Akshay Kumar in Sumo

SUMO

Sumo, as a martial art, dates back to the early 8th century in Japan where it was originally part of religious ceremonies. It was was then later introduced to ceremonies held by the Imperial Court.

Sumo is a competitive contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. Two competitors push and pull each other within a circle of 4.5 meters in diameter. The first person to leave the ring or touch the ground with any part of the body except the sole of the feet, loses the bout.

The Japanese consider sumo a modern Japanese martial art even though the sport has a history spanning many centuries. The sumo tradition is very ancient and includes many of those ritual elements

Historically, it is of note that Jujutsu is actually an offshoot of Sumo wrestling.

Originally, Sumo contained elements of boxing and wrestling. Rules were gradually introduced over time which transformed it to resemble the Sumo wrestling that we know today.

It is practiced professionally in Japan as a sport. A sumo wrestler leads a highly regimented way of life. Professional sumo wrestlers are required to live in communal "sumo training stables" known in Japanese as heya where all aspects of their daily lives from meals to manner of dress are dictated by strict tradition.

Sumo is now the national sport of Japan and immensely popular. It is also unique to Japan but but wrestlers of other nationalities also may participate. Sumo wrestlers enjoy a very high regard in the Japanese society.