Sumo, an ancient Japanese sport, is facing a crisis as many of its top wrestlers have died from injuries caused by the strain their huge bodies put on their bodies.
At least two fighters in the sport’s top division have withdrawn from the fall tour due to injury and poor health. Common illnesses include arthritis, diabetes, and spinal cord injuries. A star sumo wrestler retired for good in his 20s due to physical deterioration from the strain of the sport.
High turnover rates have led to calls for doctors to be present at sumo matches and for weight limits to be introduced to halt the tendency of wrestlers to rely on size rather than technique.
Takakeisho will win the ozeki or championship title at the 2023 New Year Sumo Tournament and spend time with his family and supporters in the dressing room.
Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images
“I’m suffering from burnout. I’ve exhausted the physical and mental strength to become a grand champion,” Takakeisho, a former holder of the sport’s highest ranking, said last month in a tearful announcement of his retirement following an injury. feet, knees, neck.
Takakeisho, 28, who was stripped of his ozeki title due to declining performance, said, “I’ve been trying as hard as I can, but…I felt it was time to give up.”
Terunofuji, 32, the sport’s current grand champion, has been out of action due to rib damage and arthritis in his knees, which prevent him from doing the exercise he needs to alleviate his diabetes.
The Isegahama boss said, “My blood sugar level doesn’t go down.” “He couldn’t exercise because of his bad knees. If he could sweat, his blood sugar levels would go back to normal.”
Sumo wrestlers weigh an average of 50 kg more than their ancestors in 1950, leading to health problems such as diabetes and joint damage.
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Another sumo wrestler, Enho, sustained a severe spinal cord injury caused by head-to-head collisions at the start of many sumo matches.
Sumo wrestlers, as they are called, have always suffered from sprains and bruises, but several factors have contributed to the rise in serious, career-threatening injuries. An increasing number of wrestlers continue to compete past the age of 30, increasing the wear and tear on their joints and increasing the risk of injury.
It’s also bigger than ever before. In 1950, the average sumo wrestler weighed less than 110 kg. Today his weight is over 160 kg. “If you look at sumo 40 years ago, they looked like athletes,” said Shuhei Mai no Kai, a former sumo wrestler who is now a commentator on Japan’s NHK TV. “Nowadays, there is an assumption that sumo wrestlers have to carry a lot of weight.”
One suggestion is to set a cap on the body mass index (BMI) of wrestlers. “I think a sumo wrestler’s BMI should be between 40 and 43, so it would be better to have a rule that it cannot exceed 45,” says coach Takehiko Oguji. “Beyond that, and you’re at increased risk of injury from being overweight.”
A BMI greater than 23 is classified as overweight. Standing 175 cm tall and weighing 165 kg, Takakeisho, who recently retired, has a BMI of 53.9.
The traditional nature of sumo, both a sporting competition and an expression of Japanese culture, means that it is less involved with medical and nutritional experts than other sports.
John Gunning, sumo correspondent for The Japan Times, said: “Even in 2024, it’s disgusting to see professional wrestlers binging on huge meals high in salt and processed sugar day and night.” It’s natural,” he wrote. “Use of gyms and weight training is increasing, but it is often ad hoc, with no scientific basis for when, where or what type of exercise is performed.”
It’s not everyday to have a doctor waiting next to the ring during a tournament. “Doctors should be there,” neurosurgeon Kazuo Isayama told the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. “The scary thing about head trauma is that it can cause brain damage. A second impact immediately after a blow to the head can be fatal.”
