The dangers sumo wrestlers face

A look at some of the bumpier endings to sumo matches, and how they underline the difficulties in ensuring wrestler safety. Plus, Daieisho and Shodai continue to vie for the title.

[@terencebennison6275]

I agree totally with joe domaini's comments, sumo wouldn't be sumo without the risk of injury, it's the sheer unpreparedness of the ringside first aid facilities that's the problem. The sight of people scratching their heads not knowing what to do is ridiculous!

[@IPulsar]

That feal so wrong that is insane, like in any other sport at least 2 people will run at the injured atlet as soon as they can. I'm like "Wtf is going on in theire heads?" If theire reaction is dictated by Traditons... is stil so wrong... thing some time need to change despite it all.

[@alexcarter8807]

I agree.

[@monkcheese702]

The main issue has always been tradition. The strict rules of Sumo make people second guess their first reaction.

[@bernardoalbano1816]

There are things that can be made for sure, there is no need ot have a high batle ground from where the fighters can fall from

[@1Hawk2Hawks]

you know people said the same thing about the halo in F1 raceing. but if we can make the sport saver so they dont o i dont know break there neck if they fall of the ring then whats the problem whit that? I really dont get why people are allways so against improveing safety in sports.

[@thexen3120]

Every world class sport has professional emergency medical teams on standby. Lives have been saved. Careers have been saved. No one questions the NFL when a player with a suspected head or neck injury is attended too. Same with NHL, NBA, MLB. Auto racing in the 1950's they had nothing. Bow they have some of the most professional doctors and medical facilities at each race. If sumo want's to be a world class sport, then they need to act like one.

[@Rearmostbean]

Medical staff are at highschool events, much less world class events

[@TNM001]

can't agree more. times have moved on, the old matcho "tough it out" mentality is outdated. now we protect our athletes so we can see them fight another day. much more is gained with that attitude, for the athlete and the spectator.

[@sakispdsw]

They probably don't want to be a world class sport considered they do everything in their power to limit foreign wrestlers while not seeming reacist.

[@vlada]

World class sport? It's a niche of a niche sport....even in japan.

[@MasterNservant]

it will never be a world class sport. Its more of a freak show

[@yukiminsan]

my high school football matches had a field-side medical team

[@Rearmostbean]

I work at high school events. All sports have at least one medical staff watching, usually two.

[@johnsmith1474]

And what did they ever do that mattered? Hand holding? Walk alongside a gurney?

[@jakestephens4414]

@@johnsmith1474 Made the parents feel better about not looking into the long-term health effects they were handicapping their children with.

[@LP777-]

@@jakestephens4414 Yes, if we really valued the things being expressed (when criticizing sumo, or sport in general)... especially when invoking the well-being of children... then the answer is obviously simple... stop children from participating in sports, and certainly do not tie it to education. But we do not do that. We do not even consider the obvious answer. Tends to mean we value something else, greater than the kids safety and well-being. It is all somewhat disingenuous.

[@AnacreonSchoolbagsJr]

@@LP777- Humanity has always valued things outside safety and wellbeing. This isn't to say that the risks incurred through practicing sports in modern society, especially combat sports and especially as an extracurricular function of modern compulsory schooling, is prudent, wise or even gainful for our youth. But the human race evolved under conditions where conquest and warfare meant the difference between survival and being snuffed out by the neighboring wartribe/nation/empire. These men are warriors. War is hard to explain and it's ugly but there is a nobility to the warrior calling, and I don't think we'll ever be able to extract war from the human condition.

[@poohjan]

Man I get recommended one, one sumo video and now I’ve found myself down the rabbit hole and am completely entranced by this epic national sport.

[@Brandon-ge9to]

I was in mma fights

[@AmirDimangadap]

Same bro

[@SassySimian]

The one thing that could drastically reduce the number of injuries is to move the spectators and judges 2-3 rows back so you can give more room around the edge of the dohyo and cushion the surroundings. The usual objection is tradition, but for centuries, tradition dictated that there be 4 pillars at the four corners to support the roof. Yet when television and fans asked them to be removed in 1951 for an unobstructed view, tradition went out the window. Tradition also didn't stop the ring from being increased from 13 shaku to 15 shaku in 1931, because spectators wanted the bouts to last longer. But it also brought the ring limits much closer to the edge, leading to much more bouts ending with falls. So when it comes to he benefit of spectators and patrons, tradition doesn't seem to be an obstacle, but when it comes to the safety of the fighters it suddenly can't be compromised... That's just convenient, isn't it? And another one of the JSA's many hypocrisies. There will indeed always be a risk due to the nature of the sport, but too many of injuries occur after the bout is over, when the fighters fall from the dohyo, which seems designed to be dangerous with its 66-cm drop, its steep slopes and a crowded hard floor with sharp-edge steps waiting for you at the bottom. Even the judges don't need to sit that close anymore, since they make all their decisions based on slow-motion replays anyway. One day will come where one of the patrons or judges will get seriously injured---or worse---by having a 150-200 kg fighter fall badly on them or crush them. Then they might finally snap out of their obtuse, self-serving view of tradition and finally do something.

