Sumo facts for kids
A sumo match (tori-kumi) between yokozuna Asashōryū (left) and komusubi Kotoshōgiku in January 2008.
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| Focus | Grappling |
|---|---|
| Hardness | Full contact |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Olympic sport | No, but IOC recognized |
Sumo (相撲, sumō) is a traditional Japanese full-contact sport. It's a type of wrestling where two people try to push each other out of a special ring or make them touch the ground with any part of their body other than their feet.
The wrestling takes place in a circular ring called a dohyō, which is about 4.55 meters wide. Sumo wrestlers are known as rikishi. They use different skills and techniques to win their matches.
Major sumo tournaments are held in big cities across Japan, including Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka.
Contents
Understanding Sumo Wrestlers
Sumo wrestlers, also called sumotori, are ranked based on how well they perform in tournaments. Their wins and losses decide their position in the sumo world.
What is a Yokozuna?
The highest and most respected rank a sumo wrestler can achieve is called yokozuna, which means "grand champion". Becoming a yokozuna is very difficult and only a few wrestlers ever reach this top level. Some famous yokozuna include Chiyonofuji Mitsugu and Akebono.
Sumo's Global Reach
In recent times, sumo has become more international. Wrestlers from different countries now compete at the highest levels. For example, Konishiki and Akebono, who both became yokozuna, were born in Hawaii.
In 2008, a wrestler from Bulgaria named Kotooshu won a major championship. Also, two top wrestlers, Asashoryu and Hakuho, were from Mongolia. Hakuho even won a tournament in Nagoya without losing a single match!
Images for kids
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Sumo wrestlers gather in a circle around the gyōji (referee) in the dohyō-iri (ring-entering ceremony).
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The sumo hall of Ryōgoku in Tokyo during a tournament.
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Sumo nobori flags. These are colorful banners used to promote the tournament.
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Sumo wrestlers at the Grand Tournament in Osaka, March 2006.
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Young low-ranking sumo wrestlers at the Tomozuna Stable in Tokyo end their daily workout routine with a footwork drill.
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Yokozuna Asashoryu performing the distinctive dohyō-iri of his rank.
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Bulgarian amateur sumo wrestlers. On the right is their national coach, Hristo Hristov.
See also
In Spanish: Sumo para niños
