Participants in one of the oldest types of Japanese martial arts - sumoi - attract considerable interest due to their unusual large dimensions. What is the average weight of a sumo wrestler and what methods are used to maintain it?

Average weight of sumo wrestlers

On the first step of the wrestling career ladder, sumo wrestlers start at 100 kg. Over time, they increase their mass to 200 kg. The average weight of a sumo wrestler is about 150-200 kg.

Such a mass is necessary for wrestlers in order to push their opponents out of the inner circle of the platform as quickly and easily as possible. You can win by using one of two techniques:

• by pushing the enemy’s body beyond the boundaries of a square platform made of compacted clay - doha;
• forcing the opponent to touch any part of the body to the floor, be it a fingertip or a knee.

When fighting offensively, a heavyweight can hit the enemy only with an open palm, use slaps, and pushes. All kinds of grabs, throws and trips are prohibited. The fight can last only a few seconds, in rare cases up to five minutes.

It is noteworthy that there are no weight categories as such in professional sumo, so opponents with a weight difference of about 70-100 kg can meet in the ring.

The fact that weight plays a key role in achieving the goal is confirmed by title holders who have repeatedly won rikishi competitions. Konishiki, a well-known heavyweight record holder with a body weight of 280 kg, held the ozeki champion title for many years.

The main advantage of lightweights with a body weight of up to 200 kg is resourcefulness and mobility. On the court, they are able to use sophisticated techniques that the “titans” cannot do. A clear example of this is the successful career of lightweight Tienofuji, who managed to win the ecozuna title, and Harumafuji, who repeatedly received the ozeki title.

The title of the fattest sumo wrestler is held by Emanuel Yabrauch. The famous Japanese heavyweight wrestler weighs 400 kg. It is not surprising that the “titan” is a seven-time world champion.

How sumo wrestlers gain weight

The widespread belief that in order to achieve the goal of gaining “a hundred or two” Sumoites only eat high-calorie foods is wrong. A special “diet” is not the key to successfully joining the ranks of wrestlers. The bulk of body weight is not “excess fat”, but muscle tissue. If a novice sumo wrestler who has entered Heya has a fat “reserve,” he will first have to lose it in order to gain “working” weight from fat and muscle mass. Subsequently, the formation of the body will occur by increasing muscles during training and increasing weight.

For weight gain, the daily calorie intake is about 8000 kcal. To develop the necessary muscle mass, wrestlers exhaust themselves daily with intense training, which they conduct in the wee hours on an empty stomach. After this, they eat a hearty meal and go to rest during the day, where they spend 2-3 hours in a state of half-asleep. Thus, the calories eaten are stored in the form of fat deposits. It is noteworthy that there are no prohibitions regarding alcohol in the diet of sumo wrestlers. Its use is considered absolutely normal.

After an afternoon siesta, the wrestlers go back to training. The working day ends with a hearty dinner containing high-calorie foods.

When determining how much a sumo wrestler weighs, they are guided by the body mass index. This parameter is 2.5 times higher than that of the average person. For clarity, let us cite the fact that the volume of the triceps and biceps of a sumo wrestler is approximately equal to the volume of the leg of an “ordinary” person.

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

From Masterweb

21.04.2018 06:00

At first glance, Japanese sumo wrestling looks strange: overweight men dressed in huge bikinis jostle 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 with rich history and wrestlers whose rigorous training regimen and dedication are nothing short of impressive.

Sumo is a form of wrestling that has long been a national sport in Japan. Its origins date back to the Yayoi period (circa 300 BC – 300 AD). It incorporates many elements of the Shinto religion in the form of various rituals and ceremonies that usually last much longer than the fight itself. Until now, competitions in this sport are considered a sacred event, and the pavilion in which the 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 been first practiced during the Yayoi period as part of a Shinto ritual where "kami" or spirits were summoned to fight.

Traditionally, the very first fighter is considered to be Nomi no Sukune, who was ordered by Emperor Suyinin (29 BC - 70 AD) to fight Tagima no Kehai. Nomi no Sukune won, although naturally, since he was a descendant of Amenohoha, the son of the sun goddess Amaterasu.

