Sumo Wrestling New To Arnold
The Arnold Sports Festival will bring another first to Columbus, Ohio in 2007 – the time honored Japanese sport of Sumo Wrestling. Jim Lorimer, Producer of the Weekend events commented, “We will host a world-level Sumo demonstration event in 2007. This is another exciting extension of the international scope of the Arnold Sports Festival.”
The concept of bringing Sumo to the Weekend has been in discussion since 2002. In 2006, Jim Seitzer, a longtime associate of the Weekend presented the idea anew to Jim Lorimer. Seitzer commented, “Sumo is over-the-top. It is exotic and is surrounded by a mystery that appeals to all sports enthusiasts. Sumo has an intangible that connects a broad fan base and it is fun to watch.
The physiques of the Sumo athletes are juxtaposed to the historical athlete at the Arnold Fitness Weekend who is lean and muscular. The Sumo wrestlers have the appeal of power and mass in a competitive and combative sport. They are not trying to inflict true bodily harm even though they are big enough to do so. Sumo wrestling has a gentleman’s appeal because of the way the athletes interact with one another. For the Japanese people, these athletes are revered and the sport has a great appeal to watch. Sumo athletes eat specifically for the sport and in order to gain mass, strength, and power.”
In Sumo Wrestling two wrestlers or “rikishi” face off in a circular area. Sumo is imbedded with sacred rituals and is considered by many as a modern martial art. Professional Sumo wrestlers are known for their girth resulting from large meals of meat, fish, and rice enjoyed with beer followed by a long mid-day rest.
A Sumo bout is determined by two rules – whoever touches the ground first with any part of their body other than the soles of their feet will lose or the first wrestler to touch the ground outside the circle loses. “Shini-tai” or dead body is the term used often to describe the “loser”.
A wrestler using an illegal technique or “kinjite” automatically loses while a wrestler whose belt “mawashi” becomes undone also automatically loses. The referee is referred to as a “gyogi” and he announces the winning technique “kimarite” to the audience.
Ceremony accompanies every Sumo wrestling match. The wrestling ring or dohyo is built prior to each tournament . Each wrestler wears a garment akin to a loin cloth known as the “mawashi”. The ring is 4.55 meters in diameter and is surrounded by rice-straw bales called “tawara ” At the center of the ring are two white lines called “shikiri-sen ”. Around the ring is band of sand which can be used to determine if the wrestler has touched outside the ring.
Each wrestler engages in a traditional ceremony upon approaching the ring including stomping of the legs and clapping while facing the audience. He washes his mouth with a special “power water” and then throws salt into the ring to purify it. Once in the ring, the wrestlers face each other in a crouching position demonstrating and are prepared to charge their opponent. Finally the referee will inform them to initiate the bout which can last less than a minute. Look for Sumo to be a big hit at the Arnold Sports Festival 2007.
