Traditional martial arts of Japan and the life lessons they teach us

SUMO WRESTLING

Game in Brief:

Sumo is a traditional Japanese combat known throughout the world. The rikishis (as the fighters are known) generally weigh between 100 and 200 kilograms. The fight takes place in a small ring and the fighter can lose through two ways: any part of the body other than sole touching the ground or by moving out of the ring. The rikishis take special attention such as food supplements in order to gain weight, as this makes them more stable and difficult to be pushed out of the ring.

Life Lessons:

• Sumo teaches us not to give too much importance to looks. All these rikishis put on a lot of pounds and are still respected for their skills. Thus, looks may help in the short term but it is only the character and achievements that wins out over time.
• While it looks like these people are highly immobile and their bodies contain nothing but fat, it is a misconception. These people are very nimble due to the exercises they perform every day. Moreover, underneath the fat is a thick tone of muscle that is responsible for their power. Thus, looks can be deceptive.

About the author

Sivaramakrishnan S

I love sports. I’m currently pursuing MBA and despite the rat race that’s going on around me, I still like watching test matches. I'm passionate about Chelsea and CSK.

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