Sumo is a type of wrestling in a loincloth (mawashi) on a specially equipped platform (dohyo).

In sumo competitions, the following are defined weight categories:

• Boys 13-18 years old: up to 75 kg, up to 100 kg, over 100 kg and absolute weight category.
• Men: up to 85 kg, up to 115 kg, over 115 kg and absolute weight category.
• Women: up to 65 kg, up to 80 kg, over 80 kg and absolute weight category.

clothing

Competitors must wear a loincloth - mawashi. However, in amateur sumo, it is allowed to wear swimming trunks or tight-fitting black shorts under mawashi. The width of the mawashi is 40 cm, no specific length is prescribed, but the length of the mawashi must be sufficient to allow it to be wrapped around the athlete's torso 4-5 times.

Athletes are not allowed to go to the fight wearing items that can injure the opponent. This primarily applies to metal jewelry (rings, bracelets, chains, etc.). The wrestler's body must be completely clean and dry, fingernails and toenails must be cut short. The emblem of the club, federation, number, etc. it is allowed to attach (tie) to mawashi.

Competition Venue: Doha

Sumo competitions are held on a square area with a side of 7.27 m, which is called dohyo.

There are two types of dohyo:

• mori-dohyo - clay or earthen trapezoid 34-60 cm high;
• hira-dohyo - flat dohyo, which is used for training and for competitions in the absence of mori-dohyo.

The arena is a circle with a diameter of 4.55 m, the center of which is the intersection of two diagonal lines of the square specified in clause 5.1. The arena of the fight along the perimeter is limited by a bundle of rice straw - cebu-dawara.

In the center of the circle on the east and west sides of the dohyo, two white starting lines (sikirisen) are applied to the surface at a distance of 70 cm from each other. Shikirisen is 80 cm long and 6 cm wide.

Inside the circle is sprinkled with sand. Sand is also scattered outside the circle, along the shobu-dawara, to a width of about 25 cm, so that a “control” strip is formed - janome. In controversial cases, the presence or absence of marks on janome helps to correctly determine the outcome of the fight.

Composition of the panel of judges

The panel of judges includes: chief judge of the competition, deputy chief judge, chief secretary, judges, informants and other service personnel.

The Chief Referee is responsible for enforcing all provisions relating to general rules refereeing, including the appointment of refereeing teams.

Composition of the judging panel

The refereeing team should consist of 6 people:

• brigade leader - simpante,
• referee - gyoji,
• 4 side judges - simpans.

wrestling rules

Except in special situations, the following provisions determine the winner of the bout:

• the wrestler who forces the opponent to touch the dohyo with any part of the body outside the shobu-dawar wins;
• the wrestler who forces the opponent to touch the dohyo with any part of the body, except for the soles of the feet, within the shobu-dawar, wins.

Special situations include the position of shinitai (“dead body”) - a complete loss of balance, inevitably leading to defeat.

The attacker does not lose the fight by touching the dohyo with his hand in order to soften the fall and avoid injury at the end of the technical action, as a result of which the opponent enters the shinitai position. This situation is called kabaite.

The attacker does not lose the fight, standing up for the shobu-dawara in order to soften the fall and avoid injury at the end of the technical action, as a result of which the opponent falls into the position of shinitai. This situation is called kabaiashi.

The attacker does not lose the fight, standing up for the sebou-dawara, when he, having raised the enemy, takes out and lowers him behind the sebud-dawara. This situation is called okuriashi. However, the attacker loses the fight if, while performing this technical action, he goes behind the Sebu-Dawara backwards.

The attacker does not lose the fight if, when performing a winning throw, the rise of his leg touches the dohyo.

It is not a defeat if the horizontal front of the mawashi (orikomi) touches the dohyo.

A wrestler may be declared defeated by the decision of the judges in the following cases:

1. If he is unable to continue due to injury,
2. If he performs kinjite (forbidden actions),
3. If he ends the fight on his own,
4. If he deliberately did not rise from his original position,
5. If he does not follow the commands of the gyoji,
6. If he did not appear in the waiting sector after the second official call,
7. If maebukuro (codpiece) mawashi is untied and falls off during the fight.

If the bout lasts longer than the set time, but the winner is not determined, it stops and a new bout is held.

Prohibited Actions (Kinjite):

• Punching or poking with fingers.
• Kicking in the chest or stomach.
• Hair grips.
• Throat grip.
• Grips for the vertical parts of the mawashi.
• Twisting opponent's fingers.
• Biting.
• Direct blows to the head.

rituals

In sumo, as in other traditional martial arts of Japan, rituals and etiquette are preserved and honored.

The rituals consist of ritsu-rei (standing bow), chiritezu (cleansing with water) and shikiri (preparation).

Chiritezu is a unique ritual originating from the ancient Japanese custom of washing a warrior before a battle.

Chiritezu is performed by both wrestlers at the same time when entering the doha. They squat down in a sonoke position, balancing on their toes. The heels are torn off the floor, the torso and head are held straight, the hands are lowered to the knees. The wrestlers put their hands down and nod to each other. Then the athletes bring their outstretched arms at chest level, spread them apart with their palms down and again bring them together in front with a clap of their palms, straighten their arms and spread them to the sides parallel to the ground with their palms up, and at the end of the ritual they turn their palms down.

Shikiri— prelaunch preparatory movements. The wrestlers squat down with their legs wide apart and their torsos bent forward. At the same time, the hips and shoulders are kept horizontally, and the hands, clenched into fists, rest on the surface of the doha along the shikirisen, without touching, which corresponds to the “ready!”

The transition from shikiri to tachiai (starting jerk-up) must be carried out by athletes at the same time.

Rituals are integral and important integral part sumo and should be performed without haste, with dignity and calmness, emphasizing the harmony and grandeur of sumo.

fight

The duration of the fight is:

• for the age group of 13-15 years - 3 minutes;
• for the age group of 16-17 years - 5 minutes;
• for adults 18 years and older - 5 minutes.

