Sumo in the Japanese culture is extremely important. Sumo is one of the
oldest martial arts in Japan. It is rooted in the religion of Shinto. The
matches of Sumo where first dedicated to the gods as a gesture of good will. So
that everyone would have a good harvest. This tradition of sumo goes back as
far as the 8th century as seen in writings. The life of a Sumo is very specific
especially when looking at their living quarters. Sumos are traditionally
required to live in "communal stables" where every aspect of their
life is controlled through tradition. From there meals to the time they train
are controlled and monitored. I have attached a video where you can see these
stables. They are truly interesting setups. There are two ways to win a Sumo
bout. The first way is to force your opponent to step out of the ring. The
second way is to force your opponent to touch the ground with any part of their
body except the bottom of their feet. These can also be witnessed in my
attached video. As you will see sumo is a sport steeped in tradition and force.
Do you believe Sumo could be a viable sport in the United States?
What are your thoughts on the level of tradition in Sumo?
Video
http://youtu.be/vJ1wnbNIUrc
I believe that Sumo could be very controversial in the US. One of the main reasons I think would be that people misunderstand sumo and would think it is just something for individuals who are overweight, which seems to be a sumo stereotype.
ReplyDeleteI dont think sumo would ever happen in the United States. It is a sport with such a rich history I just don't think that the United States would pick it up.
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