Today I tried my hand at sumo wrestling, or at least, that’s what I told my buddies when we got together. I’ve always been fascinated by those huge Japanese guys in their special outfits, trying to push each other out of a circle. So, I thought, why not give it a shot?
First, we had to clear a space in my backyard. We pushed aside the patio furniture and the grill, creating a makeshift arena. Now, for the outfits. None of us had those fancy mawashi things, so we settled for some old bedsheets. We wrapped them around ourselves, trying to look as intimidating as possible. Let me tell you, it’s harder than it looks to tie those things securely.
Once we were “dressed,” we drew a big circle on the grass with some flour we found in the kitchen. That was our dohyo, the fighting ring. The rules were simple: push your opponent out of the circle or make them touch the ground with anything other than their feet. Easy peasy, right?
We started with me versus my friend, Tom. He’s a big guy, but I’m pretty quick on my feet. We faced each other, got into our “sumo stances” (which probably looked ridiculous), and charged. It was a whirlwind of pushing, shoving, and a whole lot of laughter. Tom managed to get a good grip on my sheet, and with a mighty heave, he sent me stumbling out of the circle.
- Round 1: Tom wins!
Next up was my friend, Mike. He’s a bit smaller than Tom but just as strong. Their match was a real battle of strength. They pushed and pulled, each trying to get the upper hand. In the end, Mike’s strength won out, and he managed to force Tom to touch the ground with his hand.
- Round 2: Mike wins!
The Final Showdown
The final match was between me and Mike. We were both determined to win. We circled each other, looking for an opening. I tried to use my speed to my advantage, dodging his attempts to grab me. But Mike was relentless. He finally got a hold of my sheet and, with a powerful push, sent me flying out of the circle.
- Round 3: Mike wins again! He’s the sumo champion of the day!
We were all exhausted and covered in grass and flour, but we had a blast. It wasn’t exactly authentic rikishi sumo, but it was a fun way to spend an afternoon. I think I’ll stick to watching the pros on TV, though. Those guys are real warriors, and what they do is way harder than it looks.