If after the specified time the winner is not determined, a second fight (torinaoshi) is appointed.

There is no break between contractions. The next fight begins immediately after the end of the previous one.

Calling participants

Competitors enter the dohyo-damari in the following order:

• in team competition the two teams that are to play next must go out and settle down in the dohyo-damari before the end of the previous meeting;
• in individual competitions, the wrestler must be in doha-damari 2 grabs before his own.

While on dohyo and dohyo-damari, competitors must behave with dignity, avoid rude expressions, so as not to infringe on the feelings of others.

The wrestlers are invited to dohyo by the informant judge on the microphone in a loud and intelligible voice 2 times. If, after the second official call, the participant does not enter the doha, he is considered defeated.

Presentation of participants

Wrestlers take part in competitions under the numbers that they received at the draw. The informing judge introduces all wrestlers in each weight category at the beginning of the competition by name. Before the start of each bout, the participants are presented by name with their data (age, height, weight), titles and ranks.

Start of the fight

The fight begins at the command of the gyōji after the necessary rituals have been performed.

Stopping a fight

Gyoji may stop the bout one or more times due to injury, clothing disorder (mawashi), or any other reason beyond the contestant's will.

The time spent on breaks for one wrestler may be established by the Competition Regulations.

End of the fight

The fight ends when the gyōji, having determined the outcome of the fight, announces: "Cebu atta!" - and pointing with his hand in the direction of the dohyo (East or West), with which the winner started the fight. The wrestlers on this command must stop wrestling.

Announcement of the winner (katinanori)

After the end of the fight and the announcement of "Cebu atta!" the gyoji and wrestlers return to their original positions.

The loser bows (rei) and leaves the doha. The winner takes the sonkyo posture and, after the gyōji, pointing at him with his hand, announces: "Higashi no kachi!" ("Victory of the East!") or "Nishi no kachi!" ("Victory of the West!"), Stretches his right hand to the side and down.

In case of termination of the fight due to the use of a prohibited hold by one of the wrestlers, the announcement of the winner takes place in accordance with the established procedure.

If it is impossible for one of the wrestlers to continue the fight due to an injury, his opponent assumes the sonkyo position, and the gyoji, in the prescribed manner, declares him the winner.

In the event that one of the wrestlers does not appear, the wrestler who came out on the doha takes the sonkyo pose, and the gyoji, in the prescribed manner, declares him the winner.

Ozeki title Kakuryu M. Anand won the Emperor's Cup in Osaka, demonstrating high-class sumo and winning fourteen victories in fifteen fights.

Before the March tournament Haru Basho, the 28-year-old Mongolian hero was endowed with the unofficial status of a tsunatori (candidate for the title of yokozuna). Crane-Dragon used his chance and proved that he is worthy to rise to the top of the wrestling hierarchy.

Today, the Judicial Committee unanimously decided to nominate Kakuryu for consideration by the Yokozuna Public Election Committee, which will meet on Monday in the Tokyo Council.

The final decision on awarding Mangalzhalavyn Anand the highest heroic title will be made on Wednesday at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Japan Sumo Association.
Thus, having fulfilled the conditions of the Japan Sumo Association “to win the tournament with at least 13 victories”, Mangalzhavin Anand became the sixth foreigner and the fourth Mongol who earned the highest title of yokozuna.

71 according to the score of yokozduna Kakuryu M. Anand earlier twice lost the victory in the tournament to yokozune Hakuho Davaazhargal, having lost the decisive additional bout. But this time, luck smiled at him, bringing him victory in the super tournament and the highest hierarchical rank.

In the history of sumo, there are cases when a hero who won a tournament 4-5 times did not become a yokozuna, like Kayo ozeki, and there are cases when a sumo wrestler who did not win the tournament was awarded the title of yokozuna. This, firstly, depends on the fact that the hero must perform well at least three tournaments in a row, having won at least 35 victories in three tournaments. Secondly, the definition of yokozuna depends on the competition of the heroes in the tournament.

In the March tournament, the 69th yokozuna Hakuho Davaazhargal and the 70th yokozuna Harumafudzi Byambadorzh suffered three defeats in last days Haru Basho.
Hakuho and Harumafuji were out of contention for the Emperor's Cup due to injuries. Hakuho injured the index and middle fingers of his right hand in a duel with Kotosegiku, Harumafuji injured his right elbow in a fight with Kisenosato.

The Japanese ozeki have been in trouble since the start of the tournament.

Kotosegiku fought for fifteen days practically with his left hand. The right hand was shackled by a large pectoral muscle, injured in November in Kyushu. Kisenosato was unable to properly prepare for the Spring Tournament due to thumb right leg, injured on the January Hatsu Basho. The strongest Japanese heroes compensated for the lack of training practice with willpower. Kisenosato managed to win nine duels, Kotosegiku - eight. Twelve victories, like great champions, were won by sekivake Goeydo in his native Osaka prefecture.

Kakuryu is the sixth foreigner and the fourth representative of Mongolia to earn the highest rank of yokozuna. Kakuryu had 899 fights and won 519 victories. In makuuchi, he won 379 out of 656 bouts.
Mangalzhalavyn Anand was born on August 10, 1985 in Ulaanbaatar.

FROM early childhood the hero joined the sport. At the age of 8, he enrolled in the basketball section, then became interested in tennis, wrestling and boxing.

Mangalzhalavyn Anand followed with interest the performances of his countrymen, Kyokushuzan and Kyokutenho, in Japan, and when the scouts of the Hanakago school arrived in Mongolia, he was one of the first to appear in front of important overseas guests, but did not pass the selection.

The stubborn young man did not lose heart and began to write a letter. The cry of the soul of a young Mongol who dreamed of becoming a rikishi was translated into Japanese by a colleague of his father, a professor at the Polytechnic University. The letter, along with his photographs, was sent by Mangalzhalavyn Anand by post to the address of the Sumo Association on April 23, 2001. Two months later, a reply came from the Izutsu school.
The young Mongol was taken under his wing by ex-sekivake Sakahoko, who shone on Doha in the 80s of the last century, the son of Tsurugamine, who also bore the title of sekivake.

