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Super sumo! -
02-13-2007, 03:03 PM
Since the fateful day i accidentally flipped to a sumo wrestling channel, my curiosity has been aroused regarding the sport and how it'd originated and why the Japanese indulge in it? Or even whether there is actually a hyfen inbetween..?
This is what i've dug up from the net but of course, i don't know for sure if it's a spoof or not, so i'll leave that up to you guys: Sumo wrestling has ancient beginnings. The first documented account of a Sumo fight was written in 712 AD in the kojiki, which is an ancient book of records (Sharnoff 1). The story of Sumo began when two rival gods (Kyokai 2) decided to fight. Their names were Takemikazuchi and Takeminakata. These mythical beings fought along the Japan Sea. The gods fought in the Sumo wrestling style. Takemikazuchi killed Takeminakata, therefore winning the battle. Takemikazuchi later created a royal family. After this cave paintings were found that depicted Sumo wrestling as an ancient ceremony of farming to ask for good crops, however at this time Sumo wrestling was brutal and was often fought to the death (Sharnoff 1). After this momentous fight, during the mid 600's Sumo became a common form of entertainment for the Imperial Court, or the Tenran-Zurno. This was during the reign of Empress Kogyoku. The reign of Emperor Shomu lasted from 724-749. Emperor Shomu drafted Sumotories, who were Sumo wrestlers, to perform at the sechie celebration. The event was held on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. From 809-823 when Emperor Saga ruled, Sumo was made into a martial art. Throughout the rule of Oda Nobunga, which was from 1534 to 1582, rules were then established and the techniques were refined for the game. Also at this time 1,500 Sumo wrestlers had a gigantic tournament in the Imperial Palace. Since a tournament of this stature had never been held, the organizers of the fight did not know what to expect. No boundaries were built so many spectators were hurt. The next day however boundaries were made with rice packs. The rice bags were half buried in the ground. Thus the dohyo, or ring, became official. In the Edo period (r.1603-1867) special clothing was made especially for the wrestlers, rankings and status were established. Also a Sumo wrestler was automatically guaranteed a good living. (Sharnoff 1-2). Sumo wrestling was practiced differently over the years. Sumo wrestling has now not been modified very much for the present day. Here's a sample picture  and a video taken from japanese cable ^_^ the fighting part comes at arnd 01:32 P.S. anyone know how they maintain their humongous size? There's no such thing as happy endings, for when you find true love, happiness is everlasting.
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02-15-2007, 03:07 PM
I rmb when i was younger i saw smth abt sumos drinking some kinda fats maintaining liquid.... lol, can someone confirm that with me? >_<"
There's no such thing as happy endings, for when you find true love, happiness is everlasting.
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02-19-2007, 11:26 PM
BTW, here are some useful links if You want to get more info on Sumo:
> Sumo faq > International Sumo forums > Sumo fan magazine 
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02-23-2007, 07:37 AM
Ok, In response to Coolnard's question, here are some facts I found aoubt the Sumo's diet and lifestyle. From good 'ol Wiki...lol
Unlike most sports, Sumo is a highly controlled way of life. The Sumo Association can prescribe the behaviour of its wrestlers in a way that would be more commonly associated with life in a commune. For example, in the wake of a serious car accident involving a rikishi the Association banned wrestlers from driving their own cars. Sumo wrestlers can be identified immediately when in public. On entering sumo, the rikishi are expected to grow their hair long to form a topknot, or chonmage, similar to the samurai hairstyles of the Edo Period. Furthermore they are expected to wear the chonmage and traditional Japanese dress when in public. The type and quality of the dress depends on the wrestler's rank. Rikishi in Jonidan and below are allowed to wear only a thin cotton robe called a yukata, even in winter. Furthermore they must wear a form of wooden sandals called geta when outside. These make a clip-clop sound as one walks in them. Wrestlers in the Makushita and Sandanme divisions can wear a form of traditional short overcoat over their yukata and are allowed to wear straw sandals, called zori. The sekitori can wear silk robes of their own choice and the quality of the garb is significantly improved. They also are expected to wear a more elaborate form of topknot (called an oichi-o (lit. big ginkgo leaf) on formal occasions. Similar distinctions are made in stable life. The junior