Hello! How are you, everyone? It is the blog: How Unique Japan!
This time, let us ask you first. What do you think about Japan? Samurai? Manga or Ninja? If you answered like Sumo, we are happy with it because we are about to share our knowledge about Sumo with you through this section.
It is about its history, rules, and penalties.
When is it born?
We said it is traditional. But how old is that? The historical record, Koziki (ancient historical record), has the sumo article.
Surprisingly, that record dates back to 712 AD!
In the details, the two sumo fighters fought in front of nobles. Since then, such a fight has become a ritual.
The purpose of the ritual (Sumo Wrestling) is to pray for the god to grant us favorable outcomes, primarily a bountiful harvest season.
The rules
Therefore, that unique sport/martial arts became very official. So, all sumo wrestlers need to be gentle and calm (not emotional, like the wrestlers from W〇F).
Thus, it is a bad habit to show off any emotional pose, a victory pose, or shouting. It is like being quiet while the tennis game is inevitable.
There are also many unique rules in Sumo wrestling. The feature of Sumo Wrestling is that there is no sign to start the match. However, there is a man like a referee between the wrestlers. (We wrote about him on another page. His job name is Gyoji).
Oddly, the timing of the start is really up to the wrestlers. When both wrestlers put their fists on the ring like touching, it is the sign to start.
That timing is Tachiai (Standing each other). Thus, the timing of the match could be the key to a better advantage.
So then, how to win??
Victory in this sport is achieved by pushing or pulling opponents out of the ring or taking them down. However, it involves much more than just these actions.
The details are,
- If any part of their body touches the ring (Except the soles), they lose the match.
- If the mawashi (belt) comes undone during a fight, it results in a loss.
Sumo is a strict sport because only the soles of the feet are allowed to touch the ground.
Penalties
There are eight penalties in the match.
- Do not hit the opponent with a fist.
- Choking is forbidden.
- Do not attack weak points, like eyes.
- Do not slap their ears.
- Do not grab the hair.
- Kicking is forbidden (However, Hocking the foot against their leg is allowed).
- Do not break their fingers.
- (It is funny), Do not grab the vertical position of the belt.
They are the main penalties. All wrestlers fight the match by following and respecting these rules.
More of the Sumo
Thank you so much for reading this article!
This time, we focused on the beliefs and rules of Sumo. BUT! There is much more uniqueness in the national sport.
Now, we have other articles. They are about…
● Shiko Squat … It is one of the important movements like squat.
● Gyoji. Sumo wrestling ref … The referee in Sumo wrestling is tough job. Taka a look!
Therefore, we will upload another article separately. If you got interested in my Sumo page, please follow this blog.
We also possess diverse information about Japan’s uniqueness, including its lifestyle, foods, and religions. If you are also curious about them, feel free to visit!
OK, then. See you for the next article!