How much does a sumo wrestler weigh. What is the average weight of a sumo wrestler. Modern organization of professional sumo in Japan

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. The next exercise (also for stretching) is called “matawari” and is performed with the participation of a partner who gently presses on the back of the sumo wrestler, 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 head off for an 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"

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. By and large, there are three differences: in 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 of specific age limits no 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

Achieved high results wrestlers receive not only the boundless love of the people and the right to give autographs in the form of prints of their own palms, 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.

The fights of sumatori (sumo wrestlers) take place on a doha: a special adobe platform covered with fine sand. In the center of the square (7.27 x 7.27 m) platform there is a circle with a diameter of 4.55 m. The sumo wrestler must either push the opponent out of this circle, or force him to touch the surface of the circle with any part of the body - except for the feet. Wrestlers are forbidden to strike with their fists, ribs of the palms and legs, choke each other, pull the hair - from the side, the sumo wrestlers look like a persistent “pushing” of each other. At the same time, sumo fights are extremely fleeting: they usually last one or two minutes, fights lasting more than five minutes are very rare.

The course of the fight is monitored by 4 side judges, the chief arbiter and the referee on the platform.

For sumatori, their own weight is important. Modern sumo wrestlers are people of large build. And since the technical arsenal of this type of struggle does not include painful holds and aggressive attacking actions, the bulk of the body of the sumo wrestlers is not muscles, but fat deposits, which gives the fights a unique originality: in fact, huge fat men perform in front of the audience, most of which do not differ in athletic physique. Along with physical force The sumo wrestler must also have a good reaction and a sense of balance, which is very difficult to maintain during the fight, given the heavy weight of the opponents.

The equipment of sumo wrestlers includes only special belts - mawashi, which are tied through the groin at the waist. The absence of any clothes on sumo wrestlers is not accidental, this emphasizes the “clean” nature of this noble, by Japanese standards, wrestling: rivals are not able to hide weapons in folds, for example, kimonos, in which judo wrestlers perform. The mawashi of an opponent is often used by a sumo wrestler when carrying out grips and throws, since it is simply impossible to grab hold of most parts of the body of an athlete weighed down with a large fat mass. Deliberately tearing off a belt from an opponent is prohibited, and the loss of a belt through the fault of the wrestler himself leads to his disqualification (although this happens extremely rarely).

A simple and unpretentious sumo seems only to an uninitiated viewer. It is not easy to knock a giant sumo wrestler onto the platform or push him out of the circle. This is hindered by the gigantic weight of the wrestlers. In addition, in sumo, as in any other type of wrestling, there is a set of techniques that allow the athlete to technically competently attack and defend. In modern Japanese sumo, there are 82 basic techniques. Among the most common are such techniques as "yorikiri" - holding a mutual grip, in which the athlete, who turned out to be with his back to the border of the circle, is forced out by the enemy (on average, about 30% of victories in modern sumo are achieved precisely by this technique), and "kakezori" - Throw the opponent through the thigh. One of the most difficult and, at the same time, the most beautiful and spectacular techniques is “ipponzoi”, grabbing one of the opponent’s hands with both hands and then throwing him over the back (for the period from 1990 to 2001, this most difficult technique brought victory to only one sumo wrestler - Kayo, who with its own weight of 170 kg, managed to transfer the 220-kg Musashimaru).

Unlike international sumo tournaments, where fights are held in weight categories, in classic Japanese sumo wrestlers participate in fights, regardless of their weight. This gives it exceptional spectacle - and clearly demonstrates that not only weight is important in sumo, but also the athlete's technique.

The duel is like a ritual.

Japanese sumo, being a national sport with a long history, is extremely conservative in nature. The duel is held according to the traditions that have developed centuries ago. Its ceremonial side is of no small importance.