Parents did not prevent their son from leaving overseas. Dad, a sewer design specialist, was an avid sports fan and believed that he would soon be able to be proud of the achievements of his beloved child.

In November 2001, under the name of Kakuryu Mangaljalavyn Anand, he made his professional debut in Doha. The first hieroglyph of his wrestling pseudonym (“Kaku”, read in other versions as “Tsuru”), the novice rikishi received in memory of Tsurugamine.

It took the light Crane Dragon almost three years to rise to the third division of makushita. The Mongolian crossed one of the important symbolic features after he won the competition in the 4th category - sandamme in July 2004.

In November 2005, the strongman weighing just over 100 kilograms entered the top 70 strongest rikishi for the first time and was awarded the rank of sekitori. However, the debut in the second elite division The dzyure turned out to be not very successful for Kakuryu. Having suffered 10 defeats in 15 fights, he dropped back to makushita.

The status of sekitori the young Mongol returned to himself in one tournament.

The second entry into the dzyure was successful. Having completed 4 bases in a row with the result of katikosi (the predominance of victories), the athlete who gained 30 kilograms of working weight in a year in November 2006 received a ticket to the major league of big sumo - makuuchi.

In May 2009, the stubborn Mongol made his debut in the fourth hierarchical rank of komusubi, and before the July Nagoya Basho was first appointed to sekivake.
The Dragon Crane has been awarded the ginosho honorable mention for technical excellence seven times and the shukunsho twice for beautiful victories over the great champion Hakuho.
In March 2012, Kakuryu was promoted to ozeki.

In March 2014, Mangaljalavyn Anand won the Spring Tournament and earned the title of yokozuna.

The Crane-Dragon is distinguished by excellent reaction and excellent coordination of movements. Mongolian sumo is becoming more and more powerful. Oyakata Izutsu methodically instills in the best student a combined style: his wrestling "in the belt" and tsuppari, who brought glory to his younger brother - Terao.

A lot of trouble for opponents Kakuryu delivers shock right hand.

In his free time, Mangalzhalavyn Anand likes to watch sports broadcasts. In food, he prefers meat dishes, of which he especially highlights yakiniku (Japanese barbecue).
Kakuryu's height is 186 cm. The combat weight is 150 kg.

One of the popular national sports in Japan is sumo wrestling. Japan is the only country where sumo competitions are held on professional level. In other countries, such as Korea, sumo is also a popular sport, but only at an amateur level.

Sumo originated in antiquity, during the Yayoi era, which falls on the period 300 BC - 250 AD. At that time, sumo was a Shinto ritual ceremony (Shinto is the traditional religion of the Japanese people), which gradually developed into a combat duel. Then, for the pleasure of the nobility of those times, pointed bamboo piles were dug around the place where the duel took place. And then, the losing wrestler, falling out of the circle, was pierced by these piles, which led to indescribable delight of the audience.

During the formation of the samurai class, sumo wrestling becomes his privilege. In the combat training of the samurai, sumo played a significant role, as it contributed to the ability to stand firmly on one's feet.

Sumo includes certain ritual preparation and conduct of the fight. Before the duel began, its participants prayed for victory, sprinkled salt on the arena to drive evil spirits underground, and then clapped their hands to attract the attention of the deity in whose honor the competition was held, this ritual is still performed today.

In the 16th century, professional sumo tournaments began to take place. The rules of wrestling changed over time and were finally developed in the 17th century and have not changed since then.

The platform for sumo is a hill of 40-60 cm, on which there is a circle called dohyo, packed with clay and sprinkled with sand. In the center dohyo two white lines shikiri-sen) are the starting positions of sumo wrestlers. Around the arena, finely sifted sand called "snake's eye" is poured. With the help of sand it is possible to determine whether the touch was by a wrestler outside the arena. The diameter of the wrestling circle is 4.55 meters.

Sumo wrestlers dressed in mawashi- This is a special belt made of dense fabric, usually dark colors. This wide ribbon is wrapped around the naked body and between the legs several times and tied in a knot at the back. On the mawashi there is a fringe - sagari, which is only decoration and does not carry any semantic load. If the mawashi is unwound during the fight, then this automatically leads to the disqualification of the wrestler.

Sumo wrestlers' hair is greased and placed in a large bun at the crown. The referee is watching the fight gyoji) competitions. He is dressed in ancient ritual clothes and during the struggle he gives commands with the help of a fan.

The rules of wrestling include a number of prohibitions, these are: you can’t grab an opponent by the hair, fingers, ears, you can’t choke, you can’t grab mawashi in the genital area, you can only hit with an open palm, but you can’t hit in the eye area and genitals. All other tricks are allowed.

In the following cases, the defeat of the sumo wrestler is counted:

• the wrestler has touched the ground with any part of the body other than the soles of the feet
• the wrestler was forced out of the circle
• the wrestler performed a hold prohibited for wrestling
• mawashi came in an inappropriate look
• wrestler announced blue thai(corpse). This happens extremely rarely when the wrestler is in an impossible position to fight.

The duel does not last long and can be from a few seconds to several minutes. The decisive, but not the main, role in the victory is played by the mass of the wrestler, because the greater the weight, the easier it is to push the opponent out of the circle. Therefore, immediately before the competition, wrestlers consume large amounts of water - up to 10 liters per day and eat fatty foods in large quantities, increasing their mass. Sumo wrestlers weigh from 125 kg to 235 kg. But the technique of waging a duel still plays the main role and therefore one can observe how a noticeably smaller wrestler wins in a duel.

