Sumo Wrestling: An Overview

Sumo wrestlers are a group of athletes who have high levels of fat mass and fat-free mass (FFM), not often observed in most other forms of competitive sports (Kanehisa et al., 1997). Research on sumo wrestlers is going to provide a clue for weight gain with enhancing sports performance. On energy balance of sumo wrestlers, energy intake exceeds energy expenditure over a considerable period for gaining weight because sumo wrestlers who have greater body mass possess one of the most effective ways to win. In fact sumo wrestlers have body weights in excess of 100. kg, with fat mass in excess of 30. kg and FFM greater than 80. kg (Kondo et al., 1994). Additionally, percent fat of the upper league wrestlers (Sekitori) was kept at about 25%, and FFM and the force generation capability were larger in the upper league wrestlers than in the lower leagues wrestlers (Kanehisa et al., 1998). Sumo wrestlers, especially "Sekitori" wrestlers, can be considered as "athletes.".