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

Sumo wrestling competitions in Japan became an important ritual in the 8th century. n. e. The fights, known as tsuji-zumo, were fought by samurai. They didn't have many 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 prohibited, but martial arts were encouraged among the samurai. There are several paintings of people practicing 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 main military leader of Japan, Oda Nobunaga. Back then, sumo wrestlers wore loose loincloths rather than the much stiffer mawashi of today. During the Edo period, wrestlers wore edged kese-mawashi during matches, but today they are worn only during pre-tournament rituals. Most of the rest of the sportswear in use today 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, former samurai Ikazuchi Gondaiu 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 of sumo wrestling is preceded by a long series of rituals and postures that originate from ancient duels and the Shinto religion. One such ritual involves the competitor lifting one leg and striking the ground hard with it several times. It comes from the archaic practice of warriors making such movements before battle to frighten the enemy, which is called "siko". The same ritual was performed by the goddess Amaterasu when she encountered the disobedient brother Susanoo in Shinto mythology.

Also, wrestlers clap their hands before the fight. This is another Shinto tradition: the worshiper claps to indicate the beginning and end of a prayer.

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

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

Ground for wrestling

Two wrestlers face each other while standing on a raised square platform of compacted clay covered with a layer of sand. The width of the sumo wrestling area measures exactly 5.7 m on each side and 34–60 cm in height. The ring or dohe is a perfect circle with a diameter of 4.57 m, marked with braided rice straw. After each competition the site is dismantled. Raised high above the platform is a canopy with colored tassels hanging from its 4 corners, and the entire 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 a wrestler's body other than his feet touches the clay floor, he loses. Athletes with hair tied up complex knot in imitation of medieval samurai, they wear a "mawashi" or large belt that an opponent can grab onto to wrestle or lift the wearer, pushing him out of the circle or knocking him down. In the fastest bouts, this task may only take 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 receive the prestigious title of "yokozuna" or grand champion. However, participation in this sport is not limited to the Japanese, as some yokozuna were born in Mongolia and Hawaii. Even lesser-known sumo wrestlers are popular, as they are often invited into private homes at the end of winter to rid the house of bad spirits or "oni" in a ceremony known as "setsubun" ("second day, second month"). The sumo wrestler throws the beans and repeatedly shouts the phrase “oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi,” which means “demons away, 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, dzonidan, zonokuchi - there are about 650 rikishi.

Maku-uchi (includes 42 top athletes) naturally receives the most media attention mass media. At the top is yokozuna, the great champion. This position is usually achieved by winning two hon-basho (major tournaments that determine rankings) in a row. There are 6 honbasho each year (in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka), one in each odd-numbered month, and they last 15 days. By 2018, there had only been 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 unique thing about Japanese sumo wrestling is that the spectacular pre-match ceremony is as exciting as the fight itself. The day before each major tournament, the clay platform of the dohe with a 4.55 m diameter circle in which the fight takes place is “cleaned” with a prayer for the safety of the rikishi. It involves placing salt, husked rice, dried chestnut, dried seaweed, dried cuttlefish and nutmeg berries in a small hole in the center of the ring as an offering to the gods.

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 gaze into each other's eyes and perform a ritual called "siko". It involves wrestlers clapping their hands and alternately raising and lowering their right and left legs, which is probably the action with which the sport is most associated outside of Japan. But there's more to it than just warming up your muscles. Clapping is used to attract the attention of the gods, arms raised to the sky demonstrate the absence of weapons, and the famous stomping of 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 opponent they last defeated. Similar to the cleansing ritual at 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 bout to begin, each rikishi crouches behind an 80 cm long white line called "shikiri-sen". Since sumo wrestling is designed for two participants, there are two such lines. The match begins when both rikishi place their clenched fists behind their shikiri-sen.

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

If the referee determines that one of the wrestlers did not place both fists on the ground before the match began, or if the opponent determines that he is not quite ready, the match will be stopped. In this case, the sumo wrestlers must return to their starting position.

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

There are officially 82 techniques, called kimari-te ("decisive hand"), with which a rikishi can win a match (for example, pushing, throwing behind 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 competition begins with lower rank matches before it is time for the 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 alternative version of the shiko ritual mentioned above. They clap their hands and rub their hands together to make sure the gods are watching, symbolically purifying themselves before leaving the ring, waving their mawashi to show that there are no weapons underneath.