Sumo wrestling has a strict hierarchy, it depends on the skill of the wrestler. The hierarchy was established in the Edo era and exists today. Each wrestler receives a pseudonym from the instructor. The wrestlers after each bout either advance or are relegated in the circle depending on the number of performances and their victories. Considering that the status of a wrestler depends on the number of victories, sumo wrestlers try to take part in all competitions, regardless of the fact that they have not yet recovered from injuries after previous competitions. And sumo is a fairly traumatic sport. Often at competitions you can see a wrestler with bandaged hands and knees.

There are six ranks in sumo: makuuchi, dzyure, makushita, sandamme, jonidan, jonokuchi.

A sumo wrestler's career starts from the lowest rank - jenokuchi, and in order to reach the highest circle - makuuchi, one must exert a lot of strength and develop combat skills. It takes a lot of time and physical activity from a wrestler.

At the top of the qualification is the grand champion - yokozuna(great champion). If a wrestler reaches the title of yokozuna, then unlike other (lower) ranks, he is no longer subject to demotion even if he loses the match. But usually a yokozuna leaves the sport and does not take part in competitions if he sees that his time has passed and he does not meet the standard of a champion.

The winner of each competition receives the Emperor's Cup and a large cash prize. Professional sumo wrestlers receive a monthly fee of 10,000 dollars from the Japan Sumo Association, they receive an additional fee for each battle they win, plus there is a corresponding bonus system.

Sumo wrestling requires great strength and health, and huge weight also adversely affects general condition wrestler, therefore, at the age of 35, sumo wrestlers retire and live quite prosperously at the expense of funds accumulated for their professional activity In addition, depending on the qualification level, they receive a decent pension - 5-6 thousand dollars.

There are six sumo tournaments in Japan every year. Three in Tokyo in January, May and September, and one each in Osaka in March, Nagoya in July and Fukuoka in November. Each tournament lasts for 15 days, during which each wrestler takes part in one match per day (excluding minor matches if they have already been won). During the tournament period, the rating of the hierarchy based on the results of the competition is updated daily. Wrestlers who have more wins than losses move up the hierarchy, those who have more losses in their arsenal are lowered in rank.

The best way to see sumo is to take part in the tournament, tickets are sold for all 15-day tours in specialized organizations, in mini-markets, in stadiums (the cheapest tickets are purchased on the day of the performance, in the stadium, special places are reserved for these tickets).

There are three types of places available for sumo lovers. These are places near the ring, which are located near the arena (circle) in which the competition takes place. These are the most expensive places and it is difficult to get tickets there. Spectators are seated on cushions on the floor and are at risk of injury when a wrestler flies out of the circle.

Vox seats are seats on the first floor of the stadium, in the form of a box divided among themselves, in which there are 4 seats - pillows on the floor. These places are sold immediately for 4 tickets, regardless of whether there will be four people or two. It is forbidden to wear shoes in these places.

And the third kind seats These are balconies, Western style. The ticket price depends on the distance from the arena. Children under 3 years old, together with their parents, attend competitions for free, but in distant places, without providing a separate seat.

Tickets for competitions, as a rule, are purchased in advance, otherwise there is a chance not to get to your favorite show.

It is impossible to look at the appearance of sumo wrestlers and think that they are fat, small and clumsy Japanese guys.

These are really fat guys, but by no means small and clumsy, but big, powerful, very agile, flexible and with excellent reaction. Many of them even sit on the twine and make a bridge.

But let's start the story of this magnificent fight from afar.

The exact date of the origin of sumo is unknown. But the tradition is hundreds of years old. And they remain virtually unchanged. This struggle is a whole philosophy or, if you like, a religion. Those athletes who dare to connect their lives with sumo remain in it forever.

Yes, and not everyone will be taken there. It must be earned.

Sumo schools have a very strict discipline and hierarchy. Wrestlers get up very early and train for five hours. Then they rest and eat a lot. During the day they must eat at least a kilogram of chanku (the traditional food of sumo wrestlers), which is prepared in each school according to its own recipe. But it always includes several types of meat and seafood. Don't neglect beer either. All this is done in order to gain weight and gain fat. Fat protects wrestlers from serious injuries; both when falling, and even more so from a dohyo (this is a sumo ring, up to 60 centimeters high), and when colliding with an opponent. For the same purpose, a special hairstyle on the head serves.

Wrestlers of a higher rank are served by wrestlers of a lower rank.

There are six hierarchical categories in sumo: Jonokuchi is the sixth, initial category; then comes the fifth, the Jonidan; the fourth is Sandamme; the third is Makushita.

The first two need special attention. This is sumo elite. It includes only seventy wrestlers. And this number does not change. If a wrestler has not confirmed his skills at the next tournament, and has not confirmed his right to remain in his own or start playing in a higher league, then he will be demoted.

In the first category - Makuuchi 42 wrestlers (rikishi) compete against each other. Here they have their titles.

The highest level is occupied by the Great Champions (yokozuna).

The third stage, the same sekivake. This title can only be worn by two wrestlers.

And also two wrestlers can occupy the fourth step - komusubi.

All other levels are maegashira titles. They are worn by the rest of the rikishi. Numeric values ​​are assigned here. Starting from the first maegashira of the east and west, and ending with the 16th maegashira of the west.

The title of yokozuna is awarded for life. All others must be confirmed at each tournament, which takes place six times a year. And depending on the result, the wrestlers are lowered or raised in rank (bandzuke). The fight is for the emperor's cup.

All wrestlers are paid salaries and are very popular in Japan.

I would like to pay special attention to the Great Champions. Although sumo is many hundreds of years old, the historical record is from the beginning of the Edo period, from about the end of the 17th to the beginning of the 18th centuries.

The first yokozuna is called Akashi Shiganosuke. He is considered a legendary figure. But almost nothing is known about him.

The second was Ayakawa Goroji. Only the year of his birth is known - 1704.

