How to Watch Sumo Wrestling

Sumo wrestling, considered a martial art in Japan, pits two hefty wrestlers against each other in a circular ring. The fighters battle each other until one drives the other out of the ring. Sumo developed partially out of Shinto religious ceremony, and also has origins as a training regimen for warriors. The Sumo tradition continues today as a professional sport, with six Grand Tournaments held each year.

Instructions

    • 1

      Study the classifications for sumo wrestlers. The best wrestlers belong to the makuuchi division, with juryo wrestlers next in line. Most wrestlers belong to the makushita, sandanme and jonidan divisions, and try to work their way up to the coveted makuuchi ranking. The lowest ranked rikishi (the generic term for wrestler) start out in the jonokuchi division.

    • 2

      Glance at the pre-bout ritual. Sumo wrestling tradition starts even before the bout begins, as fighters enter the ring in an elaborate ceremony. They will rinse out their mouths with water, dry their lips then squat and clap to show that they aren't carrying weapons.

    • 3

      Watch a sumo tournament. Japanese sumo wrestling competitions are fifteen days long and every wrestler participates in one bout a day. The wrestler with the best record at the end of the tournament wins the Emperor's Cup.

    • 4

      Choose to root for the best wrestlers. The highest ranked wrestlers, called yokozuna, wrestle at night during tournaments. Yokozuna attain their grand master status after winning two tournaments in a row.

    • 5

      Enjoy the actual bout, with each bout normally lasting one to four minutes. The opponents will stare at each other, then jump up and began wrestling. If a wrestler's body touches the mat with anything other than the soles of his feet, he loses the bout.

    • 6

      Protest when the referee makes a bad call. Learn to throw red cushions at the ref when he makes an error in judgment, like all loyal Sumo fans.