SumoSumo
By David
Sumo is the traditional sport in Japan. O-zumo
means professional sumo. Sumo has been around for 1,500 years.
The sumo ring is called a doyo. Each sumo person is called a
rikishi. Rikishi means "gentleman of strength." There
are six grand tournaments each year. Each tournament is held for
15 days. Each rikishi fights a different opponent each day.
Opponent means enemy. In a sumo bout, the rikishi tries to push
his opponent out of the ring. The rikishi also tries to make the
other fighter touch the floor with any part of his body other
than his feet. The winner gets the title of Yokozuna -- the grand
champion. Sumo wrestlers eat a special diet to grow fat. Many
weigh as much as 400 pounds. Akebono weighs 660 pounds. Akebono
lives in Hawaii. Sumo bouts take place in a circle made out of a
straw rope. Sumo wrestlers wear their hair in a topknot. Sumo
wrestlers wear a belly band which is called a mawashi. Sumo is
interesting.