More detailed list of yokozuna can

To date, only 71 rikishi have been awarded the title of yokozuna (and this is more than 300 years). So far, three have taken part in tournaments:

69 Grand Champion - Hakuko Sho, who won the Emperor's Cup 32 times. Height 192 cm, weight 155 kg.

70 Great champion - Haramafuji, who took the cup 6 times. Height 186 centimeters, weight 133 kg.

71 Grand Champion - Kakuryu, won 1 time so far. Height 186, weight 151 kg.

Nowadays, this wrestling is gaining more and more popularity outside of Japan. For example, all three current Grand Champions are natives of Mongolia.

And the Europeans left their mark on Doha. And in major league.

This is a Czech, outwardly not like a sumo wrestler Pavel Boyar (wrestling pseudonym Takanoyama) b.-187cm., w-98kg..

Estonian Kaido Xyovelson(Baruto) b.-198 cm., w.-189 kg., and the Bulgarian Kaloyan Stefanov Maklyanov (Kotoosyu) b.-203 cm., w.-150 kg., reached the high rank of ozeki. But, unfortunately, they have already retired. And Kotoosyu, even won once the highest award- Emperor's cup Such achievements can mainly boast of the Great Champions.

Two Georgians reached, and may well be achieved, great heights in this struggle: Teimuraz Dzhugeli (Gagamaru) b.-185 cm., w.-200 kg., and Levan Gorgadze (Totinosin) R.-191 cm, V.-159 kg..

Not so long ago, the Russian wrestler Alan Gabaraev (Aran) left his career as a rikishi b.-187cm., w.-152 kg..

The Russian rikishi Nikolai Ivanov (Amur) continues his ascent to the top of the hierarchy, b.-192 cm, w.-130 kg.

By the way, the first record holder, in terms of the number of victories in tournaments for the Emperor's Cup, is Taiho Koki (Ivan Markinyanovich Baryshko) R. -187 cm, w. -153 kg (years of life 1940-2013). He was 48 yokozuna and won the cup 32 times. His father, as you understand, was a Russian citizen, and his mother is Japanese.

Very interesting, colorful and spectacular performances of wrestlers on doha.

Especially the exits of the Grand Champions.

All these are centuries-old traditions of the Japanese people. They love and revere sumo wrestlers very much.

In the tournament held in November 2014, the yokozuna Hakuko won the emperor's cup. He won 14 victories in 15 fights. This is his 32 cup. And he equaled victories with the great Taiho Koki.

The Russian wrestler Amur made his debut in the top division at this tournament, but unfortunately he did not win enough victories to stay in it. In January, at the next tournament, he will fight in Dzyure, in the rank of the first wrestler. good result, in March will again play in the top division of Makuuchi.

First tournament of 2015 won the yokozuna Haku-ko. He did not suffer a single defeat. This is his 33rd win and new record in sumo.

at the March tournament , the Grand Champion of Haku-ko excelled again. He won 14 victories and won the Emperor's Cup 34 times.

Amur returned to "Makuti" and won 7 bouts and will continue to fight in the top division in May.

In May, the Emperor's Cup , won the sekivake Terunofuji, winning in 12 fights.

This young wrestler hails from Mongolia. At the last tournament, he won 13 victories in 15 fights. Given these achievements, the board of directors of the Japan Sumo Association awarded the wrestler the title of ozeki.

The 69th and 70th Grand Champions had 11 wins each. The 71st champion did not take part in the tournament due to a left shoulder injury.

The Russian sumotori Amur won 9 victories and got a little foothold in the top division of Makuuchi.

July Tournament 2015 Haku-ko Grand Champion won. This is his 35 cup. Truly, we are witnessing the rise of a great sumo wrestler. His record is unlikely to be beaten in the coming decades. In this tournament, he won 14 victories and suffered 1 defeat.

70 The great champion Haramafuji, was forced to withdraw from the tournament, as he injured his recently operated elbow.

71 Kakuryu champions, won 13 victories.

Russian sumotor Amur won 8 fights and will be promoted.

September Tournament missed Haramafuji due to an elbow injury. Hakuko withdrew from the tournament on the third day, after losing twice to the rank and file maegashira. Therefore, the 71 great Kakuryu champions had a better chance of winning the Emperor's Cup. And he took advantage of it. Although with difficulty.

Our wrestler Amur, so far, is going stably. He won 8 victories out of 15 possible. This is a good result and

He's up for a promotion.

The last November tournament of this year has come to an end. It was won by 70 Yokozuna Haramafuji.

Our wrestler Amur won 4 victories. He will be severely demoted, but will remain in the big leagues.

First in 2016, January tournament was not devoid of spectacle and intrigue, which persisted until the last day of the tournament.69 the great champion at first left no doubt about his victory. But in recent days something happened to him and he suffered 2 incomprehensible defeats, and one was earlier.

As a result, the cup was won by ōzeki Kotosegiku. Over the past 10 years, the Japanese again won the cup This is his first victory in the tournament (14 wins, 1 loss).

The first and so far the only Russian rikishi Amur won 7 victories and suffered 8 defeats. He will be demoted, but will remain in the big leagues.

In March, Haku-ko won the Emperor's Cup. He did not behave very well in the tournament, in the sense of discipline befitting a great champion. But this is his 36th victory. Amur won 7 victories, and will again be slightly demoted in rank.

May 2016. The Emperor's Cup was won by 69 great champions. He did not suffer a single defeat. Russian wrestler Amur was injured on the first day of the competition. Missed 5 fights and went to doha. But the injury is serious and the sumo gods did not support our wrestler. He won a few victories, but not enough to stay in the big leagues. Unfortunately, Amur is relegated to the second elite dzyure league. But let's hope that in July, he will prove himself and win a ticket back to makuti. We wish him good luck!

July 2016. 70 great champion Haramafuji won 13 victories and won the emperor's cup 8 times. 71 Yokozuna Kakuryu withdrew from the tournament due to injury. Everyone hoped for the popeds of Ozaki Kisenasato, who at this tournament had the unofficial title of "tsunatori", that is, a contender for the title of yokozuna. But after the treacherous "tatiakenko" (avoidance of the fight), from his fellow tribesman Shohodzan, the wrestler lost his temper and won only 12 victories. The unofficial status of "tsunatori" will be extended to him until the September tournament.

