor Suining, held in honor of a good harvest. Nomi-no-Sukune broke his opponent Taima-no-Kohaya first in the rib, then with the same foot in the lower back. Apparently, it was for this that he was not only called the father of sumo, but also deified. The then fights were the privilege of warriors and nobility and took place in the presence of emperors. True, they (battles, not emperors) were similar not to modern sumo, but to fights without rules: the one who wins the most fights won, while there were no weight categories.

New story

The heyday of sumo came in the 18th century: then about the same number of people were involved in sumo as there are now in photography. Successful wrestlers became the idols of the country, and hacks like us dedicated poems and plays to them. At the same time, the title “yokozuna” (great champion) appeared, which is assigned for life and is the pinnacle of professional career wrestler.

True, sumo wrestlers did not bathe in popular love for long: in 1868, Japan ceased to be a closed state, and difficult times came for sumo, which was declared a relic. Interest in wrestling returned only after a few decades. By this time, Europeans began to import bread into the country (previously, the locals did without baking, eating rice), and the bans on eating meat were lifted. With the advent of new products, wrestlers began to gain mass intensively and were called "rikishi" (hero). In 1909, the Kokugikan sumo palace was opened in Tokyo to hold annual tournaments, and in 1927, regional communities decided to unite into the All Japan Sumo Association.

For an amateur

There are two types of sumo: professional and amateur. Professional sumo (ozumo) exists only in the Land of the Rising Sun and is overseen by the All Japan Sumo Association (JSA). There are about a thousand people in the organization: about eight hundred wrestlers, oyakata (coaches-mentors), gyoji (judges), yobidashi (auxiliary judges) and tokoyama (hairdressers - wrestlers are given special hairstyles). The association holds six big tournaments every year - basho. A sumo wrestler participating in such competitions must be a member of one of the 52 clubs (by the way, each club can have a limited number of foreigners).

As for amateur sumo, the International Sumo Federation (ISF) has been created for it, headquartered in Tokyo.

Only calmness

The basis of the behavior of a professional wrestler is the concept of dignity - hinkaku, which unites everything that concerns the appearance, worldview and actions of a sumo wrestler. The wrestler's hinkaku is supervised by the oyakata, the head of the club. Any dubious act (breaking the engagement, playing the sweepstakes, etc.) negatively affects the wrestler's career (for example, he risks never getting the title of yokozuna). One of the manifestations of hinkaku is calmness. “Whatever happens around, be it a flood or an earthquake, great sorrow, great joy, victory or defeat, the rikishi must remain unperturbed. Whatever emotions rage inside him, outside he must be impenetrable like armor, ”says our expert, three-time European champion, president of the Moscow Sumo Federation Igor Kurinnoy. Hinkaku is instilled in clubs where professional wrestlers live permanently. In amateur sumo, there is neither a reverent attitude towards hinkaku, nor a rule of permanent residence at the school.

Working day

So, about the most interesting thing - the harsh training regimen of professional wrestlers. Young rikishi wake up early: around five in the morning, the first training begins. Senior comrades pull up later (hazing is revered in sumo: beginners even wash clothes and wash the backs of more experienced colleagues). In training, wrestlers work out the ability to stand firmly on their feet, flexibility and strength. During the warm-up, in addition to the familiar push-ups and squats, athletes do the main stretching exercise (shiko) hundreds of times, raising one or the other leg to the maximum height. Next exercise(also for stretching) is called “matawari” and is performed with the participation of a partner who gently presses on the sumo wrestler’s back, and he, spreading his legs as much as possible (almost on a twine), leans forward and tries to touch the ground with his stomach. Striking and pushing techniques are practiced at a high wooden pole (teppo), which the wrestler hits with his bare palms. After the warm-up, athletes spar either according to the moshai-geiko system (the winner fights with a new partner) or butsukari-geiko (the athlete stands in a stance, and his comrades run into him one after another, trying to push him out of the arena). “A rare day goes by without bruises and bruises, because sparring takes place in Spartan conditions - on clay and sand,” says the expert. At 11 o'clock comes the first break: the wrestlers take a hot bath and have a meal. “Having worked up an excellent appetite, athletes eat without restrictions,” our consultant licks his lips. After eating, all the rikishi enjoy an afternoon nap and then go to evening workout. The day ends with dinner, at which, by the way, tired athletes do not particularly limit themselves to alcohol - beer or sake.