[@ardgeighw5174]

Life inherently carries risk. Get over it, cupcake.

[@SassySimian]

@@ardgeighw5174 I have no problem with them getting injuries from fights, that's the job. But injuries from falls off the dohyo because of stubborn layout choices and spectators wanting to be close, all to make more money (those seats are expensive and many of them reserved for major sponsors), when a few simple changes could keep them from getting many injuries that are unrelated to the fight itself? That just hurts the sport.

[@ardgeighw5174]

@@SassySimian Sorry for boomer-posting on you, just saw an opportunity and boomer-posting is fun. But I was half-sincere in the message, though I expressed it in a crude way. What I believe, and was vaguely alluding to, is that, just as you believe that injuries from the wrestling aspect are acceptable as they are an innate part of the sport, so too do others believe that the other risks you mentioned are innate and acceptable parts of the sport. I do agree with you that going back to the smaller rings is a good idea. I mostly just disagreed to your rhetoric that seemed antagonistic toward traditions because of a modern perceived lack of safety. I respect the Japanese people's overall respect for and observance of tradition, as well as other societies around the world that still are managing to hold onto their unique cultural traditions.

[@SassySimian]

@@ardgeighw5174 It wasn't antagonistic about tradition, it was just outlining the fact that tradition is upheld when it is a convenient excuse for inaction (aka preservation of certain interests of the elites in place who define, enforce and benefit from those traditions) and just as conveniently ignored when it goes against the interest of the people in power (especially in financial terms). In the history of mankind, if you look at who enforces and defends "tradition" vs who decides to make exceptions or change it and when, it becomes pretty clear: "tradition" is an instrument of power for the powerful. Changes to traditions always happen when a tradition goes against the interests of the elites. This example in sumo is just one minor entry in a long universal list. And the evidence, as I described, is in the history of changes made vs the changes they refuse to make in the name of "tradition".

[@loverofcat]

@@ardgeighw5174 Says the guy sitting at home who never competed professionally in any type of sport discipline. Athletes not wanting their career to be ended by a very avoidable occurrence aren't snowflakes

[@911shan]

I think the main issue in half of all sumo injuries is the raised stage. People fall down 5ft all the time, often right into the judges and personnel. I think a solid 10ft (in width) around the sumo ring should be at the same level so people are not constantly flung down and land on their heads.

[@markus7166]

That's definitely not 5ft tall..

[@carlosvelasquez3279]

The point is that doesn't have to be taller than one foot. They are overweight wrestlers , come on let's lower it

[@FuwanXi]

@@markus7166 It may not be 5ft, but it's still a significant height. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. A small and skinny person wouldn't sustain the same amount of damage as a sumo wrestler would after getting pushed off that raised stage.

[@grahamhill2277]

@@markus7166 You missed the point, think about it dude. If you start standing up in the ring then fall out, your head is potentially dravelling downwards 5 ft or more which is quite obviously not safe especially for overweight athletes. He's saying that any height around the ring is a bad idea, not 4ft or 3ft or even 2. It should be flat.

[@dblevins343]

Idk if I'd remove the height. Leave the height because it has a cultural significance (that's my understanding anyways). However, they should install something around it to catch them when they fall. It might sound dumb but a foam pit doesn't sound like a terrible idea to me.

[@goldenagenut]

I've followed sumo for 3 years and the absence of medical experts to be onhand when someone gets injured is a glaring problem that could be easily remedied, but the lack of action on the part of the heads of the organization speaks volumes.

[@hyperhawk27]

You could keep the dohyo the same height but just place pads outside the ring and make the outer lanes wider so wrestlers don’t fall off so often.

[@AxxLAfriku]

Why is Donald Trump pretty and I am not? But why does he only have a wife but I have TWO HANDSOME GIRLFRIENDS who I show off in my masterpiece YT videos? Do you know the answer, dear wes

[@labellaescrima1996]

why keep it so high, why not bring it down to the floor level and change the bloody cement floors...what's wrong with another style of floors, it does not need to be cement and also move the public to a safer distance, how many times do we see the rikishi flying into the public?

