A possibly dumb question about sumo wrestling

[bigpopparob2000]

Not that I'm considering learning the art, but this is something I've wondered for a while. Why are sumo wrestler fat? Obviously, it's better to be heavy to keep oneself from being pushed out of the ring, but muscle weighs more than fat. Wouldn't it make more sense for a sumo wrestler to be built like a power lifter or body builder?

[niel0092]

I'm pretty sure those guys ARE very strong. The extra weight probably helps with the wrestling though, otherwise I'd expect to see trimmer sumo-ists.

[UseoForce]

I bet sumo wrestling would be pretty sweet if they had weight classes and clothes.

[bushido_man96]

Sumo is taken very seriously as an art in Japan, and I hear that Japanese women idolize them as like rock stars and pro atheletes.

[Andrew_Patton]

Sumo are fat because that way they're shaped like a pyramid with it's base low, (seriously that's the belief) they oppose the big muscular v-taper shape of bodybuilders and the like. In fact, not all sumo are 'so fat' Chiyonofuji was a wrestler with well over 1,000 wins and sixty or so championships, and at only 250 lbs he's around the weight most americans are at... which, well, isn't a healthy fat weight anyways, but sumo do eat around 10,000 cal. per day and work out like maniacs, so they are very strong, they just have a layer of 'ring padding'

[Orion]

I've got to agree with Useoforce Sumo wrestling would be great, but the clothes are needed.

[KarateK]

Hmm not sure about the clothes Orion

Its definitely the build not the weight - the build helps them to basically not get knocked over. The strength in their upper body is amazing.

[Andrew_Patton]

EXACTLY! the build is actually ideal for not getting knocked over, it's like a pyramid, a nice wide low base.

In fact, try this, if you have grappling experience, go to a judo or jiu jitsu class and ask to work out with a portly fellow, doesn't even need to outweigh you by much, just find someone w/ a sow belly, now working only upper body throws, double unders, over unders, whatever, try to throw them, fifteen bucks says they'll man handle you. it's all because of the base and center of gravity. it's the IDEAL build for sumo wrestling. but like the gentle man I posted about you can overcome someone much larger than you with skill, they have the skill, but the build's just not ideal to us. No one in the US likes looking at fat people in thongs face it... it's kind of, eww.

[KarateK]

That aint exclusive to the US!!

[Andrew_Patton]

ah, but isn't the UK just like america but with old buildings and crazy accents?