The World's Oldest Professional Sport: Sumo

Summary

This video script explores the ancient origins of sumo wrestling, dating back over a thousand years in Japan. It discusses the sport's evolution from a deadly spectacle to a professional competition with a ranking system and tournaments. Sumo wrestlers live and breathe the sport, embodying Japanese culture and tradition. The script highlights the significance of the Yokozuna rank and the sport's enduring popularity, emphasizing sumo's place in the world of sports and its deep cultural roots.

Takeaways

• 🏋️‍♂️ Sports have been a part of human culture since ancient times, with early forms of competition likely emerging from basic skill tests between individuals.
• 📈 The concept of professional sports is relatively recent, with the idea of playing sports as a full-time job only about a century old.
• 🤼‍♂️ Sumo wrestling is an ancient sport with records dating back hundreds of years and evidence of being played for over a thousand years.
• 🇯🇵 Sumo is the national sport of Japan, with a rich history and deep cultural significance.
• 📜 The origins of sumo are unclear, but wall paintings and manuscripts provide evidence of its ancient roots, including a story from 72 AD about two gods wrestling.
• 🏆 By the 1400s, sumo had developed into a sport with a set of rules and rituals, including the use of a dohyo (ring) and the concept of winning by pushing or pulling an opponent out of the ring.
• 👘 Sumo wrestlers undergo pre-fight rituals to show respect and fairness, including washing their mouths and throwing salt into the ring to ward off evil spirits.
• 🏅 The sport has a complex ranking system with different levels of skill and prestige, from the lowest ranks to the elite Yokozuna.
• 🍲 Sumo wrestlers live in sumo stables and follow a strict regimen of training, eating, and sleeping to maintain their strength and size.
• 🌐 Despite initial western perceptions of sumo as barbaric, it has endured as a symbol of Japanese culture and national pride, even experiencing a resurgence in popularity.
• 🏆 The highest rank in sumo, Yokozuna, is a rare and prestigious honor, with only 73 men having achieved it since the 1600s.

Q & A

What is the historical significance of sports like sumo wrestling?

Sports like sumo wrestling have been played by people of every culture for as long as humans have been around, predating modern sports by thousands of years. Sumo wrestling, in particular, has records dating back hundreds of years and is considered the world's oldest professional sport.

How did sumo wrestling originate?

The exact origins of sumo are unclear, but prehistoric wall paintings and the oldest known manuscripts discussing sumo date back to 72 AD. The Chronicles of Japan, published in 720 AD, claim the first sumo match was held in 23 BC.

What was the purpose of the initial sumo matches?

Initially, sumo matches were less about sport and more about determining control over disputed territories or proving strength without causing death, as an alternative to fighting to the death.

How did sumo wrestling evolve into a formal sport?

By the 1400s, sumo stopped being a spectacle for the powerful and became a sport for everyone. The rules we see today were formed, and fights became a contest to see which fighter could down his opponent or force anything but the foot touching the ground.

What is the role of the dohyo and what are its components?

The dohyo is the raised clay platform where sumo matches take place. It includes a ring made of rice straw bales placed in a circle called the toara. Matches can be won by pushing or pulling your opponent out of the ring.

What are the key elements of a sumo match ritual?

Pre-fight rituals include washing mouths with water, throwing salt onto the ring to ward off evil spirits, and squatting down to show no hidden weapons. These rituals were especially important during harvest time tournaments.

What are the rules regarding physical contact during a sumo match?

During a match, pulling hair, striking with a closed fist, or using a 90° arc open-handed strike can result in disqualification. However, short slapping strikes and pushing by the throat are allowed.

How does the ranking system in sumo wrestling work?

The ranking system includes divisions like Makuuchi, Moshira, and lower ranks. The highest rank is Yokozuna, which is reserved for those who have won tournaments and are good representatives of sumo and its traditions.

What is the significance of the term 'Yokozuna' in sumo wrestling?

Yokozuna is the highest rank in sumo wrestling, akin to a 'Sumo God made flesh'. It is not just about winning; it also requires being a good representative of sumo and its traditions.

How often are sumo tournaments held and how long do they last?

Sumo tournaments are held every odd-numbered month and last for 15 days. Wrestlers compete once a day against an opponent decided by the sanctioning body.

What is the cultural significance of sumo wrestling in Japan?

Sumo wrestling is steeped in Japanese culture and tradition. Wrestlers, even if they are foreign, are expected to embody and represent Japanese values and customs.