Sumo is a Japanese style of wrestling and Japan's national sport which originated as a performance to entertain the Shinto
gods. The basic rules of sumo are simple: the wrestler who first touches the
ground with anything besides the soles of his feet, or who leaves the
ring before his opponent, loses. There are no weight restrictions or classes in sumo, meaning that
wrestlers can easily find themselves challenging someone many
times their size. Fights take place on an elevated 15 ft ring,
called a "dohyo", which is made of clay and covered in a layer of sand.
The fights last no more than a few seconds. Punching, gouging,
and kicking are prohibited, but slapping and tripping are allowed. Once a wrestler reaches the rank of Yokozuna (grand champion), he cannot lose this status and will be expected to retire when his results begin to worsen. The wrestlers averaging between 20 and 35 years old, live and train together in 'stables'. See Japan Guide for more information.
The Global Game
All about Sumo Wrestling
-
About Sumo
Brief coverage of history, rules, hierarchy, ceremonies etc
-
Sumo Faq
Origins, rules, rankings judging, the shikiri; glossary and tips
-
Sumo FAQ
Wide coverage including dictionary, history, systems, rankings etc - all you wanted to know!
-
Glossary
-
Faq on Sumo
Covers all aspects of the Sport concisely
-
sumo: more than just fat guys in diapers
a great introduction to sumo, describing the history, participants, the bout, everything you need to know to become familiar with the sport
-
Sumo Basics
From Sumo Talk, structure,, rules, history and glossary
-
Sumo Terms
The most commonly heard Sumo terms from SumoTalk
-
What is Sumo Wrestling?
A useful introduction
-
Knee Extension training
Technical look at what is to be gained.
-
Faq on fitness training
Not just for Sumo
-
History and Traditions
From Sumo Talk;
-
Sumo Wrestling History
"The earliest written mention of Sumo is found in the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters), a book from the year 712, which is the oldest example of Japanese writing. The Kojiki relates a legend ......." Read on
-
A view of Sumo on U-tube
Good coverage of the sport of Sumo - the heart of Japanese Tradition
-
What is Sumo Wrestling?
A useful introduction
-
Sumo Wrestling
Overview from Wikipedia
-
Beginner's guide to Sumo Wrestling
Experiences of a visit to a Sumo Wrestling competition in Tokyo
What is Sumo Wrestling
The History of Sumo Wrestling
-
History and Traditions
From Sumo Talk;
-
Sumo Wrestling History
"The earliest written mention of Sumo is found in the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters), a book from the year 712, which is the oldest example of Japanese writing. The Kojiki relates a legend ......." Read on
-
Sumo Museum
- gathers and preserves a wide range of materials related to the history of sumo, from woodblock prints and banzuke (official listings of rank) to the ceremonial aprons worn by the great rikishi of the past.
-
Sumo Wrestling and Sumo prints
give a good glimpse into the past
Sumo Wrestling Statistics
Sumo Wrestling Training
Sumo Wrestling Fitness Training
Play/Watch Sumo Wrestling
Sumo Wrestling Competitions
Sumo Wrestling News
-
Expert Sumo Analysis
Sumotalk.com with news, chat etc. founded by Kenji Heilman and Mike Wesemann in November, 2002 and still going strong
Sumo Wrestling Players
Sumo Wrestling Portals
Sumo Wrestling Forums
Sumo Wrestling Blogs
-
Sumo - a Squidoo lens
with a variety of information about the sport and its traditions - well worth a read
Sumo Wrestling in Asia
Sumo Wrestling in Japan
Play/Watch Sumo Wrestling in Japan
Sumo Wrestling Competitions in Japan
Professional Sumo Wrestling in Japan
Sumo Wrestling in Europe
Play/Watch Sumo Wrestling in Europe
Sumo Wrestling Organisational bodies in Europe
-
European Sumo Union
The official website for sumo wrestling in Europe with information on events, results and pictures.
Sumo Wrestling in Finland
Play/Watch Sumo Wrestling in Finland
Sumo Wrestling Organisational bodies in Finland
Sumo Wrestling in Germany
Play/Watch Sumo Wrestling in Germany
Sumo Wrestling Organisational bodies in Germany
Sumo Wrestling in Netherlands
Play/Watch Sumo Wrestling in Netherlands
Sumo Wrestling Organisational bodies in Netherlands
Sumo Wrestling in United Kingdom
Play/Watch Sumo Wrestling in the United Kingdom
Sumo Wrestling Organisational bodies in the United Kingdom
-
British Sumo Federation
- the official governing body of Sumo in the UK as recognised by Japan, the European Sumo Union and the International Sumo Federation. Want to have a go? News history, events, skills ..
Sumo Wrestling in North America
Play/Watch Sumo Wrestling in North America
Sumo Wrestling Events in North America
Sumo Wrestling Players in North America
Sumo Wrestling in USA
Play/Watch Sumo Wrestling in the USA
Sumo Wrestling Organisational bodies in the USA
Sumo Wrestling Ezines in the USA
Ask the Expert
Use this form to ask one of our experts about this sport. Submitting this form will take you
to another screen where you can complete your request.
Are YOU an expert?