Before the start of the fight, athletes are required to perform the traditional ceremony of shaking off the mortal dust from their hands: they fold their palms in front of them, and then spread them apart, thereby showing their intention to fight “cleanly”. Then the wrestlers do half-squats, resting their hands on half-bent knees and looking into each other's eyes (the so-called sonke position). At present, such movements are nothing more than a tribute to tradition, but in ancient times it was a kind of psychological duel between wrestlers who tried to mentally suppress the opponent with a stern look and formidable posture. Such a "psychological confrontation" lasts, as a rule, several minutes - 3-4 times longer than the duel itself. The wrestlers sit down opposite each other 2-3 times, and then straighten up and move apart, thereby increasing the tension in the hall. These ceremonial preparatory actions are accompanied by the throwing of salt: the participants in the duel throw handfuls of it in front of them on the platform, which is a symbol of the expulsion of demonic spirits from sports ground. Only after such a - long enough - ceremony, the wrestlers sit down in last time, rest their fists on the platform and, at the signal of the judge, rush at each other.

At the end of the fight, the winner again takes the sonke position - waiting for the official decision of the judges. After its announcement, the wrestler moves his right hand aside, palm down, and only then leaves the platform.

Professional Japanese sumo.

Competition.

In modern Japan, professional sumo tournaments (or as it is called “ozumo” - literally “big sumo”) largely determine the national calendar, setting the cyclical rhythm of the life of the whole country. The regularity of the tournaments gives the Japanese confidence in the inviolability of ancient traditions and the stability of their own existence. Tournaments are held 6 times a year (on odd months, starting from January). Their venues are also constant: in January, May and September - in Tokyo, in March - in Osaka, in July - in Nagoya, in November - in Fukuoka. The duration of one tournament is 15 days. Sunday is the first and last day of the tournaments. Fights are held in six "rating" categories with a total of almost a thousand athletes. The highest category - makuuchi - currently includes 40 sumatori, who hold one fight a day, wrestlers of lower "divisions" fight once every 2 days. The winner of the tournament is the wrestler who has achieved the largest number of victories in duels (maximum - 15). If two or more wrestlers have won the same number of victories during the competition, additional fights are held between them to determine the strongest. Fights between the recognized leaders of sumo - "ozeki" (wrestlers of the 2nd rank) and "yokozuna" (wrestlers of the 1st or higher rank) usually begin at 16.30 and end by 18.00, when the traditional NHK evening newscast is aired , which for many years owns the exclusive right to broadcast sumo tournaments on television.

The disadvantage of these competitions has long been considered the fact that representatives of the same sumo schools (or “rooms” - Japanese heya) cannot fight each other in them. According to tradition, representatives of one or another “room” (now there are more than 50 of them) should only oppose wrestlers from other schools, but not their comrades. The only exceptions are additional fights in the final of the tournament.

In addition to six official tournaments, professional sumo wrestlers take part in demonstration performances in various cities of Japan and abroad throughout the year.

Yokozuna.

The title of "yokozuna" (lit. great champion) is awarded for excellent sports results that a wrestler achieves over a long period of time (at least 3-5 years), as well as for outstanding achievements in the field of sumo. The title is assigned by a special commission, which long and meticulously studies each candidate. Unlike ozeki, yokozuna is a lifetime title. It is awarded infrequently: over the past 300 years, only about 70 sumo wrestlers have been awarded it.

According to the rules, no more than five yokozuna can participate in one sports season. At the same time, there are seasons when not a single yokozuna is among the participants in the tournaments.

If the current yokozuna begins to "lose ground", he must retire from sumo.

Sumo is a fat man's sport.

It is believed that the “exterior” of sumo wrestlers corresponds to the Japanese ideas about the male ideal. Like the ancient Russian heroes, Japanese sumo wrestlers personify the greatness of the mighty flesh and the good spirit clothed in this flesh.

It should be noted that the weight of sumo wrestlers has become truly gigantic only in recent decades. Moreover: until 1910, the Japanese, who weighed more than 52 kg, were not allowed to sumo. In 1926, those whose weight did not exceed 64 kg were allowed to compete in tournaments, and in 1957 the minimum allowable weight of a sumo wrestler was officially introduced - 66.5 kg, the Japanese Sumo Association (former in 1927) refused the maximum limit.