Hazing in sumo is a good tradition. Beginning sumo wrestler suffers humiliation from more successful colleagues, and barely enough money for food

The working day of amateur sumo wrestlers takes place in more humane conditions. Training starts not so early and takes place not in the clay arena - dohyo, but in a softer plastic arena. Amateurs even have a day off - usually Monday. “On Saturday and Sunday there are intensive trainings to accustom the biorhythms of athletes to a surge in loads at the end of the week, when competitions are usually held,” the expert explains.

A matter of technology

There are only 82 moves in sumo, five higi (own mistakes, for which defeat is counted, for example, touching the ground without the help of an opponent) and four forbidden actions (you can’t beat with fists, pull hair, choke and wring your fingers). Sumo techniques are divided into three groups of techniques: strikes, pushes and grabs with throws. Sumo fights are fleeting: the winner is usually determined within a few seconds after the start of the fight. If the duel drags on, the judge encourages the wrestlers by shouting “Nokota!” ("Not yet!"). The closer the wrestlers are to the edge of the arena, the faster the command is pronounced. At the end of the duel, the hero modestly squats down and waits for his name to be announced, then touches his heart with his hand and thanks the gods for the victory, and the sponsors for the prize money (kesho), which he will receive right in the arena in a moment. By the way, sponsors do not support all, but only the most interesting fights of top category wrestlers. However, for some reason, all wrestlers make a gesture of gratitude.

For both cheeks

The origin of the word "sumo"

According to one version, the name of the fight comes from the word "sumau" - "fight, dance naked." On the other - from the ancient Chinese wrestling Xiangpu: the Japanese reading of the hieroglyphs denoting it is consonant with "sumo".

Maintaining balance is the main principle of sumo. No matter how effective and beautiful the throws are, losing balance even for a moment will lead to a loss. To lower the center of gravity and become more stable, rikishi stubbornly get fat. For a professional career, the weight of a wrestler must be more than 120 kg, the ideal fighting weight of champions is 130–160 kg. If a sumoist is lighter or heavier, he has negligible chances for a brilliant career. The selection of the optimal weight for each athlete occurs empirically. To do this, mentors evaluate the results of performances and the frequency of injuries (from abrasions and bruises to joint damage). The food of heavyweights is called “chanko” and is prepared as follows: a broth is boiled in a cauldron, where a vinaigrette of products is laid - meat, vegetables, mushrooms, seafood, soy sauce and seasonings. During the day, a wrestler can eat up to 3 kg of chanko and 0.5 kg of rice.

Hard in combat

Fights in amateur and professional sumo are held according to the same rules. There are basically three differences: amateur sports women are allowed to compete, athletes are divided into weight categories, and there are practically no rituals. “There were cases when promising amateur athletes, especially native Japanese, moved to the more prestigious ozumo,” the expert says. At competitions, wrestlers converge on doha. Victory can be achieved in three ways: push the opponent out of the arena, force him to touch the ground with his hand, or wait until the opponent has mawashi - a silk or cotton belt in which athletes enter the ring (they don’t wear anything else from rikishi clothes).

