Sumo wrestlers in Japan are called rikishi. This term consists of two hieroglyphs and is translated as "the strength of a warrior." The clashes of obese giants, dressed in huge bikinis and trying to push each other out of the circle, are extremely popular and gather thousands of audiences of fans in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Sacred event
A foreign tourist who first got into a sumo fight will be somewhat shocked. After a long preliminary ceremony with the presentation of the fighters and the listing of their titles, beefy men weighing well over a hundred kilograms push in a small circle, puff, sweat, moan, groan, rejoice in victory and grieve over defeat.
But sumo wrestling is primitive only at first glance. In fact, it has a rich tradition and a long history. To become a champion requires not only the appropriate natural data (coordination, strength, agility, intuition), years of dedicated training, a special diet and many other components.
The history of sumo wrestling goes back many centuries and goes back to the 1st century BC. Sumo includes many elements of the Shinto religion in the form of various rituals and ceremonies, which usually last much longer than the fight itself.
The Japanese consider sumo not just a sport, but a kind of sacred ritual event. The room in which sumo wrestlers compete is equated by the Japanese with a Shinto shrine.
Ancient chronicles have preserved the name of the first famous sumo wrestler - Nomino Sukune. It was he who was proclaimed the winner in the wrestling competitions in 50 BC by the then Emperor of Japan, Suyining. Local craftsmen have captured the champion in clay, and modern clay and porcelain figurines of sumo wrestlers are extremely popular with both Japanese and tourists. In ancient times, these figures were placed in Japanese burials, in addition, they served as children's toys. So from an early age in Japan, a sumo cult was created.
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The brutal battles of adult men
Sumo competitions acquired particular importance in the 8th century AD. The duels, known as tsuji-zumo, were fought by strong and agile samurai. The fights did not differ in a large number of rules, but there was more than enough cruelty in them, so that often the battles ended in the death of one of the rivals, and the winner was awarded a cash prize.
Another type of fighting was kanjin-zumo, which were held in temples to raise money for their upkeep. The parishioners, who watched the hot sumo fights, threw money into the bowl, to which the ministers of the temple were extremely happy.
After the 12th century, sumo wrestling fell into oblivion, which was associated with some decline in the imperial power, as well as general political instability. However, starting in the 15th century, sumo wrestling gained popularity again. Over the years, its strict rules gradually took shape. In the 16th century, a circle appeared, separating the wrestlers from the audience. Much credit for the creation of the rules of sumo belongs to the samurai Ikazuchi Gondai, who lived in the 17th century. It was at that time that sumo wrestling truly became a national sport.
The fight itself is preceded by a cascade of rituals and poses. One of the rituals is that the participants raise their feet and forcefully lower them several times onto the podium. This is done in order to scare the opponent and suppress his will.
Also, before the fight, the wrestlers will certainly clap their hands loudly. This is an ancient Shinto tradition: the believer claps to mark the beginning and end of the prayer.
Another indispensable ritual is salt scattering by athletes. It symbolizes the act of purification that is practiced in Shinto shrines to expel evil spirits.
An unforgettable spectacle is made by a judge wearing a robe very similar to those worn by Shinto priests.
Simple rules
The modern sumo wrestling ground is a square wooden platform half a meter high. A layer of clay is laid on it, which is covered with sand. The ring (in Japanese - dohyo) is a circle with a diameter of 4.57 meters. Its borders are marked with braids made of rice straw.
The winner of the bout must either push his opponent out of the straw circle or force him to touch the court. If any part of the wrestler's body, other than his legs, touches the clay floor, he loses. Athletes with hair tied in an intricate knot in imitation of medieval samurai wear mawashi, or a large belt that the opponent can grab onto to fight, lift its wearer, pushing him out of the circle or knocking him down. In the fastest fights, this task may take only a few seconds, but the difficulty lies in the enormous weight of the wrestlers.
