The beginning of a sumo wrestling match follows a lot of ceremonial traditions. The marching in of the sumo wrestlers is a sequence of formal rituals. The wrestlers have two assistants. One walking in front and the other behind. The one behind is usually hard to see.

The referee wears a luxurious Kimono and wears a strange hat. After they perform the opening rituals, the contest begins. Winning the wrestling match is all about pushing or throwing the opponent out of the ring. Another way to win is to bring the other wrestler to the ground.

Sumo wrestling does not have any weight categories. There are a few basic techniques-for pulling the opponents legs to grabbing his belt and trying to throw him out of the ring. There are seventy legal ways to beat an opponent listed by the sumo association, which includes overarm throws and underarm throws. Few methods of attack are banned. Wrestlers are aloud to trip and slip with an open arm. Moves that are not aloud are eye-gouging, hair pulling, and hitting with a closed fist. If any of these are used, then the wrestler has to automatically forfeit the game.

The sumo wrestling ring is a raised clay platform with bales of straw partly buried in the clay to make a circular ring. Wrestlers wear only a cloth belt that can be held on to by the opponent so a wrestler can use it to lever his opponent out of the ring.

Picture of a sumo wrestler getting ready for battle.

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