[@ndg3174]

Yeah and let a 500 pounder break there leg

[@eijiix5247]

@@labellaescrima1996 cuz the Japanese love preserving tradition and will do nothing to change that, even if its for the better.

[@TheGoodDoktor4451]

I watch some combat sports. And the lack of reaction from literally almost anyone,as these men lie there, clearly hurt, actually feels surreal. I love watching sumo from time to time and everyone involved and viewing understands the natural risks that come with combat sports. But high school football games have medical personnel with better reaction times than the people overseeing these matches.

[@scotthall7307]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pn-wnXt5fdh-hcU

[@labhrasofuada787]

Spot on observation

[@TheAustinKendall]

I've watched a small amount of sumo here on YT (heck probably mostly from this channel as it's in my recommends) and I had a similar takeaway. The issue isn't the inherent risk in certain sports, not for me at least....but they should be attending to potentially injured wrestlers in a more timely manner with more gravity around the potential for worse off scenarios than minor concussions.

[@SoylentGamer]

Other commenters have said they do have medical personnel on site, but they're clearly not watching and ready at a moments notice. The worst injuries are often met with people looking around like "Hey, should we get help? Or will he be OK?"

[@user-ei7ud5oj5b]

Maybe they view these wrestlers as invincible and too difficult to assist because of their size?

[@soadodadjian730]

One of the easiest measures one could implement is the padding of the floor with sawdust. In Switzerland, we have traditional swiss wrestling known as "Schwingen" that is fought on sawdust, which makes it that much safer.

[@brucer2152]

The bottom line and there are several. 1. Sometimes Sumo is hindbound by tradition. 2. NHK and the Sumo Association are too cheap to spend money on having medical personal on stand by for these situations. 3. The Sumo association needs to figure out a better way to finance the sport. 4. They don't realize that the wrestlers are what makes the sport. Without them there is nothing to watch.

[@terryarmstrong9685]

This is war not any little girl flower sport they are going into battle a man gets up injured or not

[@kevis6310]

@@terryarmstrong9685 Now can we get that with some punctuation?

[@angelicking2890]

it's the 4th part that I think the executives forget which I think is commonplace in many workplaces. It's the workers that provide the profit and sometimes massively so not always the executives.

[@hasdrubalsosamarquez5430]

Very well put! 👏

[@spinekingjrgensen5779]

@@terryarmstrong9685 this is exactly what a braindead street fighter would say.

[@carloft]

It's not about avoiding injuries, but about being able to properly react when they occur. When I was young I was competing in eventing, an equestrian sport with an over 500 kg animal that is unpredictible and can cause dramatic injuries or even death (every year unfortunately there are fatal accidents). Accidents are inevitable, but consequences can be mitigated and therefore no competition can take place without a medics team on site. Furthermore, in the 90s when you were falling off the horse at a competition you were allowed (actually it was expected from you) to get back on the horse and finish. In recent years, because it was recognized that continuing after a fall could potentially aggravate eventual injuries that could have occured (like concussions) you are now immediatly eliminated. I really like sumo and I have an incredible admiration and respect for the wrestlers. I wish that the sport itself would protect (and therefore respect) more its own athletes, by ensuring prompt assistance in case of injuries and accidents.

[@blueeyes6852]

I trained and showed Arabian horses throughout the 70-80's. What a hoot❣

[@snake_eyes_garage]

Excellent example and one that is a very old and honored sport. I think the right thing like you said is to have medically trained staff who can respond. Then look at how the injuries occur after the bout and take care of that. For example, a cushioned floor around the dohyo. Surely nobody will see that.

[@shakes.dontknowwhatyergettin]

But that assistance doesn't do anything. They don't become uninjured. Its just fussing, that's what you all want.A big concern-o-bot display.

[@F3udF1st]

Avoiding injuries is what it should be about though... Once they happen, it's impossible to undo.

[@JinchurikiDemon]

No it is also about avoiding injuries how could you in any way say that it isn't? The Dohyo doesn't need to be raised so high, the ground around the dohyo doesn't need to have no soft matting for the wrestlers to land on, Rikishi shouldn't be expected to continue to wrestle through injury or risk demotion, they should have medical staff on scene ready and waiting. IT IS about avoiding injury when these obvious changes should be made.

[@ExMeroMotu9]

Sadly this upsets me about Sumo in how little they care for they're fighters. I mean not even a medical team near by on standby? Sad..

[@jaredruiz9344]

I saw a video explaining the sacrifices and stuff these wrestlers have to go through, explaining how this shortens their life span, and how most get paid very little, and they can’t even have a medical team o stand by...

[@astroman0500]

Their*

[@mauricesanchez6804]

Sounds like the 3 letter acronym fighting company and how they treat their fighters....