Our wrestler Amur won 9 victories and took the position of the 3rd wrestler of the West in the dzyure.

September 2016 . For the first time in the history of sumo, an ozeki, who was in a kadoban, won the Emperor's Cup and achieved the perfect result of zen-sho ("only wins"). Goeydo has become the winner, and if he wins the November tournament, he will receive the title of yokozuna. Kisenasato lost the title of "tsunatori". Hakuko did not take part in the tournament. Yokozuna Harumafuji won twelve bouts, Yokozuna Kakuryu won ten.

Yokozuna Hakuho did not take part in the Autumn Tournament. On September 12, the 37-time winner of the Emperor's Cup underwent surgery. Surgeons removed a fragment of a bone from the big toe of the White Phoenix's right foot, which was broken in July in the city of Nagoya.Ozeki Kotosegiku exited the kadoban with nine white balls.Sekivake Takayasu won ten victories.Sekivake Takarafuji, komusubi Kaisei and Tochiozan failed to achieve katikosi (predominance of victories at the end of basho). They will descend from sanyaku to hiramaku (become private maegashira).The post sekivake will rise in the new banzuke (official ranking) Okinoumi.And komusubi will produce Mitakeumi and Tamawashi or Aoyama. Amur suffered 9 defeats and remains in the dzyure.

November 2016. For the third time, the yokozuna Kakuryu won the Emperor's Cup.

Won the first tournament in 2017 (14 wins, 1 loss) Zeki Kisenosato. He will also become the 72nd Grand Champion. He went to this for a long time and received a well-deserved reward. Amur, unfortunately, suffered 10 defeats andlost the elite status of sekitori.

March 2017 . 72 Yokozuna confirmed his title by winning another cup in a row. And although on the 13th day of the competition he received a serious shoulder injury, and on the 14th day Ozeki Terunofuji applied toKisenosato is a move not revered in this wrestling (namely, tachiokenko "that is, simply evaded the fight, thereby exposing the opponent to his own strength", but this move is not forbidden in sumo. And many wrestlers can resist it). And despite this, on the 15th day of the tournament, a super duel was held, and the Great Champion proved that he is one.

May 2017.Yokozuna Hakuho quenched the thirst for victory that tormented the sixty-ninth great champion for an unbearably long time. The White Phoenix won the Emperor's Cup for the thirty-eighth time, twelve months after the thirty-seventh yusho. The Russian hero Amur, who has not yet recovered from a shoulder injury, has suffered six defeats and will be promoted.

July 2017. Hakuko won 39 cups. The great champions Kakuryu and Kisenasato withdrew early from the tournament. In this tournament, 69 the Grand Champion broke another record previously held by ozeki Kayo.White Phoenix brought the number of his victories in professional doha to 1050. But despite the absence of two main rivals, Hakuko again used techniques that did not correspond to his status.Several members of Yokoshin delicately pointed out that slapping harite and avoiding a forceful kickoff (tachiai hanka) did not add to the glory of the greatest champion.

Yokozuna Kisenosato, in turn, received a recommendation to improve his health and not force the return to the rikishi line at any cost.

Yokozuna Kakuryu, who has withdrawn from three out of four tournaments this year, has received a hint that his results will be seriously discussed if he fails to perform well at the next basho.

The 33-year-old Russian hero Amur, who is gradually recovering from a shoulder injury, scored the minimum katikosi (4-3). But he fights in the 3rd (non-elite league), and so far, he does not claim to return to the sumatori rank.

September 2017. This time Haramafuji won the cup. It was not an easy win for the champion, although many of the top wrestlers, including the 69, 71 and 72 Grand Champions, were unable to compete due to injury. He won 11 victories, as well as the Ozeki Gueydo. The fate of the cup was determined in an additional duel between these wrestlers.

It doesn’t matter how things are with the Russian hero Amur. He suffered 5 defeats in 7 fights.

The pioneer of Russian professional sumo Aurora, he wrestles in the 5th league (jōnidan) fixed the minimum makekoshi (3-4). Aurora (Aurora) made his professional sumo debut in March 2000. A native of the Buryat village of Zaigraevo, Aurora is now famous as the heaviest rikishi in the history of professional sumo. At a medical examination before the Autumn tournament, the 34-year-old Russian outweighed Konishiki's record, Anatoly Mikhakhanov registered 288.8 kilograms. professional career- the title of the 43rd wrestler of the third division (makushita).

November 2017. Yokozuna Hakuho won the Emperor's Cup for the 40th time. The sixty-ninth great champion won fourteen victories in the last classic tournament of 2017, held at the Fukuoka International City Center on the island of Kyushu. 32-year-old Munkhbatyn Davaazhargal overshadowed his anniversary triumph with a stern reprimand. On the eleventh day, Basho Hakuho grossly violated etiquette. Unwilling to admit defeat, the White Phoenix began to put pressure on the judges and refused to bow to the opponent. In an interview in hot pursuit during the awards ceremony, Hakuho apologized on behalf of all rikishi to the fans for the scandal caused by the incident that occurred at the end of October in Tottori Prefecture, and promised “do everything possible so that Harumafuji-zeki and Takanoiwa-zeki enter dohyo again.” The first maegashira of Tamawashi East, the first maegashira of Takakeisho West, the third maegashira of Hokutofuji West and the twelfth maegashira of Okinoumi East, who “shared second place”, were three behind Hakuho victories. The seventy-first yokozuna Kakuryu came to Kyushu, but did not enter the tournament. The seventieth yokozuna Harumafudzi withdrew from the competition after the second failure, the seventy-second yokozuna Kisenosato after the fifth.

34-year-old Russian hero Amur won five victories.

January 2018. Win the first cup this year third maegashira of the West Tochinoshin (14 victories). This is rare in sumo. True, of the 4 great champions, only one reached the end - Kakuryu (11 victories). But this does not mean that the sumo wrestler from Georgia got the cup easily.