Currently, sumo schools accept teenagers with a height of at least 173 cm and a weight of at least 75 kg. The average weight of a modern professional wrestler ranges from 120–140 kg, although the latest history of sumo knows both unique giants (for example, the Hawaiian Konishiki weighed from 270 to 310 kg in different years of his sports career) and lively “kids” (one of few sumo wrestlers with higher education Mainoumi weighed less than 95 kg).

The basis of sumo wrestlers' nutrition is, as a rule, fatty type-setting hot soups with meat and vegetables, which wrestlers eat twice a day up to 3 kg in one sitting, washed down with beer.

As practice shows, after the end of a sports career, most sumo wrestlers lose weight: their weight drops to 85–90 kg.

History reference.

Initially, sumo was a hand-to-hand combat of warrior fighters, identical to those that existed in the Tatar-Mongolian troops. Its historical roots are still not precisely defined, but most researchers are inclined to believe that the chronology of sumo is at least 2000 years old, and it came to Japan from Mongolia in the 6th-7th centuries. (There is also a “Japanese” version of the origin of sumo, according to which the Shinto god Takamikazuchi won a hand-to-hand duel with a barbarian deity, after which the heavens allowed the Japanese to settle on Honshu, the main island of the Japanese archipelago.) The first mention of sumo in Japanese historical documents dates back to 642 year.

Since the XII century, there has been a division of sumo into combat and sports. In the XIII-XIV centuries. it has acquired the status of a national Japanese wrestling, the competitions were held according to the agricultural calendar - in connection with the end of the autumn field work, and later on other "economic reasons". In addition, sumo tournaments began to coincide with individual religious (Shinto) holidays.

The heyday of sumo falls on the 17th century, when tens of thousands of Japanese became its avid fans, and sumoists became the favorites of the public. Competitions were held on the occasion of state and local holidays. It was in the 17th century that the basic principles of sumo were fully formed as wrestling, the rules for holding tournaments were clearly regulated, which are observed to this day.

For a long time, Japanese sumo remained a sport exclusively “for its own”. Until the end of the 60s. In the 20th century, non-Japanese were not allowed there: a rare exception was naturalized foreigners - Chinese and Koreans. From the end of the 60s. “ordinary” foreigners also began to perform in Japanese sumo. Starting from the second half of the 80s, some of them, primarily from the Hawaiian Islands, began to achieve noticeable success on Doha.

At the end of the 20th century, a noticeable development in different countries received amateur sumo. In 1992, the International Sumo Federation (ISF) was created: initially it included 25 countries, in 2002 there were already 82 of them. In the same 1992, the world sumo championship also debuted. Three years later, the European championship was played for the first time. At first, representatives of other types of martial arts participated in such competitions, who simultaneously mastered the technique of sumo wrestling, but by the end of the 90s, an elite of “pure” sumo masters had formed.

Amateur tournaments are held in four weight categories: light (up to 85 kg), medium (85–115 kg), heavy (over 115 kg) and absolute (athletes participate in fights regardless of their weight). Women sumo wrestlers have the same categories: light (up to 65 kg), medium (65–80 kg), heavy (over 80 kg) and absolute. Amateur competitions are held both in individual and team competitions.

Currently, the strongest sumo wrestlers in the world, apart from the Japanese themselves, are fighters from Brazil, Mongolia, Russia, Poland, Germany and the USA.

Sumo is included in the program of the World Games (World Games - competitions in sports disciplines that are not included in the official program of the Olympic Games, have been held since 1980). The issue of granting it the status of an Olympic sport is being considered. According to the rules of the IOC, a sport is declared Olympic only if male and female varieties of this sports discipline are cultivated in various countries of the world. Now women's sumo is actively developing in the USA, Germany, Russia and many other countries - except for Japan. There, sumo is still considered a purely male sport. There are individual sumo wrestlers in the country, but so far they cannot count on universal recognition and holding their own tournaments. And therefore the imminent recognition of sumo olympic view sport is very problematic.

Sumo in Russia.

