cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/19375332

!sumo@lemmy.world

The top sumo wrestlers in Japan compete every other month in tournaments that last two weeks. The March tournament just started a couple days ago, and for the rest of the tournament I plan to post daily links to recap videos. You’re welcome to come join and discuss and/or ask questions.

Imagine two linebackers crashing against each other but they have no padding and they’re allowed to do judo throws and there’s a priest urging them on. That’s basically sumo.

Americans tend to think of sumo as a funny thing, but in reality it’s a quasi-religious endeavour. The wrestlers live communally in a highly stratified environment training daily, and the referees perform shinto-derived rituals before and after the day’s matches. The wrestlers gain weight to make them harder to push, but underneath that weight they are all muscle.

Anyway check it out!