Sumo Wrestling

Sumo Wrestling is a full-contact competitive sport in which a wrestler known as Rikishi tries to force another Rikishi out of the circular ring or into touching the ground with any part of the body other than the soles of the feet. It is the national sport of Japan and is considered to have originated in the country.

Japan is the only country in which the sport is practiced professionally and it is a significant part of Japanese culture. Professional matches of the sport are organized by the Japan Sumo Association whose all members (oyakata) are former wrestlers who are the only people to train new wrestlers.

Equipment

Sagari

Rikishi also wears decorative tassels made from the same material as the mawashi.

Mawashi

Sumo wrestlers use a Mawashi, a heavy fabric loincloth that opposing wrestlers utilize while performing different manoeuvres to seize and hold onto to pick up an advantage during matches. 

Playing Area

Sumo wrestling matches take place in a circular ring called a dohyo which is 4.55 m in diameter and have an area of 16.26 sq. m. which have a platform made of clay mixed with sand.  It consists of two white lines (shikiri-sen) at the center behind which the rikishi (wrestlers) position themselves at the beginning of the bout.