> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.421.news/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Sumo, ritual and sport - URL: https://www.421.news/en/sumo-ritual-and-sport/ - Published: 2024-11-19T17:34:48.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-08T14:08:40.000Z - Description: A sport that is as much a martial art as it is a ritual and a piece of folklore. Its fundamentals, the six annual tournaments, and what happens outside Japan. - Author: Juanma La Volpe - Tags: Real life, sports, #en, #ensayo Professional **sumo** is a practice that chains many things together at once: it is a sport and a martial art, but also a religious ritual and a cultural tradition. It dates back more than 1,500 years, originating as a ceremony for the imperial court, where two ***rikishis*** (wrestlers) face off in a [combat](https://www.421.news/es/ultra-body-extreme-nuevo-concepto-combate-nacido-en-quilmes/) of strength and technique as entertainment for the nobles. Today the sport has modernized significantly in terms of its organization, but it preserves its original rituals. Watching **sumo** is a fresh experience for a Westerner; there is something magical and epic that is impossible not to feel when watching it. The weight of centuries and the stories of the wrestlers make it an incredible spectacle. But, to enjoy it even more, let's go over the basics. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2b/7f/2b7f69fc-a243-4d2f-ae8e-db8312c6653a/content/images/2024/11/image-9.png) ## **The ABCs of sumo** The rules of a [bout](https://www.421.news/en/ultra-body-extreme-a-new-combat-concept-born-in-quilmes/) are fairly simple. Two **rikishis** compete in a match on a ***dohyo***, a circle that serves as a ring on ground considered sacred. The winner is whoever manages to push their opponent out of the ***dohyo*** or force any part of their opponent's body to touch the floor, other than the soles of their feet. The metagame of **sumo** leads wrestlers to pursue a large body, combining body mass and muscle, in order to have better grip on the ground and defense against pushes. But since there are no weight classes, we also find wrestlers who maintain a more moderate weight, prioritizing speed and technique over raw strength. There are 82 registered winning techniques, and the average bout can last anywhere from a few seconds to about a minute, due to the simple rules and the intensity of the wrestlers. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2b/7f/2b7f69fc-a243-4d2f-ae8e-db8312c6653a/content/images/2024/11/image-12.png) ## **The six annual tournaments** Called **Honbasho**, the six major **sumo** tournaments are held over 15 days in [January](https://www.421.news/es/sid-meier-civilization-vi/), March, May, July, September, and November, organized by the Japan Sumo Association. In these tournaments, ***rikishis*** in the top divisions have one bout per day, and the wrestler with the best record is declared champion at the end of the 15 days. In the event of a tie between two or more wrestlers, playoff rounds are held among those at the top of the standings. The ***rikishis*** put their ranking on the line and strive to climb in order to become a ***yokozuna***, the highest rank and an achievement very few attain. To become a ***yokozuna***, a wrestler must have won at least two consecutive annual tournaments, but it also requires the wrestler to be a role model, because ultimately the decision of who becomes a ***yokozuna*** rests with the Japan Sumo Association. What makes it interesting is that there is not always an active one; the title can remain vacant until someone the Association deems worthy comes along to fill the position. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2b/7f/2b7f69fc-a243-4d2f-ae8e-db8312c6653a/content/images/2024/11/image-11.png) During 2024, ***rikishi* Onosato** (24 years old, 1.92 m tall, and 182 kilograms) claimed the most important victories by defeating ***yokozuna* Terunofuji** (32 years old, 1.92 m, 176 kg, with 10 Honbasho wins) twice and earning promotion to ***ozeki*** (the rank just below **yokozuna**). That season also saw the debut of ShiShi, a 27-year-old Ukrainian wrestler considered the first professional sumo wrestler from his country. To watch the tournaments, we recommend the broadcasts by [**NHK**](https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/sumo/?ref=421.news) on YouTube, where they [**upload the daily highlights with every bout**](https://www.youtube.com/@NHKWORLDJAPAN?ref=421.news). And a fair warning: like any sport, once you start getting to know the protagonists it becomes a *shonen* you want to follow for the lore and the feats of its participants. ## **What happens outside Japan** To promote the sport, the [**International Sumo Federation**](http://ifs-sumo.org/?ref=421.news) was created in 1992\. While it features elite athletes, it is not considered professional sumo like the Japanese version, and it has some important differences such as weight classes and the inclusion of women's competition. And here in Argentina we have the [**Asociacion Argentina de Sumo**](https://www.instagram.com/sumoargentina/?ref=421.news), which does a great job training wrestlers who compete in major tournaments like the [World Championship](https://www.421.news/es/faustino-oro-ajedrez/) or the South American Championship organized by the International Sumo Federation, and hosting events to help grow the sport in our country.