Sumo Last Practice - Los AngelesNEW

Sumo practices are held most of the year in Los Angeles.  Last practice this year is on Sunday, December 5 at 2 PM at:

At the end of practice, we will hold a mini-tournament (Holiday Sumo) which should be over by 4 PM.  Everyone is welcome to watch for free.  It will be much smaller than the US Sumo Open -- just a chance for everyone to catch up before 2011.

At the practice, you can meet three-time World Sumo Champion Byamba, and he'll probably even give you an autograph!

Various sumo t-shirts will also be on sale: http://usasumo.com/products_goods.html

Location
Couprie Martial Arts Center, 14559 Erwin Street, Van Nuys, CA 91401

Background
Sumo originated in Japan over 1,500 years ago, and included competition between ancient agricultural communities. Sumo is also referenced in Japanese mythology. One epic story describes the god Take-mikazuchi winning a sumo match against a rival god to gain control of the Japanese islands.

Sumo developed into entertainment for the royal court over 1,200 years ago, and was also used for martial training of warriors over the centuries. About 400 years ago, professional sumo, the Nihon Sumo Kyokai, was formed, and began to conduct competitions for the masses to enjoy. During these last four centuries, the rules, rituals, training methods, and living guidelines for sumo wrestlers have been further refined and established, reflected in the world of professional sumo today.

Professional sumo wrestlers, or "rikishi", generally enter a "heya" (sumo stable) at a young age, and engage in grueling training, while following traditional rules of respect, discipline, and service to elders. Rikishi rise before dawn, and train all morning on an empty stomach, before eating lunch, their first of two massive daily meals. Following an afternoon nap, they may engage in additional training, before dinner.
Sumo recruits are generally strong, athletic boys, not necessarily large nor fat. Years of following the sumo lifestyle puts on weight, mostly muscle. Many sumo wrestlers actually have a lower body fat percentage than the general populace.