Table of ranks

The highest rank in professional sumo is yokozuna. The rest of the wrestlers of the highest division, called "makunouchi", have the titles (in ascending order): maegashira, komusubi, sekivake, ozeki. To become a yokozuna, you need to win two championships in a row in the ozeki title, have an impeccable reputation and possess a hinkaku. The decision to award this title is made by the Sumo Association at its discretion. “The second, lower, professional division is called jure and consists of 28 wrestlers. All other divisions (there are four of them) are student divisions,” says our consultant. The transition of a wrestler from division to division (both up and down) is carried out according to the ratio of victories and defeats in tournaments. Although professional sumo is an indoor sport, outsiders sometimes manage not only to become worthy athletes, but also to achieve absolute success. The current yokozuna Hakuho, for example, was born in Mongolia and came to the Land of the Rising Sun at the age of 17 (he then weighed a measly 72 kg). Whatever schools he applied to, the teachers refused. When a desperate young man, who had dreamed of becoming a sumo wrestler all his adult life, began to pack his bags to return home (among other things, his Japanese visa was ending), one oyakata took pity on him. Two years later, the world learned the name of the new great champion (he already weighed 160 kg). In amateur sports, ranks depend on the country where the wrestler trains. For example, in Japan, an athlete receives dans. In Russia, according to the classification preserved from the USSR, they first assign the third category, then the second and first, after - the candidate for the master of sports and, finally, the master of sports. And if you work hard, you can become an honored master of sports.

You have an agenda

Seasonal food sales and discounted hamburgers won't make you a sumo wrestler. To get into professional sumo, a wrestler must finish nine classes, be in good health, be at least 167 cm tall, weigh at least 67 kg, and like an oyakata (teacher). Ten years - optimal age to start a career. “In sumo, they accept up to 23 years old, but the sooner a wrestler starts practicing, the more likely they are to become a great champion,” the expert says. “In the Russian sections, there are no specific age limits for admission.” Our children usually start studying at the age of ten, and a year later they compete in competitions. “The sections are attended by both completely ordinary teenagers and those who, according to natural data, are not allowed to enter other sports. For example, a ten-year-old boy weighing 60 kilograms will never be accepted into gymnastics, swimming or volleyball. And the sumo coach will gladly start working with him, giving him an eventful youth, helping to overcome complexes and become self-confident,” our consultant assures. In addition to children and mere mortals in the section come former athletes from other types of wrestling, for which participation in sumo competitions - great way extend your career, because fleeting bouts do not require such high endurance as, for example, in sambo and judo.

About money and terms

Wrestlers who achieve high results receive not only the boundless love of the people and the right to give autographs in the form of their own palm prints, but also large bank accounts. Coming to ozumo and speaking in student divisions, the wrestler suffers humiliation, and prize money from tournaments is only enough for pocket expenses. The situation changes if the athlete trains hard and wins. First, the Sumo Association appoints the first small salary. Sumo wrestlers have a lot to strive for: rikishi of the jure category receive about 8 thousand dollars a month, yokozuna - more than 20 thousand dollars. You will be surprised, but salaries are not the main income of eminent wrestlers. Prizes from sponsor clubs, gifts from cheerleading groups can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Sometimes sponsors provide prizes in kind - in the form of a year's supply of rice, a barrel of sake, or several tons of gasoline.

I have great respect and attention to the culture of Japan. It is interesting, although not always understandable to a European, and sometimes it seems simply paradoxical. One of constituent parts The culture of this island nation is sumo. Frankly, I love this kind of philosophy. It is philosophy, and not just sports and (or) martial arts, as is commonly believed. Fortunately, now with the help of the Eurosport channel there is an opportunity to follow all the ups and downs of the basho, as well as the skill of those rikishi that I like.

Surprisingly, if I mention in a conversation that I am a longtime and devoted sumo lover, then in 80% of cases the reaction of our people is the same: “I don’t understand what can be interesting in pushing fat fat men with their stomachs” or “freak circus”. At best, "sumo is not aesthetic."

I think that this is caused by only one thing: few people understand what is happening on doha, practically no one knows the rules and ceremonies, and most importantly, it is very difficult to accept the idea that sumotori are not ridiculous, overgrown with fat and clumsy gluttons, but coordinated , flexible, well trained and very strong fighters. I have no illusions that my article can change anything in the public consciousness, but, in any case, I will try (dreams, dreams!) to reveal the truth to someone. So let's start with the basics - the history.

Sumo is, first of all, a religious ritual. Japan developed its own, rather interesting philosophy, which later turned into a religion, which was called Shinto. I will not now dwell on this belief in detail, for whoever wishes will find a lot of literature about it. Let me just say that the procedure for holding the current competitions, the refereeing system, even the preparation of the site for martial arts are nothing more than somewhat modified and modernized religious rituals. In essence, even a duel between two fighters is an allegory of the competition of spirits, man and god, the chthonic forces of nature.