So: 70 The great champion - Haramafuji was forced to retire due to the fact that he hit the junior on the rank of a sumo wrestler. And Hakuko and Kisenosato withdrew from the tournament in the early days due to injuries.

The 34-year-old Russian hero Amur was content with the minimum makekosi (3:4).

To be an athlete, it is not at all necessary to worry about the fit and beauty of your body. Sumo wrestlers, for example, eat their fill, drink beer regularly, sleep lazily after dinner, and get fat with all the responsibility inherent in the Japanese.

Konstantin Kudryavtsev

We thank our expert, three-time European champion, President of the Moscow Sumo Federation, Honored Master of Sports and Honored Coach of Russia for their help in preparing the material. If you want to know more about sumo than we did, visit moss

It is believed that sumo appeared in Japan more than two thousand years ago, and the first duel, according to the chronicles, took place between the Shinto gods Takemikazuki and Takeminakata, arguing for power over the Japanese islands. Takemikazuki became the winner, and therefore the Japanese emperors consider him the ancestor of their dynasty.

However, not imaginary deities are recognized as the founder of sumo, but real wrestler Nomi no Sukune. It is known that at the beginning of our era, he participated in the battles in the palace of Emperor Suining, held in honor of a good harvest. Nomi-no-Sukune broke his opponent Taima-no-Kohaya first in the rib, then with the same foot in the lower back. Apparently, it was for this that he was not only called the father of sumo, but also deified. The then fights were the privilege of warriors and nobility and took place in the presence of emperors. True, they (battles, not emperors) were similar not to modern sumo, but to fights without rules: the one who wins the most fights won, while there were no weight categories.

New story

The heyday of sumo came in the 18th century: then about the same number of people were involved in sumo as there are now in photography. Successful wrestlers became the idols of the country, and hacks like us dedicated poems and plays to them. At the same time, the title of "yokozuna" (great champion) appeared, which is assigned for life and is the pinnacle of a professional wrestler's career.

True, sumo wrestlers did not bathe in popular love for long: in 1868, Japan ceased to be a closed state, and difficult times came for sumo, which was declared a relic. Interest in wrestling returned only after a few decades. By this time, Europeans began to import bread into the country (previously, the locals did without baking, eating rice), and the bans on eating meat were lifted. With the advent of new products, wrestlers began to gain mass intensively and were called "rikishi" (hero). In 1909, the Kokugikan sumo palace was opened in Tokyo to hold annual tournaments, and in 1927, regional communities decided to unite into the All Japan Sumo Association.

For an amateur

There are two types of sumo: professional and amateur. Professional sumo (ozumo) exists only in the Land of the Rising Sun and is overseen by the All Japan Sumo Association (JSA). There are about a thousand people in the organization: about eight hundred wrestlers, oyakata (coaches-mentors), gyoji (judges), yobidashi (auxiliary judges) and tokoyama (hairdressers - wrestlers are given special hairstyles). The association holds six big tournaments every year - basho. A sumo wrestler participating in such competitions must be a member of one of the 52 clubs (by the way, each club can have a limited number of foreigners).

As for amateur sumo, it was created for him International Federation sumo (ISF) headquartered in Tokyo.

Only calmness

The basis of the behavior of a professional wrestler is the concept of dignity - hinkaku, which unites everything that concerns the appearance, worldview and actions of a sumo wrestler. The wrestler's hinkaku is supervised by the oyakata, the head of the club. Any dubious act (breaking the engagement, playing the sweepstakes, etc.) negatively affects the wrestler's career (for example, he risks never getting the title of yokozuna). One of the manifestations of hinkaku is calmness. “Whatever happens around, be it a flood or an earthquake, great sorrow, great joy, victory or defeat, the rikishi must remain unperturbed. Whatever emotions rage inside him, outside he must be impenetrable like armor, ”says our expert, three-time champion Europe, President of the Moscow Sumo Federation Igor Kurinnoy. Hinkaku is instilled in clubs where professional wrestlers live permanently. In amateur sumo, there is neither a reverent attitude towards hinkaku, nor a rule of permanent residence at the school.

Working day

So, about the most interesting thing - the harsh training regimen of professional wrestlers. Young rikishi wake up early: around five in the morning, the first training begins. Senior comrades pull up later (hazing is revered in sumo: beginners even wash clothes and wash the backs of more experienced colleagues). In training, wrestlers work out the ability to stand firmly on their feet, flexibility and strength. During the warm-up, in addition to the familiar push-ups and squats, athletes do the main stretching exercise (shiko) hundreds of times, raising one or the other leg to maximum height. Next exercise(also for stretching) is called “matawari” and is performed with the participation of a partner who gently presses on the sumo wrestler’s back, and he, spreading his legs as much as possible (almost on a twine), leans forward and tries to touch the ground with his stomach. Striking and pushing techniques are practiced at a high wooden pole (teppo), which the wrestler hits with his bare palms. After the warm-up, athletes spar either according to the moshai-geiko system (the winner fights with a new partner) or butsukari-geiko (the athlete stands in a stance, and his comrades run into him one after another, trying to push him out of the arena). “A rare day goes by without bruises and bruises, because sparring takes place in Spartan conditions - on clay and sand,” says the expert. At 11 o'clock comes the first break: the wrestlers take a hot bath and have a meal. “Having worked up an excellent appetite, athletes eat without restrictions,” our consultant licks his lips. After eating, all the rikishi enjoy an afternoon nap and then head off for an evening workout. The day ends with dinner, at which, by the way, tired athletes do not particularly limit themselves to alcohol - beer or sake.

Hazing in sumo is a good tradition. Beginning sumo wrestler suffers humiliation from more successful colleagues, and barely enough money for food

The working day of amateur sumo wrestlers takes place in more humane conditions. Training starts not so early and takes place not in the clay arena - dohyo, but in a softer plastic arena. Amateurs even have a day off - usually Monday. “On Saturday and Sunday there are intensive trainings to accustom the biorhythms of athletes to a surge in loads at the end of the week, when competitions are usually held,” the expert explains.

