Sumo Wrestling is a form of competitive full-contact wrestling where a rikishi (wrestler) attempts to force his opponent out of a circular ring (dohyō) or into touching the ground with any body part other than the soles of his feet (usually by throwing, shoving or pushing him down).
The sport has a history spanning many centuries. Many ancient traditions have been preserved in sumo, and even today the sport includes many ritualistic elements, such as the use of salt purification. Sumo originated in Japan, with the first mention found in a Kojiki manuscript dating back to 712. Japan is the only country where Sumo is practiced professionally. it is also considered as Japan’s national sport.
The winner of a sumo bout is generally either the first wrestler to force his opponent to step out of the ring, or the first wrestler to force his opponent to touch the ground with any part of his body other than the bottom of his feet. Other than that, there are situations that can lead to loss by disqualification. A wrestler using an illegal technique (kinjite) automatically loses, as does one whose mawashi (belt) comes completely undone.
Bouts consist solely of a single round and often last only a few seconds. No weight divisions are used in professional sumo; a wrestler can sometimes face an opponent twice his own weight. However, with superior technique, smaller wrestlers can control and defeat much larger opponents. Sumo matches take place in a dohyō: a ring, 4.55 m (14.9 ft) in diameter. A new dohyō is built for each tournament by the bout callers (or yobidashi).
Why Sumo Wrestlers Are Not Obese?
Traditionally, sumo wrestlers are renowned for their great girth and body mass, which is often a winning factor in sumo. Sumo wrestlers eat up to 7,000 calories a day and weigh 300 to 400 pounds or two to three times as much as the average. with a high proportion of body fat and carry much of that weight in their midsections, the part of the body that typically lends itself to greater health risks.
Yet active sumo wrestlers consistently display normal blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol. But sumo wrestlers don't usually suffer from these symptoms. CT scans reveal that sumo wrestlers don't have much visceral. Instead, they store most of their fat right underneath the skin. That's why scientists think sumo wrestlers are healthy.
Visceral Fat
Visceral fat, also known as organ fat or intra-abdominal fat, is located inside the peritoneal cavity, packed in between internal organs and torso. It’s located near several vital organs, including the liver, stomach, and intestines. It can also build up in the arteries. Visceral fat is sometimes referred to as “active fat” because it can actively increase the risk of serious health problems.
Visceral fat is often evaluated on a scale of 1 to 59 when diagnosed with body fat analyzers or MRI scans. Healthy levels of visceral fat stay under 13. If your rating is 13–59, immediate lifestyle changes are recommended.
To read more about visceral fat and its negative effects visit here.
How Sumo Wrestlers Stay Healthy?
A one-word answer for this is the intense number of workouts. Due to high levels of physical activity, the body of a sumo wrestler will predominantly carry subcutaneous (meaning "under the skin") fat rather than visceral fat. This helps them remain fairly healthy despite a high BMI.
After Retirement:
Sumo wrestlers have a life expectancy between 60 and 65, more than 10 years shorter than the average Japanese male. How is this possible? Didn’t we just discuss how sumo wrestlers stay healthy? The negative health effects of the sumo lifestyle can become apparent later in life as the diet and sport take a toll on the wrestler's body. This is because once a sumo wrestler retires, the amount of physical activity they do also reduce dramatically.
As physical activity decreases, subcutaneous fat is gradually converted to dangerous visceral fat. Conditions like diabetes and heart disease soon follow. So, many Sumo wrestlers end up developing type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, and they are prone to heart attacks due to the enormous amount of body mass and fat that they accumulate. Sumo wrestlers are also more likely to consume alcoholic beverages. And the excessive intake of alcohol can lead to liver problems. All of these various factors make it hard for sumo wrestlers to stay healthy once they retire.
If you are interested in what sumo wrestlers’ diet or lifestyle, feel free to jump into the rabbit hole of this modern-day martial art.
Written By - Joshua
Edited By - Vaibhav Sharma
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