| Among the activities associated with this
| |
| | as pushing and shoving, lifting, heaving,
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| country, also called the land of the
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| | slapping and other similar moves are
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| rising sun, there is perhaps none which
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| | allowed, while punching, hair pulling,
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| is as iconic of Japan as is Sumo
| |
| | kicking the vital areas, and eye gouging
|
| wrestling. Steeped in thirteen centuries
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| | are not. The Sumo outfit It consists of a
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| of history and tradition, Sumo originally
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| | 30 foot loincloth tightly bound and
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| served a religious and cultural purpose
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| | called a mawashi, which is used during
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| as a means of entertaining the deities to
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| | training as well as official
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| ensure a good harvest for the season.
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| | competitions. A length of twisted string,
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| Over time, as Japan became embroiled in
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| | called a sagari, is tucked around the
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| wars, Sumo was transformed into a form of
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| | front of the waist portion of the belt.
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| military training, exclusively practiced
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| | The sagari represents the sacred ropes
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| by samurais and beyond the sight of the
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| | that hang in front of Shinto shrines. The
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| common man. Feudal lords, with their
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| | referee Each Sumo match is closely
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| share of warriors, also conducted their
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| | watched by a referee called a gyoji.
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| own tournaments in their castles, which
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| | Dressed in an elaborate costume, the
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| was aimed at increasing the one on one
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| | gyoji watches over the two protagonists
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| mortal combat skills of their warriors.
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| | and constantly inform them that the bout
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| Towards the sixteenth century, with Japan
| |
| | is still ongoing or whether one of them
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| in a period of lasting peace, Sumo
| |
| | have unknowingly stepped on the circle
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| eventually found its way back towards the
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| | and therefore have already lost the
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| royal court, as it now transformed itself
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| | match. Gyojis also use a gunbai to
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| into an imperial sport. Over time, strict
| |
| | identify the winner of the match. A
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| rules were formulated as Sumo evolved
| |
| | gunbai is a wooden fan. The Sumo rankings
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| into something close to what we know
| |
| | & status As Sumo strictly observes a
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| today simply as Sumo wrestling. The
| |
| | hierarchal order, each level of Sumo is
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| rituals of Sumo Opponents start by
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| | expected to behave according to their
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| performing the chiri-chozu, where they
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| | rank and status. The lowest rank is the
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| squat across each other, extend their
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| | junior rikishi. They are expected to do
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| hands, then clap once. After this, each
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| | the cleaning chores, as well as help out
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| opponent performs the shiko, which is
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| | in preparing the lunch. Junior rikishis
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| best described as an exaggerated act of
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| | are not allowed to have breakfast, but
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| foot stomping ritual. Then each opponent
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| | are allowed to sleep after a very heavy
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| takes a fistful of unrefined salt and
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| | lunch, which serves the function of
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| throws it over the ring, as a
| |
| | accelerating weight gain. Sekitoris are
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| purification ritual. Salt was believed to
| |
| | the next higher rank. Sekitoris spend
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| have purifying power over evil spirits,
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| | most of their time in training, and have
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| while purity and purification rituals
| |
| | the junior rikishis serve as their
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| play a very important role in Shinto
| |
| | occasional manservants. Sekitoris are
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| rituals, which was once the dominant
| |
| | already considered privileged. Sumo
|
| religion in Japan. Understanding the
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| | wrestling has been gaining widespread
|
| rules The main objective of a Sumo
| |
| | popularity in recent years. The enjoyment
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| encounter is to get an opponent to step
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| | of a Sumo match will certainly be
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| or land outside the competition circle,
| |
| | increased if we have a deeper
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| or get any part of his body to touch the
| |
| | understanding of all the rituals,
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| ground. The first person to get his
| |
| | symbolisms and pageantry that Sumo stands
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| opponent to do so wins. Most moves such
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| | for.
|