Pushing an athlete over a hundred kilograms out of the circle is not an easy task. Wrestlers are prohibited from such techniques as grabbing the hair, gouging out the eyes, punching (slaps with open palms are allowed), strangulation (although pushing with open palms into the opponent's throat is allowed).
There are no weight categories in sumo. The heaviest sumo wrestler in history was Orara Satosi, a Russian athlete from the Republic of Buryatia, who weighed 271 kilograms.
Historians of sumo keep records of this struggle. So, the longest sumo match lasted 32 minutes, including two mizuiri (this is the name for the short breaks that are announced by the referee when the match comes to a standstill).
The greatest number of victories in a row - 69 - was won by the sumo wrestler Futabayama Sadadzi (1912-1968).
Great champion
Although historically the sport has always been dominated by the Japanese, foreigners have become increasingly common participants in sumo competitions.
A Mongolian athlete named Hakuho Syo (Munhbatyn Davajargal) became famous. Currently, foreigners (most of whom are Mongols and Americans) make up about five percent of the total number of sumo wrestlers.
The participation of women in professional sumo wrestling is not allowed. But this prohibition does not apply to lovers of the ancient type of martial arts. Brazil is considered the center of women's sumo wrestling.
Needless to say, sumo is a traumatic wrestling. Dislocations and fractures of fingers, injuries of joints, spine, muscles, and eyebrow dissection are common. Concussion is possible in oncoming collisions.
The highest and honorary title in sumo wrestling is "yokozuna", which translates as "great champion". Achieving the highest title in sumo wrestling is an incredibly difficult task. To do this, you need to regularly achieve victories at the largest competitions. By the beginning of 2018, over the long history of sumo, only 72 wrestlers have won the title of "yokozuna".
Sumo superstars receive fantastic fees. They are extremely popular in Japan. Titled fighters are often invited to popular television programs, various festivals, they participate in promotions, decorate the covers of glossy magazines and numerous posters, calendars and plastic bags.
But lesser-known wrestlers are also extremely in demand - the Japanese invite them to their homes to rid their homes of evil spirits. For this, sumo wrestlers utter ritual phrases that should protect the owners from the intrigues of dark forces.
Children's Crying Festival
Such a popular holiday in Japan as Naki Sumo, the festival of children's crying, cannot do without sumo wrestlers. It has been held in Japan for four centuries now.
According to Japanese beliefs, the crying of a baby scares away evil spirits, and the louder the cry, the more power the gods endowed the child with and the healthier it will be. The festival coincides with the very beloved Japanese holiday - Children's Day.
The ritual performance is held annually in April at Sensoji Buddhist Temple in the old part of Tokyo. Hundreds of one-year-old babies take part in it. The Japanese are sure that after this ritual, children will grow up healthy, strong, self-confident, lucky and without tears. The child who cries the loudest wins the competition. Parents at this time pray in the temple. They ask the higher powers for happiness for their baby.
The performance begins with two sumo wrestlers walking onto the stage in the presence of a judge, holding the babies in their outstretched arms.
It happens that some kids stubbornly do not want to cry, they look at the wrestlers with surprise and curiosity, and sometimes even start laughing. It is here that the wrestler must show his qualities, whose task is to make the baby shed tears.
The hero makes terrible faces to the baby, screams, hums, groans to cause the baby to cry. The sumo wrestler is actively assisted by a judge who loudly commands: "Cry, cry, it will be easier for you to live!" Sometimes, in especially difficult cases, he puts on a terrible mask and howls angrily. As a rule, this causes children's tears. At the same time, the crowd of spectators rejoices and rewards the craftsman and the baby with thunderous applause.
The crying of a child in the arms of a fighter is equated with prayer. Therefore, sumo wrestlers take their duties extremely seriously. In addition, participation in such a holiday is considered honorable and prestigious.
Sumo wrestling as an ancient Japanese tradition has not lost its cultural and sporting significance in the 21st century. In the opinion of many Japanese, this sport is a powerful factor in rallying the nation these days.
Vladimir BARSOV