Sumo for Mixed Martial Arts. Andrew Zerling
and BJJ, has a strong background in sumo. Machida describes in his book Machida Karate-Do Mixed Martial Arts Techniques that his sumo training strengthened his fighting stance and base, as well as his mind.8 With his open-minded approach to martial arts training, Machida has become one of the most formidable MMA fighters of his time. Later in this book we will examine his fighting style in depth, especially his outstanding use of sumo techniques and tactics in MMA competition. Even in the modern arena of MMA, Machida saw the value of integrating some sumo into his MMA fighting game.
All three profoundly influential martial arts masters, Kano (1860–1938), Funakoshi (1868–1957), and Ueshiba (1883–1969), saw the great importance of adding sumo to their martial arts training routine.
(Left: Kano, courtesy of Uchina, Wikimedia Commons. Middle: Funakoshi, courtesy of Gichin Funakoshi, Wikimedia Commons. Right: Ueshiba, courtesy of Sakurambo, Wikimedia Commons.)
The judo/jujitsu throws full shoulder throw (ippon seoi nage) and full hip throw (o-goshi) have practically the same technique and name as its sumo kimarite counterparts one-arm shoulder throw (ipponzeoi) and hip throw (koshinage). This shows that there is a very close historical link between sumo and judo/jujitsu. There are numerous other instances of this connection—so much so that sumo could be considered the earliest codified form of judo/jujitsu.
(Upper: Ippon Seoi Nage, courtesy of bimserd, Can Stock Photo. Lower: O-Goshi, courtesy of bimserd, Can Stock Photo.)
Myth surrounds much of sumo’s early history. It was a violent sumo match between the gods, it is said, that created the Japanese islands themselves. Sumo’s Japanese beginnings go back about one thousand five hundred years, making sumo one of the oldest organized sports on earth. There is evidence that the precursors of the combat sport probably came from China or Korea. The earliest known record of sumo in Japan is its ancient predecessor known as sumai, which was practiced in a no-holds-barred wrestling style. Warlike sumai evolved to a more sportive sumo style of wrestling. Sumo essentially took its present style in the Edo period (AD 1603–1867).
In Japan, the first sumo matches were in religious ceremonies to pray for a good harvest, and eventually they were used as a training routine for samurai warriors. Masterless samurai warriors (ronin) even used their training in sumo matches as a way to earn extra money. Sumo had an influence in the development of many modern Japanese martial arts, and today it is the unofficial national sport of Japan. The complex system of rituals and etiquette of sumo are uniquely Japanese. It is significantly more than just two huge men wrestling. Even in modern Japanese society, rikishi are thought of as godlike heroes. Rikishi literally means “powerful man.”
The rules of Japan’s ancient martial art are not complex: the wrestler loses when he touches anything outside the ring before his opponent or when he first touches the surface inside the ring with something other than the soles of his feet. The outcome is decided in a short time (in seconds, rarely in minutes). In a small ring, in those seconds, the rikishi push themselves to the maximum, both mentally and physically.
The following are prohibited techniques in today’s sumo matches and result in loss of a match due to disqualification:
striking the opponent with a closed fistbending back one or more of the opponent’s fingersgrabbing the opponent’s hairgrabbing the opponent’s throatjabbing at the opponent’s eyes or solar plexuspalm striking both of the opponent’s ears at the same timegrabbing or pulling at the opponent’s groin areakicking at the opponent’s chest or waist
Besides the disqualifying moves listed above, almost anything else is permitted to win a match.
Before a rikishi steps onto the dohyo for a major match, he must endure much rigorous and grueling training. The young rikishi train in a sumostable under the guidance of the stablemaster and his seniors. Young rikishi live in the stable, and their training starts early in the morning with mostly basic movements. Strength, flexibility, and reflex exercises are performed countless times until they become second nature, as well as breakfalls (ukemi), which protect them when they fall. Thigh splits (matawari) are an integral part of the daily training regimen to gain suppleness in the entire body. After going through the Japan Sumo Association training school, which lasts six months, a rikishi can sit down on the ground and perform a full split with his face and chest touching the ground. This is amazing conditioning, especially because the rikishi are well known for their monstrous power and explosiveness, not their flexibility.
Even the diet, a sort of sumo stew of fish, meat, and vegetables called chanko-nabe, is well calculated. This thick meal is rich in calories and protein when eaten with a lot of white rice so the rikishi can gain weight and keep it on. The schedule in which the rikishi train and eat is the key to how they put on weight. They train in the morning session on an empty stomach as the extreme workout requires, and at noon, famished, they eat as much chanko-nabe as they can. Then they take an afternoon nap to slow the food digestion so they can rapidly gain weight. The rikishi’s physique is most efficient when it is bottom heavy, with a barrel stomach. This gives them a lower center of gravity, which makes it harder to be thrown or pushed out of the ring and also helps to keep opponents at a distance. The rikishi may appear fat, but because of their diet and intense exercise regimen they have a remarkable amount of muscle mass.
Samurai warrior, ca. 1877. In Japan, the first sumo matches were in religious ceremonies to pray for a good harvest, and eventually they were used as a training routine for samurai warriors.
(Library of Congress, LC-USZC4-14302.)
Two samurai warriors, ca. 1877. Masterless samurai warriors (ronin) even used their training in sumo matches as a way to earn extra money.
(Library of Congress, LC-USZC4-14305.)
Japanese woodcut print of sumo wrestlers in action. Print created during the seventeenth century.
(Library of Congress, LC-DIG-jpd-02569.)
Japanese sumo wrestlers, ca. 1900.
(Library of Congress, LC-DIG-ggbain-26753.)
Onishiki (1891–1941) won a ten-day sumo wrestling tournament in Japan, ca. 1915. A bottom-heavy physique like Onishiki’s makes it more difficult for the rikishi to be thrown or pushed out of the ring. Also, it helps keep the opponent at a distance.
(Library of Congress, LC-DIG-ggbain-24163.)
Sumo vs. Other Japanese Martial Arts
Professional sumo differs from other Japanese martial arts in the way that rank is awarded and maintained. In most other Japanese martial arts, rank is awarded by the successful completion of a ranking test. Rarely in the other Japanese martial arts is a practitioner demoted for continued bad competition results. Also, in other Japanese martial arts, promotion can be gained by other means of training, like forms (kata). With sumo, the rikishi is only promoted if he wins official tournament sumo matches and can easily be demoted if he loses them.
Rikishi who miss an official tournament through an injury will also be demoted badly. This forces some rikishi to wrestle with serious injuries. The rikishi’s