Yokozuna performs his own ritual of entering the circle, which is a more complex and longer version of shiko, also involving the shinpan and the other two rikishi present at the doha.

Rules of battle

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

• hair grabbing;
• eye gouging;
• punches (slaps with open palms are allowed);
• choking (although open palm thrusts into the opponent's throat are permitted);
• capturing part of the opponent's mawashi in the crotch area.

The wrestler who used a prohibited technique automatically loses, as does the one whose mawashi came loose. Also, a defeat is counted towards someone who cannot continue the fight (for example, after an injury). After the winner is announced, the judge must report the move that led to the victory.

There are no weight categories. It's not just about size: agility can also be important, and small rikishi have the advantage of being able to retreat and slip behind their larger opponent to use their considerable momentum against them.

Participation of foreigners and women

Although the sport has historically been dominated by the Japanese, Lately Foreigners are becoming more and more common participants in sumo competitions. The Rikishi who has achieved the biggest tournament wins is a Mongolian athlete named Hakuho Se (Munkhbatyn Davaajargal). Currently, foreigners (most of whom are Mongolian) make up about 5% of the total number of sumo wrestlers.

Women cannot participate in professional sumo wrestling. But this ban 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 called when the match reaches a stalemate).

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

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

A sumo wrestler's basic remuneration is determined by his rank. Yokozuna earns about 2.8 million yen per month, and jure wrestlers receive about 1 million.

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

Gyoji referees, like wrestlers, enter the profession at age 16 and remain in it until retirement. Their traditional dress is strictly based on rank, and they are given honorary titles as they progress in their professional roles. The highest-ranking gyoji takes the name Kimura Senosuke, but, unlike the yokozuna, only one can bear it.

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

In accordance with the strict rules governing their lives, sumo wrestlers are not allowed to choose their own clothing. They must grow their hair long enough to be able to tie it into a tenmage knot, similar to that worn by samurai during the Edo period. This hairstyle, like traditional clothing, must be worn by sumo wrestlers at all times. At the same time, the clothes of beginner sumo wrestlers should be made of cheap cotton, and they should definitely have wooden geta sandals on their feet, even in winter. As wrestlers increase in rank, they are allowed to have increasingly expensive clothing and even choose it themselves.

When describing sumo wrestling, one cannot fail to mention the main diet of sumo wrestlers - chanko-nabe. This protein-rich Japanese stew consists 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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Few people know that the life of a sumo wrestler does not have a bit of romance. She is not only ordinary and strict, but also boring. The person who decides to take up sumo must refuse large quantity earthly blessings. The personal life of a wrestler is constantly under the control of the Sumo Association and his coach.

How could such a miracle as Sumo appear in Japan, a country of exquisite traditions with one of the most “correct” nutrition systems in the world? Sumo - a type of martial arts in which two wrestlers identify the strongest on a round platform. The tradition of sumo has been going on since ancient times, so each match is accompanied by numerous rituals. Despite the fact that several other countries claim to be the inventors of sumo wrestling, Japan is the recognized center of sumo and the only country where professional competitions are held. In the rest of the world, only amateur sumo exists. Modern professional sumo combines elements of sport, martial arts, show, traditions and business.

It is believed that the modern sumo platform, the dohyo, appeared around the 16th century, but the shape and size of the dohyo changed over time. The dohyo is made of compacted clay and covered with a thin layer of sand. The fight takes place in a circle with a diameter of 4.55 m, the boundaries of which are laid out with special braids made of rice straw (the so-called “tawara”). In the center of the dohyo there are two white stripes indicating the starting positions of the wrestlers. The sand around the circle is carefully leveled with brooms before the start of each bout, so that the footprints in the sand can be used to determine whether one of the opponents has touched the ground outside the circle.

The only clothing a wrestler wears during a fight is a special belt called a “mawashi”. This is a dense wide fabric ribbon, most often in dark shades. Mawashi is wrapped several times around the naked body and between the legs, the end of the belt is secured behind the back with a knot. An unwound mawashi will lead to the wrestler's disqualification. The wrestlers high level mawashi silk. Hanging ornaments called “sagari” are hung from the belt and do not perform any function other than purely decorative.