Sumo was first mentioned in written sources of the 8th century. Since about the 9th century, martial arts (under the name "sumai") has been an indispensable attribute of the ceremonies of the "Chrysanthemum Throne" (Japanese imperial dynasty). At the same time, a set of rules was being developed, which are still in effect. However, the popularity of wrestling and philosophy spread beyond the palace premises. Spontaneously, “folk sumo” began to develop, which at first was brutally suppressed, and only after the restoration of the Meiji dynasty, all segments of the population were able to learn about the rules and rituals of “true” sumo. This martial art and philosophy is deeply traditional for the Japanese, and you probably know how much this nation respects its traditions.

wrestlers

People who practice sumo are called rikishi, or sumotori. Professional sumo exists only in Japan, and in order to practice it, one must enter the so-called heya (sumo school). There are no special requirements other than age (no less than 18 and no more than 25 years old) for a potential fighter, but it is difficult to enter the heya, as school leaders, called oyakata (usually retired former wrestlers), try to identify talent in a beginner , physical potential and desire to win. If one of these qualities is missing, one should not dream of entering a school.

Heya is a closed system where wrestlers live, train, work and study together, the order is reminiscent of a monastery. In addition to rikishi, heya is also usually home to shisho (school owners), yobidashi (assistant assistants), tokoyama (hairdressers), as well as oyakami-san - oyakata spouses who perform administrative functions.

In order to receive privileges and indulgences in work and training, as well as to live outside the hei, one must achieve certain successes, namely, to become a heyagashira (senior wrestler) or, even better, a sekitori.

Who are sekitori? There are currently six divisions in professional sumo. The lowest, 6th, is called zenokuchi, the fifth is jonidan, the fourth is sandamme, and the third is makushita. All sumotori trained in these lower divisions are called deshi. But the fighters of the two main divisions, dzyure and makuuchi, are called sekitori. We are most interested in makuuchi, because the best masters conduct their fights in this division.

Finishing the story about heya, I will note that the number of schools is limited to 105. There can be no more, but as many as you like less. AT this moment There are 52 hei, the most famous in recent times are Miyagino, Azumazeki and Isegahama.

Venue for the duel, requirements and rituals

Fights are held on a special platform made of rammed clay and called dohyo. The height of the dohyo in terms of our metric system is 65 centimeters, and its construction takes up to 12 tons of clay, specially brought from a place that is known only to the initiates. Clay is delivered three days before the basho and layer by layer is rammed to the desired condition. Sam dohyo usually rectangular shape, but the competition area is a circle with a diameter of 4.55 meters, outlined with the help of the so-called tavar, that is, a rope made of interwoven rice straw. Before laying the tawara, the gyōji judges perform a Shinto ritual. Six items are buried in dohyo: chestnut (symbolizing victory), rice (prosperity and wealth), dried squid (happiness), seaweed (procreation and life), Chinese miscanthus bush (patience and endurance) and salt (cleansing from evil spirits) . Around the ritual "sowing" of these items, tawara is thrown, the resulting circle is covered with a thin layer of sea sand, which means the purity of the thoughts of the wrestlers and judges, and ritual sake is poured over the circle. According to the rules, it is strictly forbidden for a woman to step on doha.

Two parallel lines are drawn inside the circle, indicating the starting positions of the wrestlers before the fight. A special canopy is erected over the dohyo, called the yakata, similar to the roof of a Shinto shrine. Special flags and four multi-colored brushes are hung there along the edges. The flags symbolize the constant movement of the heavens, and the brushes symbolize the four cardinal directions and the four seasons. The brushes have a specific color: white means autumn, black means winter, green means spring, red means summer.

Tournaments

Tournaments of wrestlers are called basho. Six basho are usually held per year: January (venue - Tokyo), March (Osaka), May (Tokyo), July (Nagoya), September (Tokyo), November (Fukuoka).

