Sumo Wrestling | National Geographic

six times a year these giants battle

six times a year these giants battle each other for top placement in Japan’s

each other for top placement in Japan’s

each other for top placement in Japan’s most beloved traditional sport

most beloved traditional sport

most beloved traditional sport sumo highly ritualized this sport dates

sumo highly ritualized this sport dates

sumo highly ritualized this sport dates back more than a thousand years

back more than a thousand years

back more than a thousand years originating as a right of the Shinto

originating as a right of the Shinto

originating as a right of the Shinto religion matches are a true window into

religion matches are a true window into

religion matches are a true window into an earlier era participants wear

an earlier era participants wear

an earlier era participants wear colorful Shinto guard stomping drives

colorful Shinto guard stomping drives

colorful Shinto guard stomping drives evil spirits from the ring while tossing

evil spirits from the ring while tossing

evil spirits from the ring while tossing sacred salt appeases the Shinto gods

sacred salt appeases the Shinto gods

sacred salt appeases the Shinto gods before the ring is sullied by the

before the ring is sullied by the

before the ring is sullied by the Restless peasants what’s surprising

Restless peasants what’s surprising

Restless peasants what’s surprising about sumo is the sheer size of the

about sumo is the sheer size of the

about sumo is the sheer size of the wrestlers a traditional diet that

wrestlers a traditional diet that

wrestlers a traditional diet that includes choco lava a stew made from

includes choco lava a stew made from

includes choco lava a stew made from fatty meats cabbage eggs and bean

fatty meats cabbage eggs and bean

fatty meats cabbage eggs and bean sprouts helps them bulk up entering the

sprouts helps them bulk up entering the

sprouts helps them bulk up entering the ring girth is advantageous the rules are

ring girth is advantageous the rules are

ring girth is advantageous the rules are simple

simple

simple knock your opponent down or out of the

knock your opponent down or out of the

knock your opponent down or out of the ring wrestler slam slapped it usually

ring wrestler slam slapped it usually

ring wrestler slam slapped it usually last

last

last last-minute sumo wrestlers belong to

last-minute sumo wrestlers belong to

last-minute sumo wrestlers belong to stables which function like clubs and

stables which function like clubs and

stables which function like clubs and are where they learn the finer points of

are where they learn the finer points of

are where they learn the finer points of sumo from experienced mentors which

sumo from experienced mentors which

sumo from experienced mentors which match is an opportunity for sumo

match is an opportunity for sumo

match is an opportunity for sumo wrestlers to move up the complex ranking

wrestlers to move up the complex ranking

wrestlers to move up the complex ranking system or down at the top are the

system or down at the top are the

system or down at the top are the Yokozuna or Grand Champions in the ring

Yokozuna or Grand Champions in the ring

Yokozuna or Grand Champions in the ring they are distinguished by the large

they are distinguished by the large

they are distinguished by the large ropes around their waist

ropes around their waist

a match like this is a feast for the

a match like this is a feast for the fans

but no matter what they’re ready a

but no matter what they’re ready a stylized battle these giants lies at the

stylized battle these giants lies at the

stylized battle these giants lies at the heart of Japanese tradition