rikishi must get up earliest, around 5 a.m., for training whereas the sekitori may start around 7 a.m. When the sekitori are training the junior rikishi may have chores to do, such as assisting in cooking the lunch, cleaning and preparing the bath, or holding a sekitori's towel for him for when he needs it. The ranking hierarchy is preserved for the order of precedence in bathing after training, and in eating lunch. Rikishi are not normally allowed to eat breakfast and are expected to have a nap after a large lunch. The most common type of lunch served is the traditional "sumo meal" of chankonabe which consists of a simmering stew cooked at table which contains various fish, meat, and vegetables. It is usually eaten with rice and washed down with beer. This regimen of no breakfast followed by a large lunch helps rikishi put on weight so as to compete more effectively. A nap after lunch also assists in this process. In the afternoon the junior rikishi will again usually have cleaning or other chores to do, while their sekitori counterparts may relax, or deal with work issues related to their fan clubs. Younger rikishi will also attend classes, although their education differs from the typical curriculum of their non-sumo peers. In the evening sekitori may go out with their sponsors while juniors stay at home in the stable, unless they are to accompany the stablemaster or a sekitori as his manservant (or tsukebito) when he is out (this is normally a more privileged role given to a rikishi who may be nearing sekitori status himself). Becoming a tsukebito (or personal assistant) for a senior member of the stable is a typical chore. A sekitori will have many tsukebito, with the most junior responsible for cleaning and other mundane tasks. Only the most senior tsukebito will accompany the sekitori when he goes out. The Sekitori also are given their own room in the stable or, if married, may live in their own apartments. In contrast, the junior rikishi sleep in communal dormitories. Thus the world of the Sumo wrestler is split broadly between the junior rikishi, who serve, and the sekitori, who are served. Life is especially harsh for new recruits, to whom the worst jobs tend to be allocated, and there is a high dropout rate at this stage. The negative effects of the sumo lifestyle become dangerously apparent later in life. Sumo wrestlers have a life expectancy of between 60 and 65, more than 10 years less than the average Japanese male. They often develop diabetes and high blood pressure, and are prone to heart attacks. The excessive intake of alcohol leads to liver problems and the stress on their joints causes arthritis. Recently, the standards of weight gain are becoming less strict, in an effort to improve the overall health of the wrestlers. [4][5]. Average height of sumo wrestlers are around 183 cm. [edit] Salary and payment As of March 2001, the monthly salary figures for sekitori (in Japanese Yen) were:[6] Yokozuna Asashoryu performing the distinctive dohyo-iri of his rankYokozuna: 2,820,000 Ozeki: 2,350,000 Sanyaku: 1,700,000 Maegashira: 1,300,000 Juryo: 1,030,000 Wrestlers in the lower divisions, who are considered to be trainees, do not receive a salary, but only a fairly small allowance. In addition to the basic salary, sekitori wrestlers also receive additional bonus income, called mochikyukin, six times a year (once every tournament, or basho) based on the cumulative performance in their career to date. This bonus increases every time that the rikishi scores a kachikoshi (with larger kachikoshi giving larger raises.) Special increases in this bonus are also awarded for winning the Makuuchi championship (with an extra large increase for a "perfect" championship victory with no losses), and also for scoring a kinboshi (an upset of a Yokozuna by a Maegashira). Sanyaku wrestlers also receive a relatively small additional tournament allowance, depending on their rank, and Yokozuna receive an additional allowance every second tournament, associated with the making of a new yokozuna hawser (rope worn around the waist during ceremonies). There is also prize money for the winner of each divisional championship, which increases from 100,000 yen for a Jonokuchi victory up to 10,000,000 yen for winning the Makuuchi division. For wrestlers in the top division giving an exceptional performance in the eyes of a judging panel there are also three special prizes (the sansho) which are worth 2,000,000 yen each.
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02-23-2007, 08:01 AM
Superbly detailed explanation on the culture and daily life of the sumo, rikku!
 But why are the rikishi treated so much like animals? They're humans too, aren't they? Who invented that rule? O.o There's no such thing as happy endings, for when you find true love, happiness is everlasting.
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