The first day of the tournament is the first or second Sunday of the month. Its duration is 15 days. Fights are organized in such a way that wrestlers of a higher rank fight stronger opponents, wrestlers of a lower rank fight weaker opponents. The main thing is that students of the same hei cannot meet on doha.

According to the results of the tournament, a wrestler can have only two results: katikosi (predominance of victories) or makekosi (predominance of defeats). If two or more wrestlers have the highest results at the same time, additional fights are announced, including for "great champions" and for representatives of one hay. They are held at the end of all meetings of the last day of the tournament. The number of victories determines what place the rikishi will take in the makuuchi hierarchy before the start of the next basho, and the winner of the tournament is determined, who receives a special prize - the Emperor's Cup.

Hierarchy

All makuuchi wrestlers are divided into two categories: rikishi of the west and rikishi of the east. The lower rank and file fighter is the maegashira (they are counted by rank - from the sixteenth to the first). For example, our Alan is now the fifth maegashira of the east. The next step is kumusubi (promising), then comes the title of sekivake (young champion), after it the second most important title is ozeki (champion), and, finally, the “great champion” yokozuna.

Wrestlers receive one or another title by decision of the Japanese Sumo Association. Moving up the steps of the maegashira, say, from fifth to third, depends on performance in one tournament, as well as obtaining the title of kumusubi. For the title of sekivake, the predominance of victories in two tournaments is considered. Obtaining the rank of ozeki is even more difficult. It is necessary to successfully perform in three tournaments in a row, despite the fact that the number of defeats should be minimal. It is easier to lose this title than to acquire it: it is enough that in two tournaments in a row the number of defeats exceeds the number of victories, then the sumo association will decide to deprive the title.

The highest rank in the sumo hierarchy is the yokozuna. There are no clear rules for awarding the title. What is absolutely necessary to have is the title of ozeki, largest number victories and conquered Emperor's Cups for three tournaments in a row. The so-called hinkaku principle, that is, the ratio of dignity, grace, art and behavior of the applicant, also contributes to the general stable growth of the wrestler's skill. It is very difficult to meet all these requirements, so the number of yokozuna has never been large. The current "great champion" Hakuho Sho (Mongol Davaajargal Munkhbat) is only the 69th in a row since the 17th century, and many honored fighters, for example, ozeki Kayo Hiroyuki, despite their immense popularity, more than 100 bashos and five won imperial cups until he became a yokozuna.

It remains to add that collectively the wrestlers of the four highest ranks of yokozuna, ozeki, sekivake and komusubi are called the term sanyaku.

Individualization of a wrestler

Let's start with the most important thing - with the name. Upon admission to the Heya, a person changes his surname to the so-called Sikona (pseudonym). Sikona also contains a given name and a surname, with the surname written first and being the part of the individualization by which the wrestler is recognized. For example, the 68th yokozuna, the Mongol Dolgorsurengiin Dagvadorzh, took his sikon Asashoryu Akinori and went down in history precisely as Asashoryu.

Mention should be made of hairstyles. Rikishi make a special complicated hairstyle, in which the hair must be styled in a special way in the form of a leaf of the gingko biloba plant.

This is a painstaking job that takes a lot of time, which is why the tokoyama (hairdressers) live in the heya. In addition to the hairstyle, each sumotori has a special mawashi silk belt. It is very long (up to 10 meters) and wraps around the waist and hips several times, tying in a special knot behind the back. The so-called sagari, that is, amulets and amulets, are usually attached to the mawashi. The color of the mawashi depends on the hei of the fighter. In addition to the belts for the duel, each sekitori has an individual belt used for rituals and resembling an apron. It is called kese-mawashi.

These are very beautiful items, often embroidered with gold and even adorned with precious stones. Drawing, colors and cost depend solely on the imagination of the fighter and the size of the purse of his sponsors. The only requirement is that the drawings reflect the content of the history or legends of the Land of the Rising Sprout (one of the self-names of Japan).

