Clusters
- Martial Arts
IWGA Member Federation since 2002.
Learn more about Sumo on the IFS website or YouTube.
Sumo
Sumo is a competitive, full-contact wrestling sport and Japan's national sport. Two wrestlers fight using their full strength in a circular ring with a hard dirt surface called a dohyō. Bouts are typically very short, usually ranging from a few seconds to less than a minute.
Sumo has a special appeal because of its traditional and respectful procedures before, during and after each bout to reinforce sumo’s respect for the opponent aspect.
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.
At the start, the competitors' hands must touch down behind the starting lines. The referee signals 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.
Men and women compete in amateur sumo.
Sumo has been on the programme of The World Games from 2001 to 2022.
Federation: International Sumo Federation (IFS), www.ifs-sumo.org