Initially, a sumo section functioned under the Russian Judo Federation. In 1998, the Sumo Federation of Russia was established, which currently holds the championships of Moscow and St. Petersburg, a number of others regional competitions, and also plays the national championship.

Our sumo wrestlers successfully perform at international amateur sumo competitions. The Russian team had no equal at the European Championships of 2000 and 2001, as well as at the 2000 World Championship. The most titled Russian sumo wrestlers today are Ayas Mongush and Olesya Kovalenko.

In recognition of the merits of our sumo wrestlers, Russia received the right to host the 2002 European Championship and the 2003 World Championship.

In 2000, 16-year-old Buryat schoolboy Anatoly Mikhakhanov was the first Russian to make his debut in professional sumo - under the name Asahi Mitsuri. In 2002, two more immigrants from Russia joined him - the brothers Soslan and Batraz Boradzov.

Alexandra Vlasova

At first glance, Japanese sumo wrestling looks strange: overweight men, dressed in huge bikinis, push each other in a small circle, and...

By Masterweb

At first glance, Japanese sumo wrestling looks strange: overweight men dressed in huge bikinis jostling in a small circle, and the preliminary ceremony is usually longer than the fight itself. However, digging a little deeper reveals a unique and technical sport steeped in history and wrestlers whose rigorous training regimen and dedication cannot fail to impress.

Sumo is a type of wrestling that has long been the national sport in Japan. Its origin dates back to the Yayei period (circa 300 BC - 300 AD). It includes many elements of the Shinto religion in the form of various rituals and ceremonies that usually last much longer than the duel itself. Until now, competitions in this sport are considered a sacred event, and the pavilion in which fights take place is equated to a Shinto shrine.

Origin and development

The origins of sumo wrestling are lost in the mists of time, but it is believed to have first been practiced during the Yayoi period as part of a Shinto ritual when "kami" or spirits were called to fight.

Traditionally, the very first wrestler is considered to be Nomi no Sukune, who was ordered by the emperor Suyinin (29 BC - 70 AD) to fight Tagima no Kehai. Nomi no Sukune won, albeit naturally, as he was a descendant of Amenohohi, the son of the sun goddess Amaterasu.

Figures of sumo wrestlers surrounded the oldest Japanese burials, and clay toys from the Kofun period were also found depicting them.

Sumo wrestling competitions in Japan became an important ritual in the 8th century. n. e. Fights known as tsuji-zumo were fought by samurai. They did not differ in a large number of rules, often ended in death, and the prize was cash. Another type of fighting was kanjin zumo, which was held in temples to raise money for their upkeep.

After the 12th century, this struggle almost disappeared as the decline of the power of the Imperial Court and the emergence of the samurai class led to political instability. The last official sumo seti was held in 1174. Under the shoguns, public matches were banned, but martial arts were encouraged among the samurai. There are several pictures of people doing this type of wrestling in full gear outside the doha area.

It is believed that the circle separating the wrestlers from the spectators appeared in the 16th century. at a tournament organized by the chief military leader of Japan, Oda Nobunaga. Back then sumo wrestlers wore loose loincloths rather than the much stiffer modern mawashi. During the Edo period, wrestlers wore edged kese-mawashi during the fight, but today they are worn only during the pre-tournament rituals. Most of the rest of the uniforms currently in use came from the same era.

The modern history of the rules and techniques of sumo wrestling began at the Tomioka Hachimangu Shinto shrine in Tokyo. Regular fights have been organized here since 1684. In particular, the former samurai Ikazuchi Gondai created the rules and arena that are still used today. Sumo wrestlers, popularly called "rikishi", later became professional athletes, and wrestling itself became a national sport. As before, it continues to be considered sacred.

Shinto rituals

The explosive physical strike in sumo wrestling is preceded by a long series of rituals and postures that originate from ancient fights and the Shinto religion. One of these rituals involves the competitor raising one leg and slamming it hard on the ground several times. It comes from the archaic practice of warriors making such movements before battle to frighten the enemy, which is called "shiko". The same ritual was performed by the goddess Amaterasu when she faced the rebellious brother Susanoo in Shinto mythology.

