| Wearing nothing but a mawashi (loincloth), two | | | | in at 300-400 pounds, but follow a stringent regiment |
| larger-than-life opponents face each other in a dohyo | | | | of training and nutrition that creates an athlete of great |
| (wrestling ring) to push, wrestle or throw each other | | | | strength. Wrestlers grapple at each other with their |
| out of the ring. This is the basic definition of sumo | | | | bare hands and employ a range of moves that require |
| wrestling but, like any other centuries old Japanese | | | | precision, timing, and balance to succeed. |
| tradition, the "why" and the "how" is more important | | | | Every year, six basho (tournaments) are held in four |
| than the "what". | | | | different cities in Japan, each lasting 15 days. A |
| Sumo has been performed the same way since the | | | | wrestler's ranking changes depending on his |
| Edo Period (early 1600's) and still retains the rituals and | | | | performance in the tournament, with the top ranking, |
| techniques developed in those early years. The rikishi | | | | called yokozuna, bestowed on only one or two |
| (wrestlers) even wear their hair in a topknot - the | | | | wresters at a time. |
| hairstyle typical of samurai in the Edo period. the | | | | For centuries sumo wrestlers were exclusively of |
| umpires and referee wear elaborate kimono-style garb | | | | Japanese birth. In the last two decades, foreign |
| that depicts their experience ranking. Before each bout, | | | | wrestlers have begun to compete in greater numbers |
| both wrestlers toss salt into the ring because the | | | | and have earned top rankings. Currently there are 60 |
| dohyo is a sacred place. After each day's match, a | | | | non-Japanese professional sumo wrestlers out of a |
| lower ranked wrestler closes the event by performing | | | | total of 700. China, Russia and several other Eastern |
| the yumitori-shiki (bow dance). | | | | European countries have made an impressive showing |
| Sumo wrestling bouts are fast - some lasting only a | | | | recently, but in the 1990's two American wrestlers -- |
| few seconds - and very intense, with a series of three | | | | Konishiki and Akebono (both from Hawaii)-- were the |
| "stare down" practice starts that the wrestlers use to | | | | first to reach the yokozuna rank. |
| intimidate their opponent. These trained athletes weigh | | | | |