The hair is collected in a special traditional bun at the top of the head; in the two highest divisions the hairstyle is much more complex. In addition to beauty, this hairstyle has the property of softening the blow to the crown of the head, which is possible, for example, when falling head down.

In sumo it is forbidden to hit with anything other than an open palm, as well as in the eyes and genital area. It is forbidden to grab the hair, ears, fingers and the part of the mawashi covering the genitals. Chokeholds are not allowed. Everything else is allowed, so the wrestlers’ arsenal includes slaps, pushes, grabs of any permitted parts of the body and especially belts, as well as throws, various kinds of trips and sweeps.

Two basic rules are used to determine the winner of each fight: 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 considered the loser.

There are no weight categories in professional sumo, so one of the determining factors is the weight of the wrestler. Almost all athletes, except beginners, weigh 100 kg or more, and for the highest divisions, a weight above 120 kg is de facto mandatory - otherwise you cannot count on success.
On the other hand, weights over 200 kg are rare. Technical lightweights can have an advantage over heavyweights due to greater mobility and sophisticated technique. There is a known winning move with more than a twofold difference in weight. On the contrary, excessive weight does not guarantee success, as it impairs mobility, increases the risk of injury and narrows the arsenal of techniques.

The formation of a wrestler’s body occurs exclusively during training due to muscle gain and weight gain. The daily routine itself is dedicated to this goal. Getting up with the first rays of sun, morning toilet, then a grueling five-hour workout begins on an empty stomach, requiring full effort and utmost concentration.

A Sumo wrestler's day begins with 4-6 hours of intense training on an empty stomach. In theory, more physical activity should lead to increased metabolism and weight loss, but... Intense exercise on an empty stomach inevitably leads to a decrease in metabolic rate in the long term. Our subconscious autopilot kicks in - our smart body tries to save more fuel for the future.
It is important to know! A strict ban on breakfast leads to obligatory overeating at the next meal and reduces the metabolic rate.

After training, wrestlers take a hot bath and be sure to eat heavily, usually without restrictions, and also indulge in alcohol. After eating - a three-hour sleep, then a short workout and a light dinner. For effective weight gain by Sumo wrestlers, drinking beer and sake in large quantities during meals is also used. As you know, alcohol contains many “empty” calories that do not provide the body with any nutritional value, that is, they are not used as an energy supplier. In other words, all the calories you get from drinking alcohol go straight to storing fat.

Interesting Facts.
* Wrestlers of any level are prohibited from driving independently. Those who violate this rule will face punishment, for example, Kyokutenho, who was caught in 2007, was disqualified for one tournament, which meant a significant loss in rank. Typically, wrestlers travel by taxi or are transported in special minibuses.
* The heaviest Sumo wrestler lives in America and, with a height of 2 meters 3 centimeters, weighs 313 kilograms!!!
What do you think, does all this fuss with special weight gain affect the life expectancy and health of sumo wrestlers? Undoubtedly!!!
If the average life expectancy of the Japanese is 82 years, then Sumo wrestlers live 60 - 65 years. After all, no matter how physically trained, active and developed a person is, excess weight inevitably leads to diseases of the liver, heart, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis... It is interesting that after completing their sports career (the maximum sports age for Sumo wrestlers is 35 years), many return to moderate nutrition. And they are able, within a few years, to lose significant weight.

Sumo is a type of wrestling in a loincloth (mawashi) on a specially equipped area (dohyo).

The following weight categories are defined in sumo competitions:

• Boys 13-18 years old: up to 75 kg, up to 100 kg, over 100 kg and absolute weight category.
• Men: up to 85 kg, up to 115 kg, over 115 kg and absolute weight category.
• Women: up to 65 kg, up to 80 kg, over 80 kg and absolute weight category.

Cloth

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

Athletes are prohibited from entering a fight wearing objects that could injure their opponent. This primarily applies to metal jewelry (rings, bracelets, chains, etc.). The wrestler's body must be completely clean and dry, his fingernails and toenails must be cut short. Emblem of the club, federation, number, etc. it is allowed to attach (tie) to the mawashi.

Venue: Dohyo

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

The bout 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 clause 5.1. The perimeter of the fighting arena is limited by a rope of rice straw - Cebu Dawara.

In the center of the circle on the eastern and western sides of the dohyo, two white starting lines (shikirisen) are applied to the surface at a distance of 70 cm from each other. The length of the shikirisen is 80 cm, width is 6 cm.

