Sumo for a Doorman

**kcvmac** · Posted On: 8/30/2011 4:51pm

I've recently started up Judo and Muay Thai, after a long time off of any training, save the odd spar with the old gym rats. My Judo sensei, down at Ronin Dojo, fought sumo in Japan (dunno which division), and runs a sumo class twice a week.

Being a bouncer, naturally, I'm very interested in how to remove people without hurting them or having to drag 'em out after a takedown. I've attended a class, and it was very interesting. Spent an hour focusing on one thing - Both people pushing on the chest, you take a step back, swim for the underhook, and toss him over your hip.

It seems all good, but I've run in to a problem. I can't find ANY theory on Sumo, whether it be internet or books. Can't find a curriculum, can't judge the quality of my instruction by any standard, can't find a damn thing. Everything I find written about the sport is cultural.

So, in my quest for knowledge, I come here, to ask the Bullies in their infinite wisdom,

WTF you know about Sumo?

**captainbirdseye** · Posted On: 8/30/2011 5:00pm

Originally Posted by kcvmac

I've recently started up Judo and Muay Thai, after a long time off of any training, save the odd spar with the old gym rats. My Judo sensei, down at Ronin Dojo, fought sumo in Japan (dunno which division), and runs a sumo class twice a week.

Being a bouncer, naturally, I'm very interested in how to remove people without hurting them or having to drag 'em out after a takedown. I've attended a class, and it was very interesting. Spent an hour focusing on one thing - Both people pushing on the chest, you take a step back, swim for the underhook, and toss him over your hip.

It seems all good, but I've run in to a problem. I can't find ANY theory on Sumo, whether it be internet or books. Can't find a curriculum, can't judge the quality of my instruction by any standard, can't find a damn thing. Everything I find written about the sport is cultural.

So, in my quest for knowledge, I come here, to ask the Bullies in their infinite wisdom,

WTF you know about Sumo?

**** all but I'm reasonably interested in it. Have you got a link for your school?

**Rzero** · Posted On: 8/30/2011 5:22pm

Originally Posted by kcvmac

WTF you know about Sumo?

Only that its awesome.

**Ciderbone** · Posted On: 8/30/2011 5:43pm

I've beens idly toying with the idea of training for a sumo comp next summer. Here's what I found online... I knows it's not much.

http://ifaq.wap.org/sumo/sumotech.html

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/sumo_techniques.html

http://www.youtube.com/user/SumoParis

The second link is the best imo.

**BearHammer** · Posted On: 8/31/2011 1:35pm

I would very much like to learn more about this. Sumo is awesome (besides the uniform- if u can call it that).

Pretty sure I remember hearing that sumo learn to draw their nuts up into their body or some such ting. Retracting them behind the pelvic bone (shivers) Any validity to this?

Also, I'm pretty sure I have the diet down pat.

**Permalost** · Posted On: 8/31/2011 2:09pm

You might get a better sense for what they do by watching some sumo training vids (as always, watching videos =/= training)

**kcvmac** · Posted On: 9/06/2011 5:23am

Does anyone here have a background in Sumo, or know some of the principles or theory associated with the sport?

**Vieux Normand** · Posted On: 9/06/2011 10:01am

Originally Posted by kcvmac

Does anyone here have a background in Sumo, or know some of the principles or theory associated with the sport?

The Judo place where I trained in Japan also had a Dohyo nearby, where Sumo was trained at the college-ammy level (no nearby Beya, unfortunately).

After thirty-odd misspent weekends and half-weeks working club security, I'd suggest you'll only need to bulk up, get a Teppo pole for hand conditioning, some noncompliant partners, and work the most useful Sumo waza for bouncers: oshidashi and kotenage. There are others which can be useful, but master those two after bulking up, and you'll be fine in a club/bar context.