Wrestlers also clap their hands before the fight. This is another Shinto tradition where the worshiper clap to mark the beginning and end of the prayer.

Another ritual is that athletes periodically scatter salt. It is an act of purification practiced at Shinto shrines to drive away evil spirits.

Finally, the judge of a sumo match is a striking sight in itself, as he wears a robe similar to those worn in medieval times in the imperial court of Japan and worn by Shinto priests today.

Playground for wrestling

The two wrestlers face each other as they stand on a raised square platform of hard-packed clay covered with a layer of sand. The sumo wrestling area measures exactly 5.7 m wide on each side and 34–60 cm high. The ring or doha is a perfect circle with a diameter of 4.57 m, marked with braids of rice straw. After each competition, the site is dismantled. A canopy with colored tassels hanging from its 4 corners is raised high above the platform, and the whole ensemble has the status of a sacred Shinto shrine, which it closely resembles.

The winner of the bout must either push his opponent out of the straw circle or force him down. If any part of the wrestler's body other than his feet touches the clay floor, he loses. Athletes with hair tied in elaborate buns in imitation of medieval samurai wear a "mawashi" or large belt that an opponent can grab onto to wrestle or lift the wearer, pushing them out of the circle or knocking them down. In the fastest fights, this task may take only a few seconds to complete, but the difficulty lies in the sheer size of the wrestlers. Many sumo wrestlers weigh 150 kg, but the mass of individual giants can exceed 200 kg.

Organization

Some sumo wrestlers in Japan are superstars, especially tournament winners who have received the prestigious title of "yokozuna" or grand champion. Participation in the sport is not limited to the Japanese, however, as some yokozuna were born in Mongolia and Hawaii. Even lesser-known sumo wrestlers are popular, as they are often invited to private homes at the end of winter to rid the home of bad spirits or "oni" in a ceremony known as "setsubun" ("second day, second month"). The sumo wrestler throws the beans and repeatedly yells the phrase "oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi" which means "demons away, good luck come".

Sumo wrestlers are called "rikishi" in Japanese. The two hieroglyphs that form this word mean "strength" and "warrior". In 6 leagues - maku-uchi, zure, makushita, sandanme, zonidan, zonokuchi - there are about 650 rikishi.

Maku-uchi (includes 42 the best athlete) naturally receives the most media attention. At the top is the yokozuna, the great champion. This position is usually taken by winning two hon-bashes (major tournaments that determine the ranking) in a row. There are 6 hon-bashes every year (in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka), one in every odd month, and they last 15 days. By 2018, there were only 72 yokozuna in the history of the sport, which should give an idea of ​​how difficult it is to achieve this title. Rikishi from the top two divisions (known as "sekitori") compete in every major tournament.

preliminary ritual

The uniqueness of Japanese sumo wrestling lies in the fact that the spectacular pre-match ceremony is as exciting as the fight itself. The day before each major tournament, the doha clay platform with a 4.55 m diameter circle in which the duel takes place is “cleansed” with a prayer for the safety of the rikishi. It involves placing salt, peeled rice, dried chestnuts, dried seaweed, dried cuttlefish and nutmeg berries in a small hole in the center of the ring as an offering to the gods.

The rikishi climb the doha from the east and west, with the east side doing it first. The wrestlers go to the center of the circle and stop exactly behind the shikiri-sen lines, separated by only a few centimeters. They stare into each other's eyes and perform a ritual called "shiko". It consists of the wrestlers clapping their hands and alternately raising and lowering their right and left legs, which is probably the action with which this sport is most associated outside of Japan. But it's more than just warming up the muscles. Clapping serves to attract the attention of the gods, hands raised to the sky demonstrate the absence of weapons, and the famous stamping of the feet is necessary to crush any evil spirit.