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

Composition of the panel of judges

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

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

Composition of the judging panel

The refereeing panel should consist of 6 people:

• team 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 sebu-dawar wins;
• The winner is the wrestler who forces the opponent to touch the dohyo with any part of the body other than the soles of the feet, within the cebu-dawar.

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 when completing a technical action, as a result of which the opponent ends up in a shinitai position. This situation is called kabaite.

The attacker does not lose the fight by stepping behind the sebu-dawara in order to soften the fall and avoid injury when completing a technical action, as a result of which the opponent ends up in a shinitai position. This situation is called kabaiashi.

The attacker does not lose the fight by standing up for the Sebu-Davara when he, having lifted the enemy, takes him out and lowers him behind the Sebu-Davara. This situation is called okuriashi. However, the attacker loses the fight if, while carrying out this technical action, he goes behind the Sebu-Dawar with his back forward.

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 failure if the horizontal front part of the mawashi (orikomi) touches the dohyo.

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

1. If he cannot continue the fight due to injury,
2. If he performs kinjite (prohibited acts),
3. If he ends the fight on his own,
4. If he deliberately did not rise from his starting position,
5. If he doesn't follow the gyoji's commands,
6. If he does not appear in the waiting sector after the second official call,
7. If the maebukuro (codpiece) of the mawashi comes untied and falls off during a fight.

If the fight lasts longer than the set time, but the winner is not determined, it is stopped and the fight is repeated.

Prohibited actions (kinjite):

• Punching or finger poking.
• Kicks to the chest or stomach.
• Hair grabs.
• Grab by the throat.
• Grabs the vertical parts of the mawashi.
• Wringing the opponent's fingers.
• Biting.
• Direct blows to the head.

Rituals

Sumo, like other traditional martial arts in Japan, maintains and honors rituals and etiquette.

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

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

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

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

The transition from shikiri to tachiai (starting jerk-lift) must be carried out by athletes simultaneously.

Rituals are an integral and important part of sumo and must be performed without haste, with dignity and calm, emphasizing the harmony and greatness of sumo.

Fight

The duration of the fight is:

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

If after the specified time the winner is not determined, a re-fight (torinaoshi) is scheduled.

There is no break between contractions. The next contraction 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 to compete next must enter and position themselves in the dohyo-damari until 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, competition participants must behave with dignity and avoid rude expressions so as not to hurt the feelings of others.

Wrestlers are invited to the dokhio by the judge-informant via a microphone in a loud and clear voice 2 times. If after the second official challenge the participant does not enter the dohyo, he is considered a failure.

Presentation of participants

Wrestlers take part in the competition under the numbers they received in the draw. The informant judge introduces all wrestlers in each weight category at the beginning of the competition by name. Before the start of each fight, the participants are introduced by name, indicating their data (age, height, weight), titles and ranks.

The beginning of the fight

The fight begins at the command of the gyoji after performing the necessary rituals.

Stopping the fight

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

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

End of the fight

The fight ends when the gyoji, having determined the outcome of the fight, announces: “Sebu atta!” - and pointing with his hand in the direction of the dohyo (East or West), from which the winner began the fight. The wrestlers on this team must stop wrestling.

Announcement of the winner (katinanori)

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

The loser bows (rei) and leaves the dohyo. The winner assumes the sonkyo pose and, after the gyoji, pointing at him with his hand, announces: “Higashi no kachi!” (“Victory of the East!”) or “Nishi no Kati!” (“Victory of the West!”), extends his right hand to the side and down.

If the bout is terminated due to the use of a prohibited technique by one of the wrestlers, the winner is declared in the prescribed manner.

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

If one of the wrestlers fails to appear, the wrestler who comes out in doha assumes the sonkyo position, and the gyoji, in the prescribed manner, declares him the winner.

On TV they seem funny, like fat guys in funny headbands. They raise their legs high, make strange noises, and then grab each other and try to throw each other down.

Probably every person who sometimes watches a sports channel thought to himself that sumo is not a sport at all, but rather entertainment, fun for the audience. But who would know what emotions are in the air at these competitions, how long the learning path is and how important it is to correctly understand the philosophy of combat in order to reach heights! What is the average weight of a sumo wrestler? Does it have to be big or is it a stereotype?

