Sumo Wrestling | National Geographic

six times a year these giants battle
each other for top placement in Japan’s
most beloved traditional sport sumo
highly ritualized this sport dates back
more than a thousand years originating
as a right of the Shinto religion
matches are a true window into an
earlier era participants wear colorful
Shinto guard stomping drives evil
spirits from the ring while tossing
sacred salt appeases the Shinto gods
before the ring is sullied by the
Restless peasants what’s surprising
about sumo is the sheer size of the
wrestlers a traditional diet that
includes choco lava a stew made from
fatty meats cabbage eggs and bean
sprouts helps them bulk up entering the
ring Gert is advantageous the rules are
simple knock your opponent down or out
of the ring wrestler slam slapped and
toss opponents into submission it
usually lasts
sumo wrestlers belong to stables which
function like clubs and are where they
learn the finer points of sumo from
experienced mentors which match is an
opportunity for sumo wrestlers to move
up the complex ranking system or down at
the top are the Yokozuna or Grand
Champions in the ring they are
distinguished by the large ropes around
their waists
a match like this is a feast for the
fans
no matter what their read a stylized
battle these giants lies at the heart of
Japanese tradition