Sumo - Tradition, Culture, Strength and Food. Sounds good, right?

What do you think of when you hear the word Sumo? Do you think of 2 overweight monsters trying to throw each other outside of a circle? Or do you think of a highly disciplined, Spiritual Warrior?

When we think of Japan, many of us will think of Sumo Wrestling. And why wouldn’t we? It had been their national sport for centuries. Some legends tell how Japan was created when the God Takemikazuchi won a sumo bout with the leader of a rival gang, therefore given the right to rule. Other legends state how it was a battle of a divided Japan, the strongest man from the East and the West would battle and the winner would lead a united Japan. However other legends just state how Sumo was practiced by God’s and handed down to the people over 2000 years ago. Whatever the legend, Sumo has been a performance in order to entertain the Shinto deities (Gods) for centuries, and more recently the World.

But what does it take to be a Sumo Wrestler? A lot of strength, will, determination.. And one hell of an appetite.

To become a Sumo Wrestler, you would need to be part of a Stable. This is where a Wrestler would live, eat, drink and train throughout their career. Stable’s follow a strict hierarchy where rank is everything. So much so, the lower ranks would cook and clean for the higher ranks!

Wrestlers would keep on a very strict regime, and part of that regime would be to wear traditional Japanese clothing along with a traditional topknot hairstyle (you know the ones.) The topknot, or Chonmage, was originally associated with Samurai, and was a method of using hair to hold a helmet steady atop the head in battle. When a Sumo would leave the professional world of Sumo, they would be invited to a ceremony where the Chonmage would be cut - signifying the end of a career. Believe it or not, it is an incredibly emotional ceremony.

Sumo’s would partake in Keiko- an intense, rarely modified morning pushing of wrestlers to their physical and mental limits. Whether this be performing Shiko (the leg stomping we see) for an hour, or Butsukari Geiko (pushing against another wrestler acting as deadweight) the Wrestlers were truly at the mercy of the Stablemaster. Keiko would be seen as the most important element of their training, as the rigorous repetitions would truly test their will and strength.

“Sumo isn’t about fighting an opponent; you battle yourself”

Sumo is a sport of deep, religious and Spiritual culture. This is portrayed by the purification of the ring with salt before the Wrestlers would enter. God’s would also be summoned upon entrance with a simple clap of the hands. And just to make sure there were no negative spirits lurking around, the Sumo’s would drive their legs into the ground - I take it you know which part this is.

Due to Sumo being a lifestyle more than just a sport, there has been a massive decline in its popularity with younger children. Young Japanaese boys are not interested in trying out for the sport, and some blame this trend on video games, junk food and the reluctance to work a hard life. Why would they put themselves through such a gruelling life when they can just play baseball or football instead, and still play all the fifa they like?

As for the fans, they are not happy with the increase in foreign participation. Foreigners are being taken into the Stables, but it is hard for those who do not hold the spirit of the Japanese people to be bearers of Japanese culture. It would be difficult stepping into 2000 years of tradition, especially when you have not been brought up this way. There has been a call for a change in Sumo, to help open the sport to modern society, but this is tough when a sport is so deeply embedded with traditions and rituals. As a result, more viewers are taking to sports such as K1, baseball, football, even half marathons.

What used to be the powerhouse sport of a Nation is now minute in comparison. Maybe Sumo will be more open to the World, and there may be a spark to reignite what was once such a phenomena.

We don’t know. But what I do know… I will not be getting into the ring with one of these Warriors anytime soon.

#SpiritualAssassin #Warrior #fighting #sumo #WarriorMindset