What is "sumo"

Japan seems to us to be a country of exquisite traditions, long tea parties, patient eating of rice with chopsticks, a country of miniature women who do not acquire wrinkles in old age and retain ballerina legs. How could sumo appear in a country with the most correct food system? It must be said that the martial art of sumo came from ancient times. The first mention of it dates back 2 thousand years ago. This explains the abundance of ancient myths and tales associated with such a struggle. Then the importance of the struggle was enormous, because the winners became the rulers of the country or were even called gods. Although several countries claim the right to be the inventor of sumo wrestling, the Japanese still consider it theirs. It contains too many traditions and customs.

Is there a maximum for a wrestler?

Is there a standard weight for a sumo wrestler? Many people still believe that if you can eat whatever you want without control, then you can become a sumo wrestler. I would like to dispel these myths once and for all - a weak-willed person who has gained a life-threatening amount of kilograms will not be able to adapt to the fight. So you need to gain weight wisely. By the way, not every sumo wrestler has a lot of weight: after all, there are weight categories in sumo. So it’s not a matter of size, but of the quality and depth of knowledge. The largest wrestler was found in America. With a respectable height of 2 meters and 3 centimeters, he weighs 313 kilograms. One must think that he is invincible in a fight! But he has such a weight on his health, because excess body weight affects the condition of the liver, heart, and kidneys. Arthritis, diabetes and hypertension begin to progress.

The Japanese have a healthy lifestyle, which is why they live on average up to 82 years, but sumo wrestlers often barely live past 60. After all, physical fitness rarely gets along with being overweight. The Japanese are also very measured people, therefore, after completing their sports career, which, by the way, for a sumo wrestler is only possible until the age of 35, they return to a moderate diet, adhering to balanced sports activities. Over the course of a few years, they lose weight. If you look at a sumo wrestler’s weight through the eyes of a professional nutritionist, you will discover serious deviations from the norm. Thus, a sumo wrestler is 2.5 times higher than that of healthy person. To get into this shape, you need to eat a special diet and lead the lifestyle prescribed for athletes. But stereotypes do not work here, because sumo wrestlers do not gain weight by absorbing a huge amount of food with a predominance of fat.

How to gain weight correctly

The question may seem strange, because the media is all about cultivating a slim and athletic body, and not jiggling folds, but sumo wrestlers do not look like ordinary overweight people. They remain fit, strong and active. The requirements for sumo wrestlers' daily routine are strict, but somehow subtly resemble the daily routine in kindergarten. This is understandable, because gaining weight as a sumo wrestler is not so easy. In addition to a clear number of meals, they have time to sleep. At first glance, it seems that this is the dream of a sweet tooth and a lover of delicious food! But it's not that simple. Sumo wrestlers eat twice a day, both times before bed, since calories are absorbed faster during sleep. A sumo wrestler who respects himself and his coach cannot uncontrollably eat a chocolate bar or sit all evening in front of the TV with a pack of chips, because he has a special menu aimed at accumulating fat reserves, but in order for the weight to be distributed evenly, the fats consumed must be correct. So, the wrestlers start their day with a long workout on an empty stomach. The training lasts from 4 to 6 hours, and its complexity is as great as that of a ballerina. Hypothetically, such activity should speed up metabolism and burn fat, but in reality it leads to a decrease in metabolic rate, which the smart body perceives as an alarming signal and begins to stock up on fuel for the future. By the way, this can also be taken into account by girls who are losing weight, who deny themselves breakfast and cannot control the amount of food they consume, which is why they overeat for lunch. After training, the wrestler has lunch, and the calorie content of lunch should not fall below 10 thousand calories! That is, for lunch, a sumo wrestler must consume the daily norm of eight adults! After lunch, you need to sleep for 3-4 hours so that the body has time to convert the calories received into fat. When you wake up, it's time to start your second workout. And then another 10 thousand calories for dinner and bed.