At the end of the shiko, the rikishi leave the circle and purify themselves. The first ritual is called "chikara-mizu", which literally means " strong water". Each rikishi receives this water from the last opponent they defeated. Like a cleansing ritual in shrines and temples, each rikishi takes a handful of water, rinses his mouth with it, and washes his body. The wrestlers then take a handful of salt and scatter it over the ring.

Duel

As soon as the shinpan judge gives the signal for the start of the bout, each rikishi squats behind an 80 cm long white line called "shikiri-sen". Since sumo wrestling is designed for two participants, there are two such lines. The duel begins when both rikishi place clenched fists behind their shikiri sen.

Since it is the wrestlers themselves who ultimately decide the start of the fight, these moments can be incredibly tense. Rikishi will often crouch for a few seconds, carefully watching what their opponent will do, before standing up again. They may exit the ring to their corner, but if they do, they must clean the circle again with salt before re-entering. A single fight determines the winner (this is not the best system), and since the first few seconds during which the rikishi collide are often decisive, one can understand why the preliminary actions are often the most intense moments of the fight.

If the referee determines that one of the wrestlers did not put both fists on the ground before the start of the match, or if the opponent decides that he is not quite ready, the bout stops. In this case, the sumo wrestlers must return to their starting position.

The tachi-ai starting spurt is one of the most important stages of the fight. A good start allows the sumo wrestler to fight in the style that suits him best.

Officially, there are 82 techniques, called kimari-te ("decisive hand"), with which a rikishi can win a match (for example, push, throw by the neck, etc.). Once the winner is determined, both rikishi stand on either side of the circle and bow to each other without showing emotion before the loser leaves the sumo wrestling ring and the shinpan officially announces the winner.

General entrance to the ring

Each day of the competition begins with lower rank bouts before jure and maku uchi matches. Each round of fighting is preceded by a special procession called dohe-iri where the rikishi stand outside the dohe circle wearing their mawashi (silk loincloths) and perform an alternate version of the shiko ritual mentioned above. They clap and rub their hands to make sure the gods are watching, symbolically clearing themselves before leaving the ring, waving their mawashi to signify that there are no weapons underneath.

The yokozuna performs her own ritual of entering the circle, which is a more elaborate and longer version of the shiko, which also involves the shinpan and two other rikishi present on the doha.

Fight rules

The basic rule of sumo wrestling is simple: if any part of the body other than the legs touches the ground or the athlete goes out of the circle, the match ends and the opponent is declared the winner. During the match, the following actions are prohibited:

• grasping hair;
• eye gouging;
• punches (spanking with open palms is allowed);
• strangulation (although thrusting with open palms into the throat of the opponent is allowed);
• capture of a part of the opponent's mawashi in the crotch area.

The wrestler who used the forbidden technique automatically loses, as well as the one who has mawashi untied. Also, the defeat is counted to the one who cannot continue the fight (for example, after an injury). After the announcement of the winner, the judge must report the move that led to the victory.

There are no weight categories. It's not just about size: maneuverability can be important as well, and small rikishi have the advantage that they can back off and slip behind their larger opponent, using his considerable momentum against him.

Participation of foreigners and women

Although the sport has historically been dominated by the Japanese, in recent years foreigners have become more and more common participants in sumo competitions. Rikisi, who has won the biggest tournament victories, is a Mongolian athlete named Hakuho Se (Munkhbatyn Davaajargal). Currently, foreigners (of which most are Mongols) make up about 5% of the total number of sumo wrestlers.

AT professional wrestling sumo women cannot participate. But this prohibition does not apply to amateurs. Brazil is considered the center of women's sumo wrestling.

The longest sumo match lasted 32 minutes, including 2 mizu-iri (short breaks that are announced when the match reaches a stalemate).

The greatest number of victories in a row - 69 - was won by Futabayama Sadaji (1912-1968).

The heaviest sumo wrestler in history was Orara Satoshi, a Russian athlete from the Republic of Buryatia, bordering Mongolia, who weighed 271 kg.

The basic remuneration of a sumo wrestler is determined by his rank. Yokozuna receives about 2.8 million yen a month, and jure wrestlers receive about 1 million.