The yokozuna outfit deserves special mention. On top of the kese-mawashi, the "great champion" wears a special rope woven from rice straw called seminawa, or zuna. The rope can be 20 kg in weight and symbolizes the champion's heavy burden.

Rituals before fights

The ritual that opens any basho is called dohyo-iri (entering the platform). Wrestlers in kesho-mawashi appear in strict accordance with their rating. First comes the sumotori of the east, and then the sumotori of the west.

They line up along the dohyo and clap their hands loudly to ward off evil spirits.

Then it's time for the yokozuna. He is accompanied by two squires carrying a ceremonial sword. " Grand Champion” enters the center of the circle, claps his hands loudly to attract deities and ancestral spirits, then stretches his arms to the sides with palms up, demonstrating that he has neither weapons nor dark secret thoughts. After this, the yokozuna raises one leg high and lowers it to the platform, starting the ritual dance. The yokozuna dance procedure is quite complex, there are even two separate styles, but I deliberately omit these details as not so significant within the framework of our narrative.

So, the procedure for expelling evil spirits outside the dohyo is over. Gyoji can now climb onto the platform. They are dressed in luxurious, expensive silk clothes. You can start fights. Each rikishi throws salt onto the platform before the fight - to purify himself and his thoughts before the fight, and also as an "offering" to heaven so that they grant victory.

The basho end ceremony of each day is also very colorful. One of the sumotori goes to the platform and performs the so-called "bow dance". This is the ancient tradition of sumo.

duel rules

On the one hand, they look simple, on the other hand, as always with the Japanese, not everything is as simple as it seems.

The one who loses:

a) touches the dohyo with any part of the body (even with the tip of the hair), except for the feet;
b) touching the dohyo outside the circle even with the feet;
c) who lost his mawashi during the duel.

It would seem that difficult? The one who is heavier and more imposing, enters the platform and easily wins. But it was not in vain that I mentioned at the beginning that rikishi are very strong, flexible and, most importantly, technical people. Simple power pressure often does not work, as the opponent easily rebuilds and uses your own advantages in weight and dimensions against you. There are at least 50 different combinations of attacks and combinations to achieve victory, and, believe me, sanyaku not only know them by heart, but also understand how to assess the possibility of counteraction in a matter of moments. Moreover, there are such interesting combinations as Izori - overturning an opponent with a throw back. Sumotori sits down under the opponent, grabs his knee with both hands and makes a throw. Or, say, kakezori - throwing the opponent back after diving under his attacking arm using the hook of the opposite leg of the opponent with outside. Naturally, such techniques are not used very often, although all sumo fans still remember how, at the November 2000 basho, Kayo defeated the yokozuna Musashimaru with a magnificent throw over the back with an arm grab. In sumo, this technique is called hippondza and is very rare. This victory is especially piquant because Kayo's dimensions (height 185 cm, weight 170 kg) are much more modest than those of Musashimaru (height 192 cm, weight 235 kg). So, the one who believes that victory in sumo goes to the hardest and most massive is deeply mistaken.

Personalities

Everyone can find a wrestler to keep a close eye on and cheer for. Now the world of sumo is very diverse. Despite the relatively young age, Kaio Yokozuna Hakuho, already mentioned by me, is popular. At 26, he had already won the Emperor's Cup 18 times. Two Europeans hold the high rank of ozeki. This is the good-natured Estonian Kaido Hevelson, called Balt, and the tallest (203 cm) and purposeful Bulgarian Kaloyan Stefanov Makhlyanov, acting under the sikon Kotoosyu.

There are three Georgians - Gagamaru, Tochinosin and Kokkay, many Mongols, a rising star, the Brazilian Kaisei. And, of course, we need to “root” for our Alan Gabaraev. It is difficult for him, but his fights are always beautiful and interesting.

As a fan, I preferred the first yokuzuna - not the Japanese Akebono and the cheerful lover of football and the joys of life Asashoryu. But my main favorite is a master who was great not only in doha, but also beyond. He is known in history as Takanohana. Great sumotori!

I hope that after reading this, you will now look at sumo with different eyes and watch at least one day of competition. Maybe you will even like it.