Pleasant gastronomic pleasures

But the described daily routine does not mean that a wrestler should push food into his mouth, even when he doesn’t feel like eating. And there is no need to completely cut down on your consumption of goodies. The weight of a sumo wrestler allows you to drink beer and sake with meals, but alcohol does not provide any nutritional value. During the meal, the wrestlers communicate and sometimes get so carried away that they do not notice how they eat a huge portion. Especially to gain weight, they treat themselves to a dish with an intriguing name - “chanko-nabe”. The recipe contains a lot of meat, rice and vegetables. It is better to take fattier meat, and more filling vegetables. At home, you can prepare it from everything that is in the refrigerator, that is, you can take beef, pork, poultry, fish and seafood. The meat is seasoned with bean paste and sesame oil, and flavor is added with ginger, garlic and soy sauce. Don’t forget about the side dish, for which rice is stewed with tofu bean curd, eggplant, Chinese cabbage, carrots, radishes and spinach. Japanese noodles with eggs, mushrooms and seaweed wouldn’t be out of place in the recipe either. A couple of years on a diet with such a main dish - and the average weight of a sumo wrestler will be 150-200 kg. And the secret to gaining weight quickly is consuming this enchanting amount of calories before bed. Please note that with an abundance of ingredients, wrestlers do not consume fast carbohydrates, flour and sugar. That is, in fact, they do not eat anything harmful, so they do not pollute their body and after completing their career they can easily return to their original weight. It is this approach that distinguishes the Japanese from Europeans, who can limit the amount of vegetables and fruits they consume to the limit in favor of fried potatoes and chocolate donuts.

Sumo history

As already mentioned, sumo appeared in ancient times. The first evidence of wrestling dates back to the middle of the 7th century. In 642, a wrestling tournament was held at the Emperor's court in honor of a Korean ambassador. The tournament was a success due to the entertainment and emotionality of the fight, so it set a trend and was held annually at the end of field work in the fall. A ring or, as it is called, a dohyo, was formed on a raised platform, outside of which there were sharp stakes. There were also some rules. You cannot hit your opponent with an open palm, you cannot aim at the eyes or genitals. After all, sumo is noble, so there is a ban on chokeholds. Do not grab hair, ears or fingers.

But slapping, pushing, and grabbing parts of the mawashi, except those that cover the genitals, are allowed. In amateur sumo, it is important how much a sumo wrestler weighs, since pairs are formed according to weight. But professional wrestling does not recognize weight categories. The main thing is the average weight of a sumo wrestler: almost everyone has it under 100 kg, but wrestlers of the highest divisions, bearing the proud title of sektori, must have a weight of more than 120 kg. Many people who are far from sumo will be surprised, but the percentage of fat in a sumo wrestler’s body weight is the same as that of the average person. Accordingly, the larger the sumo wrestler, the greater his muscle mass and weight. Sumo is a sport that does not recognize restrictions, so anyone can get carried away with it.

Lifestyle nuances

The stereotype that there are no tall and slender sumo wrestlers would be wrong. Sumo wrestler Chiyonofuji, famous in certain circles, was above average height. There are no sizeless wrestlers. Still, a person weighing 200 kilograms or more is unlikely to be able to fight without shortness of breath and arrhythmia. The average weight of a sumo wrestler is far from the declared “ceiling”, and “light” wrestlers have an advantage over heavyweights, as they are more mobile and technical. A fight was noted in history when the wrestler Mainoumi threw against the wrestler Konishiki, who was twice his weight. A very big sumo wrestler limits his arsenal of techniques and faces annoying troubles, such as excessive sweating and clumsiness. In amateur sumo, pairs do not have representatives in different weight categories, but have their own divisions.

Contact combat involves two wrestlers on a professional or amateur basis. Professional sumo presents a colorful competition with the participation of selected heavyweight wrestlers. There were no women among the wrestlers. Sports sumo can be equated to Greco-Roman wrestling, as wrestlers divided by weight enter into competition. By the way, the first sumo wrestlers were samurai or ronin, interested in an additional source of income. In the 17th century, 72 canonical sumo techniques were recorded, based on sacred rituals with divine symbolism. Since since the time of its inception, sumotori have been a category of people close to the emperor and therefore were supported by the state.

And the game is worth the candle

Indeed, is there any rational grain in being a sumo wrestler?

