History !

Sumo wrestling is the

national sport of Japan. Once
patronised by the emperors,
Sumo wrestling goes back at
least 1500 years making it the
worlds oldest organised sport.
It probably evolved out of
Mongolian, Chinese and Koran
wrestling. In the long history
Sumo has had many changes
and many of the rituals that go
along the sport that seem old
were actually made in the 20th
century.
HI STORY
By Sarah Weber
SUMO
WRESTLING
The word sumo is written in the
Chinese characters for mutual
bruising, even though sumos
history goes back to ancient times,
it became a professional sport in
the early Edo period from 1600 !
1868.

Sumo wrestling is known
throughout the world as one of the
most unique and exiting full!
contact sports ever in existence.
Sumo wrestling is where two large
men are facing o# in a circular ring
called a dohyo. The winner is the
man who forces their opponent
out of the circle rst. They can also
win by making their opponent
touch the ground with a part of
their body apart from their feet.
Japan was the country that created
the sport of sumo wrestling and it
is the only country that supports
professional matches of sumo
wrestling. Sumo includes many
elements of ritual including the use
of salt for purication.
Shinto is the native religion of
Japan and is more a set of rituals
and ceremonies than a system of
beliefs or a denite code of
ethnics. Shinto means the way of
the Gods, Sumo was originally
performed to entertain the Gods
$Kami% during festivals $Matsuri%.
The Sumo ritual dates go as far
back as the Tumulus period $250 !
552%, but it wasn't until the 17th
century that it began adopting the
intense purication rituals that we
see in Sumo wrestling today.
KAI O HI ROYUKI
KAI O I S A SUMO WRESTLER WI TH 1047 WI NS, THE MOST CAREER WI NS
EVER I N HI STORY. HE WAS A PROFESSI ONAL SUMO WRESTLER FROM THE
YEAR 1988 UNTI L 2011. KAI O S HI GHEST EVER RANK WAS OZEKI . HE WAS
BORN ON THE 27TH OF JULY 1972 I N NOGATA FUKUOKA. KAI O WAS 6
FOOT 1 AND 170 KG. HE RETI RED ON JULY 5TH 2011
WHAT I S A SUMO WRESTLERS DI ET?:
A typical sumo wrestlers diet is made up of a fatty pork stew
called Chankonabe which translates into Chinese pot stew.
HOW MUCH MONEY DOES A SUMO WRESTLER
EARN?:
A sumo wrestlers pay is based on their ranking. They dont get a
particular salary. The highest ranking sumo wrestlers pay can
get to as much as 2,000,000 yen.
WHY DO SUMO WRESTLERS HAVE TO BE SO FAT?:
In a sumo battle the goal is to push your opponent outside of
the arena and the heavier you are the harder it is for your
opponent to push you o# the edge.
CAN A FEMALE BE A SUMO WRESTLER?:
Sumo wrestlers are mainly men in many countries. Females are
not allowed to enter or touch a sumo ring. Much criticism
towards women sumo wrestling is due to gender discrimination.
WHAT I S THE HEAVI EST SUMO WEI GHT?:
Konishiki Yasokichi weight 630 pounds and he was 6 foot 1 tall.
FACTS