Like
many forms of wrestling around the world, the roots of Sumo are lost
in prehistory. Sumo is mentioned in some of the earliest texts in
Japan, under its earlier name Sumai, from the 8th century A.D. These
early forms would not be Sumo as it is known today. In many cases
the wrestling had relatively few rules and unarmed fights to the death
were still referred to as "Sumo".
Sumo wrestling is not only the oldest of Japan's martial arts; it
also evolved into the most distinct and ritualistic. Now more of a
professional sport than a martial art, sumo can trace its origins
back about 2000 years to Shinto harvest rites. Strong links with Shinto
remain in many sumo rituals.
Sumo matches are fought in a "dohyo", a raised and sanctified
platform constructed with clay and sand and onto which a 14 foot 10
inch circle is marked out using half buried straw bales. Suspended
above the ring is a wooden structure that resembles the roof of a
Shinto shrine.
There is no weight class in Sumo wrestling so very often the "Rikishi",
or competitors, find themselves squaring off against a much heftier
opponent. Sumo's basic rule is that the one who first makes his opponent
step outside of the ring, or makes him touch the ground with any part
of his body wins.
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