Welcome Mat Sumo Club

Welcome Mat Sumo Club is one of the premier officially registered Sumo clubs in the Kansas City area under the United States Sumo Federation (USSF). Sumo wrestling is Japan's national sport and has been gaining popularity worldwide with many new athletes competing.

http://www.welcomematjudoclub.com/SUMO.html

Sumo is a form of wrestling with deep origins in Japanese legend and history. The sport dates back over 1,500 years. Ancient wall paintings suggest sumo was performed in prehistoric times as part of agricultural rituals for the gods to determine the success of farmers’ crops. Several stories exist of sumo matches held in the seventh and eighth centuries as part of Imperial court ceremonies. In 1909, sumo was established as the national sport of Japan. Today it is a widely popular form of professional entertainment.

Rikishi(sumo wrestler) practice and wrestle in a mawashi, a thick belt about 30 feet in length that is wrapped around the body several times and knotted securely in the back. It can weigh around 10 pounds. During practice, wrestlers wear mawashi made of canvas; during tournaments, professionally-ranked wrestlers wear mawashi made of silk. Depending on their wrestling styles, some sumo wrestlers wear their mawashi very tight, so an opponent cannot get a good grip, or somewhat loose, because the slack helps them to avoid being jerked quickly.

Centered inside a sumo arena is the dohyo, an 18-square-foot clay area where the sumo bouts take place. The inner ring is 15 feet in diameter, covered in sand and marked by straw bales. Opponents face each other, squat down and place their fists on the ground, staring at each other in a sort of mental battle, called niramiai. The sumo match begins at the moment of tachiai, the initial charge.

A bout is lost if a wrestler steps or is forced out of the ring, or touches the ground with anything but the soles of his feet. Punching, eye-poking, and kicking above the knees are among the illegal sumo moves. After a match, both wrestlers again face each other on opposite sides of the ring and bow.

General terms:

Shiko = Stomping in large, sweeping motions, alternating legs. Shiko is a form of both exercise and ritual; it is done both to train the lower half of the body and to sweep away evil spirits underfoot.

Suriashi = Leg strengthening exercise done in a crouched position. A wrestler bends
his elbows with his hands in front and steps forward with alternating legs, keeping low to the ground.

Matawari = Thigh splits. A wrestler must sit in a split position and lean forward until his stomach touches the ground. If he cannot do it alone, another wrestler will hold his legs or push him down.



Current Practice Schedule:
Wednesday 7:00-8:45pm (Ages 17 and up; men & women welcomed)
Cost: $ 5 drop in fee

Location:
Kansas City North Community Center
3930 N.E. Antioch Road
Kansas City, MO 64117
816-784-6100

Typical Workout:
Legs stretching & Lifts
Basic Movements and foot drills
Techniques
Push/Pull drills
Sparring

Attire:
Mawashi - Lion cloth (if you do not have one, we will have practice ones on site)
Compression short or gym shorts (to wear under mawashi)

Men will go bare chested or wear a T-shirt if more comfortable
Women can wear T-shirts or Athletic Shirt/Sportsbra

Mouthpiece optional

Head Coach:

André Coleman, 816-665-5350, andre_c@sbcglobal.net