Is it worth gaining weight, trampling on the world standards and giving up the opportunity to show off in a bikini on the beach? After all, sumo has long ceased to be an exclusively male sport; women are increasingly participating in international competitions. Sumo has many rules: wrestlers of the same hei, siblings, cannot fight in a duel. Sumo wrestling is a fairly lucrative business, so participants interested in it can at least become quite rich. If we calculate on average, then in a year a wrestler of the highest category, who is also called yokozun, receives as much for wrestling and outside earnings as a world-class football player. In Japan, practicing sumo is doubly profitable, since professional fights are held only here.

Coming out to fight

A respected wrestler cannot go to the dohyo uncollected. Every detail is taken into account. Sumo wrestlers even have a special hairstyle. A photo of it from a close angle allows you to verify its functionality and beauty. This hairstyle is called takayama, it softens the blow to the crown of the head, which is almost inevitable when falling. By the way, wrestlers are prohibited from driving a car. Moreover, violators will face serious punishment, for example, disqualification, which equates to a significant loss in rank. Usually wrestlers travel by taxi.

In addition, there are restrictions on the presence of foreigners in this sport. A wrestler is considered a foreigner not only by citizenship, but also by origin.

Russians in sumo

The fighting technique is close in spirit to our people, as it is rich in traditions and full of respect for the opponent. But it’s still quite strange to watch how Russian girls, truly beautiful, choose this sport, which is still exotic for our mentality. It is worth immediately amending the understanding of many people about sumo wrestling: sumo wrestlers do not fight. Their fight is noble, the purpose of the fight is to push the opponent beyond the border of the dohyo. The one who touches the ground with any part of the body except the foot will lose. Svetlana Panteleeva absolutely does not meet the expectations of how much a sumo wrestler weighs. Svetlana weighs 75 kilograms and is 170 centimeters tall, that is, her weight is normal. This is how the stereotypes that fat people go to sumo are destroyed. Svetlana came to the sport from choreography and judo. Sumo made me laugh at first, but then it dragged me in, the emotions were too hot.

Svetlana goes beyond the rules and keeps herself in shape with proper nutrition: more protein to build muscle, not fat.

Tenderness in the fight

Who would have thought that a seven-time world sumo champion could be a homely and cozy woman, a real homemaker. This is exactly what Catherine Cabe is like. She is still very young, but has achieved a lot, so she can afford a break in her career. Ekaterina managed to try herself in pedagogy and politics. I have many interests, but without sports I developed a passion for Japanese cuisine. While she was actively involved in sports, Katya abstained from sushi, but now she eats with pleasure. Ekaterina is far from being a model; with a fairly tall height of 180 centimeters, she weighs 138 kg. This is the normal average weight of a sumo wrestler, and even slightly below the standard.
And European Championships medalist Olesya Kovalenko is even a little asthenic for sumo: she weighs only 118 kg with the same height. True, she believes that this is her fighting form, in which she is both strong and mobile.

Success through endurance

Anna Zhigalova competes in the absolute weight category, who is also outside the framework established by the average weight of a sumo wrestler.

With a height of 185 cm, Anna weighs 120 kg. As a child, I dreamed of being a ballerina, but my build was too large. He doesn’t go on a special diet, except that his trainer sometimes forces him to gain weight. Anna does not adhere to the traditions of the founders of wrestling, she eats healthy, although she has her own gastronomic preferences. In general, it is necessary to imagine a certain gradation of the weight of athletes: light weight is limited to 65 kg; average weight ranges from 65 to 80 kg; heavy weight category starts from 80 kg and above.

Japanese sumo wrestlers and their differences

The attitude towards fat people in the world is ambiguous, since sometimes they do not fit into the usual standards of beauty. In Japan, rich in traditions, the situation is somewhat simpler, since the beauty of a person, his inner content, and the ability to combine harmony and athletic development are paramount.

Therefore, their people can afford to eat in accordance with the history of sports. People who are completely focused on wrestling, who know their daily routine in advance and practice sumo at a professional level, literally live off their work uniform. In Russia everything is different, because modern man cannot give up on himself and turn away from critical glances in a cafe or transport. Overweight people are limited in their choice of clothing and in visiting public places. Who noticed a fat man resting in a nightclub? And who has seen a dancer with curvaceous figures? Our ladies do not want to get out of the cage, so their weight is too low for professional sumo. The girls remain normal, live at a weight at which they are comfortable, and therefore are successful not only in their careers, but also in their personal lives.