After a serious car accident involving athlete Mitoizumi, the Sumo Association banned sumo wrestlers from driving a car.

Geji judges, like wrestlers, enter the profession at the age of 16 and remain in it until they retire. Their traditional dress is strictly dependent on rank, and as they grow professionally, they receive honorary titles. The geji of the highest rank takes the name Kimura Senosuke, but unlike the yokozuna, only one can wear it.

Each judge has a short tanto sword 15-30 cm long. With it, he must commit ritual suicide in case of making the wrong decision.

In accordance with the strict rules that govern their lives, sumo wrestlers are forbidden to choose their clothes. They must grow their hair long so that they can be tied into a ten-mage knot, similar to that of the samurai in the Edo period. Such a hairstyle, like traditional clothes, must be worn by sumo wrestlers at all times. At the same time, the clothes of beginner sumo wrestlers must be made of cheap cotton, and they must have wooden geta sandals on their feet, even in winter. As the rank increases, wrestlers are allowed to have more and more expensive clothes and even choose their own.

Describing sumo wrestling, it is impossible not to mention the main diet of sumo wrestlers - chanko-nabe. This is a protein-rich Japanese stew consisting of fish, meat and vegetables in a chicken broth specially formulated to help rikishi gain weight. You don't have to be a wrestler to try it - there are restaurants that specialize in this dish.

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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 prepared 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, meaning starting positions 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 a top performance two or more wrestlers 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. The "great champion" enters the center of the circle, claps his hands loudly to attract deities and ancestral spirits, then stretches his arms out to the sides, 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.

One of the popular national sports in Japan is sumo wrestling. Japan is the only country where sumo competitions are held on professional level. In other countries, such as Korea, sumo is also a popular sport, but only at an amateur level.

Sumo originated in antiquity, during the Yayoi era, which falls on the period 300 BC - 250 AD. At that time, sumo was a Shinto ritual ceremony (Shinto is the traditional religion of the Japanese people), which gradually developed into a combat duel. Then, for the pleasure of the nobility of those times, pointed bamboo piles were dug around the place where the duel took place. And then, the losing wrestler, falling out of the circle, was pierced by these piles, which led to indescribable delight of the audience.

During the formation of the samurai class, sumo wrestling becomes his privilege. In the combat training of the samurai, sumo played a significant role, as it contributed to the ability to stand firmly on one's feet.

Sumo includes a certain ritual of preparing and conducting a duel. Before the duel began, its participants prayed for victory, sprinkled salt on the arena to drive evil spirits underground, and then clapped their hands to attract the attention of the deity in whose honor the competition was held, this ritual is still performed today.

In the 16th century, professional sumo tournaments began to take place. The rules of wrestling changed over time and were finally developed in the 17th century and have not changed since then.

The platform for sumo is a hill of 40-60 cm, on which there is a circle called dohyo, packed with clay and sprinkled with sand. In the center dohyo two white lines shikiri-sen) are the starting positions of sumo wrestlers. Around the arena, finely sifted sand called "snake's eye" is poured. With the help of sand it is possible to determine whether the touch was by a wrestler outside the arena. The diameter of the wrestling circle is 4.55 meters.

Sumo wrestlers dressed in mawashi- This is a special belt made of dense fabric, usually dark colors. This wide ribbon is wrapped around the naked body and between the legs several times and tied in a knot at the back. On the mawashi there is a fringe - sagari, which is only decoration and does not carry any semantic load. If the mawashi is unwound during the fight, then this automatically leads to the disqualification of the wrestler.

Sumo wrestlers' hair is greased and placed in a large bun at the crown. The referee is watching the fight gyoji) competitions. He is dressed in ancient ritual clothes and during the struggle he gives commands with the help of a fan.

The rules of wrestling include a number of prohibitions, these are: you can’t grab an opponent by the hair, fingers, ears, you can’t choke, you can’t grab mawashi in the genital area, you can only hit with an open palm, but you can’t hit in the eye area and genitals. All other tricks are allowed.

