These posts make more sense when read in order.
Please click here for the first article in this series.
There are so many techniques involved that no rikishi can use all of them. The official list has 82 winning techniques. It's worth checking out the Sumo Girls' demonstration of them. It's less than three minutes long and they make it very entertaining.
Rikishi’s tend to specialize in certain techniques, but occasionally they’ll pull off something random. Ura has used an unusual technique called tsuteae-zori, where he zips under his opponent’s armpit and tips backwards, sending both him and his opponent to the clay. In one bout he won with a zubuneri, where he used his head as a pivot to throw down his opponent—the first time that technique was used in the upper division in 25 years.[i]
Because things happen so fast in dohyo (ring), a rikishi has to think extremely quickly and be flexible in order to respond to rapidly changing situations. Often they don’t even have time to think and say their body automatically responds, rather like how a pianist can play without thinking.
The bouts happen so quickly that they’re tough to follow. Fortunately we have instant replays and slow-motion replays. In many matches one player quickly loses before they’re able to respond, but in the longer bouts you can see the techniques they’re trying to use, and when one strategy doesn’t work, you’ll see them switch to another.
But it’s difficult for them because they have to focus on both their defense and offense at the same time. If one is trying to get a grip on his opponent’s belt with both hands, he’s also trying to prevent his opponent from getting grips on his own belt...or one of his arms, while also trying to prevent a pushing attack. If the opponent gets a belt grip with even one hand, he has to makes sure to keep his balance so he’s not thrown or slapped down to the clay. These guys are so strong that some of them are thrown in complete somersaults, which is a falling technique to reduce injuries.
There are certain features and abilities that rikishi need: strength, size, speed, agility, and techniques. They all have these or most of these to varying degrees. I’m tempted to add craziness to the list for Tobizaru, but I think what he does is more a combination of speed, agility, and unusual techniques. His name means “flying monkey” and you could say that’s what his style looks like. He’s definitely entertaining to watch in action.
There is so much more to this sport that I’m barely scratching the surface here. I think it would make a great book and I would love to write one, if I can get any publishers interested.
Click here for the next article in this series:
If you'd like further information, I recommend the following:
NHK, Japan's public broadcasting TV channel, streams the half-hour highlights shows here https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/latest/ before they do on other sumo pages of their site. There are up to four one-hour shows that were recorded live usually on Day 1, Day 8, Day 14, and Day15 of each basho (tournament) that are found here https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/sumolive/. They also have information about the rikishi and the excellent short Sumopedia videos. This is your required first stop.
If
you'd rather watch the full day live in Japanese, you'll find it
showing on various YouTube channels, but you'll have to wait until it
starts at around 8:30 a.m. Japan time to search for them. And remember,
they're a day earlier if you're not on the early side of the
International Date Line. The matches run to about 6 p.m., with the top
division starting around 4 p.m.
The Japan Sumo Association's official site https://www.sumo.or.jp/En/ also contains some excellent information.
Since I’m interested in analysis and statistics, I also highly recommend Michael’s Ozeki Analytics blog at https://ozekianalytics.substack.com/. You can skip signing up to check it out. It can be a bit technical for some people.
For first-rate information on the individual rikishi, their abilities, and the techniques they use, you have to check out Tim Bissell’s Sumo Stomp! at https://sumostomp.substack.com/. Again you can hit “No thanks” for signing up in order to read his posts, but then go back and sign up.
Then enjoy! Sumo really is the ultimate sport.
[i] See the May 2023 Natsu Basho (summer tournament) on day 12, Tobizaru vs. Ura.
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