What is sumo wrestling?
Sumo is a traditional Japanese form of wrestling in which two large wrestlers try to force each other out of a circular ring or make any part of the opponent's body other than the feet touch the ground.
Sumo matches take place in a ring called a dohyō, made of packed clay with a circle marked by rice-straw bales. Bouts often last only a few seconds. Wrestlers, called rikishi, use pushing, slapping and throwing techniques while wearing a heavy belt called a mawashi. There are no weight classes.
Sumo has roots in Shinto religious rituals going back more than 1,500 years. Many traditions remain, such as throwing salt into the ring to purify it and the referee's colorful robes. Wrestlers live and train together in stables called heya, following strict rules on behavior and dress.
Ranks and tournaments
Professional sumo holds six major tournaments a year, each lasting 15 days. The highest rank is yokozuna, a title given only to the very best wrestlers who show both strength and dignity. Many top wrestlers in recent decades have come from Mongolia.
Did You Know?
Sumo wrestlers eat a hearty stew called chankonabe to build their size, often in large meals after morning training.