In the following cases, the defeat of the sumo wrestler is counted:

• the wrestler has touched the ground with any part of the body other than the soles of the feet
• the wrestler was forced out of the circle
• the wrestler performed a hold prohibited for wrestling
• mawashi came in an inappropriate look
• wrestler announced blue thai(corpse). This happens extremely rarely when the wrestler is in an impossible position to fight.

The duel does not last long and can be from a few seconds to several minutes. The decisive, but not the main, role in the victory is played by the mass of the wrestler, because the greater the weight, the easier it is to push the opponent out of the circle. Therefore, immediately before the competition, wrestlers consume large amounts of water - up to 10 liters per day and eat in huge quantities. fatty foods, increasing its mass. Sumo wrestlers weigh from 125 kg to 235 kg. But the technique of waging a duel still plays the main role and therefore one can observe how a noticeably smaller wrestler wins in a duel.

Sumo wrestling has a strict hierarchy, it depends on the skill of the wrestler. The hierarchy was established in the Edo era and exists today. Each wrestler receives a pseudonym from the instructor. The wrestlers after each bout either advance or are relegated in the circle depending on the number of performances and their victories. Considering that the status of a wrestler depends on the number of victories, sumo wrestlers try to take part in all competitions, regardless of the fact that they have not yet recovered from injuries after previous competitions. And sumo is enough traumatic view sports. Often at competitions you can see a wrestler with bandaged hands and knees.

There are six ranks in sumo: makuuchi, dzyure, makushita, sandamme, jonidan, jonokuchi.

A sumo wrestler's career starts from the lowest rank - jenokuchi, and in order to reach the highest circle - makuuchi, one must exert a lot of strength and develop combat skills. It requires a lot of time and physical effort from the wrestler.

At the top of the qualification is the grand champion - yokozuna(great champion). If a wrestler reaches the title of yokozuna, then unlike other (lower) ranks, he is no longer subject to demotion even if he loses the match. But usually a yokozuna leaves the sport and does not take part in competitions if he sees that his time has passed and he does not meet the standard of a champion.

The winner of each competition receives the Emperor's Cup and a large cash prize. Professional sumo wrestlers receive a monthly fee of 10,000 dollars from the Japan Sumo Association, they receive an additional fee for each battle they win, plus there is a corresponding bonus system.

Sumo wrestling requires great strength and health, and huge weight also adversely affects the general condition of the wrestler, therefore, at the age of 35, sumo wrestlers retire and live quite prosperously from the funds accumulated for their professional activities, in addition, depending on the qualification level, they receive a decent pension - 5-6 thousand dollars.

There are six sumo tournaments in Japan every year. Three in Tokyo in January, May and September, and one each in Osaka in March, Nagoya in July and Fukuoka in November. Each tournament lasts for 15 days, during which each wrestler takes part in one match per day (excluding minor matches if they have already been won). During the tournament period, the rating of the hierarchy based on the results of the competition is updated daily. Wrestlers who have more wins than losses move up the hierarchy, those who have more losses in their arsenal are lowered in rank.

The best way to see sumo is to take part in the tournament, tickets are sold for all 15-day tours in specialized organizations, in mini-markets, in stadiums (the cheapest tickets are purchased on the day of the performance, in the stadium, special places are reserved for these tickets).

There are three types of places available for sumo lovers. These are places near the ring, which are located near the arena (circle) in which the competition takes place. These are the most expensive places and it is difficult to get tickets there. Spectators are seated on cushions on the floor and are at risk of injury when a wrestler flies out of the circle.

Vox seats are seats on the first floor of the stadium, in the form of a box divided among themselves, in which there are 4 seats - pillows on the floor. These places are sold immediately for 4 tickets, regardless of whether there will be four people or two. It is forbidden to wear shoes in these places.

And the third type of seating is balconies, Western style. The ticket price depends on the distance from the arena. Children under 3 years old, together with their parents, attend competitions for free, but in distant places, without providing a separate seat.

Tickets for competitions, as a rule, are purchased in advance, otherwise there is a chance not to get to your favorite show.