Callie Armstrong;

Considered as Japan's national sport, sumo is a martial art form where two heavyweight wrestlers fight in a ring. Sumo is an age old tradition - referred to the earliest texts in Japan under its original name Sumai, in the 8th century A.D . However, these early forms was far different from the Sumo as it is today. In the past, the wrestling had relatively few rules and the unarmed fights led
to deaths. These fights were referred to as 'Sumo'. These matches were not only a test of strength in combat, but were also associated with Shinto rituals. Even today certain shrines carry out ritual dances where a human ceremonially wrestles with a kami (a Shinto 'spirit' or 'god').

In present day Sumo-wrestling, matches take place in a ring called a dohyo, which is constructed afresh for every bout. Clay and sand are mixed to create this structure and it is often as high as 60 cm. There are two white lines behind which the wrestlers position themselves when the match begins. The idea is to grapple and bring the opponent down so that he either falls on the ground or is thrown out of the ring. The person who falls on the ground is not considered to be out if he falls sole first within the ring.

To determine which part of the body strikes the ground first, the ring is brushed with superfine sand. This helps the judge see the impression left on the sand and judge.
The person who loses the wrestling match is called shini tai or dead body.

Each match begins with a ceremony and can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. The girth or the body mass of the wrestler is all-important as is his technique.

Sumo wrestling is a completely a merit based sport. A wrestler may lose or gain rank depending on his wins. There are several divisions in the sumo wrestling system and each division has a fixed number of wrestlers. Ranks are given within these divisions.

There are six divisions in sumo and each division has a fixed number of wrestlers.
Thus Makuuchi has 42 wrestlers, Juryo has 28 wrestlers, Makushita has 120 wrestlers,
Sandanme has 200 wrestlers, Jonidan has 230 wrestlers and Jonokuchi has 80 wrestlers.

Wrestlers enter at the Jonokuchi level and work their way up to the top Makuuchi division. Only wrestlers in the top two divisions earn a salary and they are called sekitoris or those who have crossed the barriers. Wrestlers in the lower divisions are regarded as being in training and receive a subsistence allowance, in return for which they perform various chores.
The large fraternity of sumo wrestlers is quite clearly divided into the serving and the served. But this divide is by no means a discrimination. All Sekitoris were after all Rikishis once.

Callie Armstrong is a writer for http://www.AllergyHero.com. Her insights on dieting, exercise and health can be read at http://www.body4beach.com