A matter of technology

There are only 82 moves in sumo, five higi (own mistakes, for which defeat is counted, for example, touching the ground without the help of an opponent) and four forbidden actions (you can’t beat with fists, pull hair, choke and wring your fingers). Sumo techniques are divided into three groups of techniques: strikes, pushes and grabs with throws. Sumo fights are fleeting: the winner is usually determined within a few seconds after the start of the fight. If the duel drags on, the judge encourages the wrestlers by shouting “Nokota!” ("Not yet!"). The closer the wrestlers are to the edge of the arena, the faster the command is pronounced. At the end of the duel, the hero modestly squats down and waits for his name to be announced, then touches his heart with his hand and thanks the gods for the victory, and the sponsors for the prize money (kesho), which he will receive right in the arena in a moment. By the way, sponsors do not support all, but only the most interesting fights of top category wrestlers. However, for some reason, all wrestlers make a gesture of gratitude.

For both cheeks

The origin of the word "sumo"

According to one version, the name of the fight comes from the word "sumau" - "fight, dance naked." On the other - from the ancient Chinese wrestling Xiangpu: the Japanese reading of the hieroglyphs denoting it is consonant with "sumo".

Maintaining balance - main principle sumo. No matter how effective and beautiful the throws are, losing balance even for a moment will lead to a loss. To lower the center of gravity and become more stable, rikishi stubbornly get fat. For a professional career, the weight of a wrestler must be more than 120 kg, the ideal fighting weight of champions is 130-160 kg. If a sumoist is lighter or heavier, he has a negligible chance of brilliant career. Selection optimal weight for each athlete happens empirically. To do this, mentors evaluate the results of performances and the frequency of injuries (from abrasions and bruises to joint damage). The food of heavyweights is called “chanko” and is prepared as follows: a broth is boiled in a cauldron, where a vinaigrette of products is laid - meat, vegetables, mushrooms, seafood, soy sauce and seasonings. During the day, a wrestler can eat up to 3 kg of chanko and 0.5 kg of rice.

Hard in combat

Fights in amateur and professional sumo are held according to the same rules. There are basically three differences: amateur sports women are allowed to compete, athletes are divided into weight categories, and there are practically no rituals. “There were cases when promising amateur athletes, especially native Japanese, moved to the more prestigious ozumo,” the expert says. At competitions, wrestlers converge on doha. Victory can be achieved in three ways: push the opponent out of the arena, force him to touch the ground with his hand, or wait until the opponent has mawashi - a silk or cotton belt in which athletes enter the ring (they don’t wear anything else from rikishi clothes).

Table of ranks

The highest rank in professional sumo is yokozuna. The rest of the wrestlers of the highest division, called "makunouchi", have the titles (in ascending order): maegashira, komusubi, sekivake, ozeki. To become a yokozuna, you need to win two championships in a row in the ozeki title, have an impeccable reputation and possess a hinkaku. The decision to award this title is made by the Sumo Association at its discretion. “The second, lower, professional division is called jure and consists of 28 wrestlers. All other divisions (there are four of them) are student divisions,” says our consultant. The transition of a wrestler from division to division (both up and down) is carried out according to the ratio of victories and defeats in tournaments. Although professional sumo is an indoor sport, outsiders sometimes manage not only to become worthy athletes, but also to achieve absolute success. The current yokozuna Hakuho, for example, was born in Mongolia and came to the Land of the Rising Sun at the age of 17 (he then weighed a measly 72 kg). Whatever schools he applied to, the teachers refused. When a desperate young man, who had dreamed of becoming a sumo wrestler all his adult life, began to pack his bags to return home (among other things, his Japanese visa was ending), one oyakata took pity on him. Two years later, the world learned the name of the new great champion (he already weighed 160 kg). In amateur sports, ranks depend on the country where the wrestler trains. For example, in Japan, an athlete receives dans. In Russia, according to the classification preserved from the USSR, they first assign the third category, then the second and first, after - the candidate for the master of sports and, finally, the master of sports. And if you work hard, you can become an honored master of sports.

You have an agenda

Seasonal food sales and discounted hamburgers won't make you a sumo wrestler. To get into professional sumo, a wrestler must finish nine classes, be in good health, be at least 167 cm tall, weigh at least 67 kg, and like an oyakata (teacher). Ten years - optimal age to start a career. “In sumo, they accept up to 23 years old, but the sooner a wrestler starts practicing, the more likely they are to become a great champion,” the expert says. “In the Russian sections, there are no specific age limits for admission.” Our children usually start studying at the age of ten, and a year later they compete in competitions. “The sections are attended by both completely ordinary teenagers and those who, according to natural data, are not allowed to enter other sports. For example, a ten-year-old boy weighing 60 kilograms will never be accepted into gymnastics, swimming or volleyball. And the sumo coach will gladly start working with him, giving him an eventful youth, helping to overcome complexes and become self-confident,” our consultant assures. In addition to children and mere mortals in the section come former athletes from other types of wrestling, for which participation in sumo competitions - great way extend your career, because fleeting bouts do not require such high endurance as, for example, in sambo and judo.

About money and terms

Wrestlers who achieve high results receive not only the boundless love of the people and the right to give autographs in the form of their own palm prints, but also large bank accounts. Coming to ozumo and speaking in student divisions, the wrestler suffers humiliation, and prize money from tournaments is only enough for pocket expenses. The situation changes if the athlete trains hard and wins. First, the Sumo Association appoints the first small salary. Sumo wrestlers have a lot to strive for: rikishi of the jure category receive about 8 thousand dollars a month, yokozuna - more than 20 thousand dollars. You will be surprised, but salaries are not the main income of eminent wrestlers. Prizes from sponsor clubs, gifts from cheerleading groups can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Sometimes sponsors provide prizes in kind - in the form of a year's supply of rice, a barrel of sake, or several tons of gasoline.