Artistic Sports
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Ball Sports
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Trend Sports
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| Description |
Sumo is a competitive, full-contact wrestling sport created in Japan more than 1'500 years ago. Two wrestlers fight, almost naked, in a circular ring called dohyō, using their full strength. |
| Goal |
A sumo match is won by the fighter who forces the other to either touch the ground outside the circular dohyō with any part of the body or touch the ground inside the ring with any part of the body other than the soles of the feet. |
| Format |
Athletes compete twice, first in three weight categories as well as all together in an open-weight category. - 16 athletes in each event start in Round of 16 for the three different weight categories. - All 48 competing athletes per gender start in Round of 64 (Open Category). - Winning athletes proceed to the next rounds until the finals. - Competitors defeated once are placed in the repechage round until semifinals. - Repechage format, which are knockout rounds, will be used to decide the bronze medal winner. - Winning semi-finalists compete for Gold and Silver. |
| Rundown |
Each match is preceded by an elaborate ceremonial ritual. They clap their hands to “awaken the gods”, they toss salt into the ring for its purification, and they stamp their feet to “crush all that's evil”. The competitors' hands must touch down behind the starting lines. The head judge shall signal the jump-off by calling out "Hakkeyoi!" (Get moving!) as soon as both competitors have simultaneously placed their hands on the dohyō and are completely still. Bouts are typically very short, usually ranging from a few seconds to less than a minute. If a bout goes on for over three minutes without coming to a conclusion, the bout shall be stopped and a re-match shall be ordered. The winner of the match is announced immediately after each fight. Before the announcement, both athletes bow again to each other. |
| Tactics |
There are 82 ki-ma-ri-te, or ways of winning the match. The most common basic forms are grabbing the opponent by the mawashi and then forcing them out, a style called yotsu-zumō, or pushing the opponent out of the ring without a firm grip, a style called oshi-zumō. Although most athletes use the common methods of pushing or forcing the opponent out of the dohyō, there are some unusual methods in which the rikishi is flipped over or crushed after losing sight of the opponent, making the match very exciting to watch. When a competitor has lifted the opponent clear of the ground and carries the opponent forward out of the shobu-dawara, it shall not be a loss if the athlete's foot goes out first (okuri-ashi). If, however, the competitor steps out backward, it shall be considered a loss. When a bout is won by one of the throwing techniques etc., the competitor who executes the throw does not lose if the competitor's instep turns over and touches the ground before the opponent lands. |
| Judging |
A judging panel shall consist of a head judge, a gyoji (referee) and four judges for a total of 6 members. The head judge is entirely responsible for determining the result of a bout. The gyoji assumes control of a bout from the time when the competitors mount the dohyō until they step down from the dohyō upon completion of the bout. The duties of the four judges are to assist the head judge to ensure that there are no errors in the decision. The shomen (front) judge shall also function as the timekeeper. The judges can disqualify a competitor in any of the following cases: - if the competitor is ruled to be unable to continue the match due to injury etc. More information can be found here |
| Penalties |
When any kinjite (prohibited moves) is used, the gyoji must stop the bout immediately. The following moves are deemed kinjite: - punching the opponent with a closed fist |
| Athletes and Teams to watch out for |
Trent Sabo Trent is competing in his 4th (and final) World Games. He took second place 4 years ago, and is one of the few U.S. medalists in any sport at the World Games in 2017. He has a phenomenal story of grit and perseverance. Unlike professional athletes, he and I (and others) believe we are a part of the purest form of sport, because we’ve sacrificed tremendously to compete, while professional athletes, whose interest is financial only, are unworthy of attaining this level of athlete. For the professionals it’s sponsorships and $$, for us, it has been putting aside all luxuries and some necessities, hoping for hope, putting family stability on the line, and making decisions against the grain of logic. All for sumo. All for a pureness of attainment unfathomable by the masses. Trent has lived in his car for a period of time, while training daily, to compete at the World level. He drives a truck, including the gruesome lifestyle of fracking, just to make the money needed to compete oversees. Success has come at an overwhelming price for Trent, and yet because he’s a lightweight in a sport known for heavyweights, Trent doesn’t get anywhere near the notoriety he deserves for his mental and physical toughness, and refuse-to-lose spirit. Trent could be World Champion at these games. “Sabo Sumo” in Birmingham ‘22!!! |
| Appearances in TWG 2017 | Yes |
| Appearances in TWG 2013 | Yes |
| Appearances in TWG 2009 | Yes |
| Appearances in TWG 2005 | Yes |
| Appearances in TWG 2001 | Yes |
| Title holders in TWG 2017 |
Heavyweight Men
Heavyweight Women
Lightweight Men
Lightweight Women
Middleweight Men
Middleweight Women
Open Weight Men
Open Weight Women
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| Title holders in TWG 2013 |
Heavyweight Men
Heavyweight Women
Lightweight Men
Lightweight Women
Middleweight Men
Middleweight Women
Open Weight Men
Open Weight Women
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| Title holders in TWG 2009 |
Heavyweight Men
Heavyweight Women
Lightweight Men
Lightweight Women
Middleweight Men
Middleweight Women
Open Weight Men
Open Weight Women
|
| Title holders in TWG 2005 |
Heavyweight Men
Heavyweight Women
Lightweight Men
Lightweight Women
Middleweight Men
Middleweight Women
Open Weight Men
Open Weight Women
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| Qualified athletes with results in past TWG |
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