[@Ligmamonkey]

​@@mauricesanchez6804 ufc doesn't have medical staff on standby?

[@hadesobsidian5231]

I'll never forget the day 15 fight with Terunofugi challenging Hakuho for Yokozuna. That forearm shiver Hakuho gave at the start was brutal.

[@sumoyaro]

華やかな部分だけでなく、こういった一面も伝えていくことは必要なことだと思います。

[@devast813]

They should have a trained doctor dojo side in case of injury, they can step in and make decisions

[@IPulsar]

At least one.

[@patbhukkanasut7772]

Warriors one and all, respect.

[@Doggieman1111]

Not sure sumo wrestling is actually comparable to fighting in a war, so let's not get too carried away.

[@pirateofthepacific9687]

@@Doggieman1111 a warrior does not have to fight in a war to be a warrior

[@emperadorzar2023]

@@pirateofthepacific9687 a comment does not have to be a group of words to be a comment.

[@pirateofthepacific9687]

@@emperadorzar2023 your right the group of words has to make sense for it to be a comment

[@MoskusMoskiferus1611]

It's Not Warrior, More like Fighter

[@bmh2004]

The lack of compassion when someone is in the floor hurting or can’t stand up!

[@HittokiriBattousai17]

It is view as dishonorable, in japanese culture. You stand up on your own, even if you're in excruciating pain, otherwise, you're weak, and not fit to be a king/champion/hero/etc. Strength is the main attribute in their culture, followed by discipline and diligence.

[@Gokusaiyan.]

@@HittokiriBattousai17 thanks for telling that I was thinking why are those people not helping sumo wrestler when they fall

[@bruceludlow1326]

@@HittokiriBattousai17 cringe as fuck comment

[@caralho5237]

its part of the sport, also seen as disrespect since its the japanese we are talking about he'd probably break you in half for trying to help him

[@PrabirTa]

@@bruceludlow1326 mfs learn some term on the internet & then go around spamming it everywhere even when it doesn't make any sense making them look stupid.

[@TheFlamingPike]

When I was a kid people around me ( in North America ) would mock sumo wrestlers for their size but as I grew up and began enjoying all kinds of contact sports I realized sumo wrestlers are the real deal. Pretty gut wrenching to watch these injuries. But it exposes a real issue and it's good to talk about it. Great footage and video.

[@blueseaturtle6031]

The floor looks like cement or padded down dirt, imagine falling and knocking your head off the floor. Padding could go a long way for protecting sumo wrestlers against unnecessary injuries. So if they do end up falling or hitting your head the wrong way at least it won’t be on the harden surface

[@Stilesda]

that dude in division 2 definitely hit his head on the seated guy's knee. it's obvious from other camera angles. that would have been a very forceful impact, essentially a three meter drop. if the dohyo were not raised and if the first row of seated people were a few feet back, and if the floor had a mat or padding like in many other combat sports, this would not have happened.

[@2themoon863]

Would increasing the size of the platform to, say, the back of the first row of people is here-while keeping the area of fighting the same-help in any way? Or drop the platform to half its current height? Or both?

[@Stilesda]

@@2themoon863 the dohyo can't be part of audience seating, as it is literally a shinto shrine

[@labellaescrima1996]

@@Stilesda things can be change and be still respectful. Move the public further back don't put them so close to the "Dohyo" or put a plastic barrier to separate the public from the rikishi and add some padded floor to break the fall of the wrestlers. While I respect the principle of the Shinto shrine I also respect the life of the rikishi they need to make stricter guidelines for the rikishi to stop having so many stupid injuries. And why do the referees act and look so stupid, they are supposed to be in control of the match when something goes horribly wrong do something about it!

[@KaheemBeam]

It's called tradition... The guys know what they are in for. American Football is much more brutal to the human body.

[@2themoon863]

That I understand-what I meant is make the platform edge where the first row of spectators/judges is now, then have the open space to what becomes the “new” first row, which is about where the third or fourth row is now. Tradition is kept with a large safety area outside the sumo area. (And if padding is allowed on the outside that can be added.)

[@tubefan0011]

Thank you Chris for this video. I am new to Sumo and still in shock for the latest concussion. All your presentations are great!

[@blueeyes6852]

I could listen to your writing forever. Absolutely beautifully written and so true. It's great that you bring this topic to light, as some are not aware of what these warriors go through. Thank you Chris!

[@JXC25]

Gaining all the weight, for physical combat. It's incredible, and terrifying at the same time. Respect, but definitely brutality.

[@grantkinscherff5301]

seems like some "unavoidable danger" is avoidable if they make the platform larger or lower to the ground.

[@goldenagenut]

With the size weight of the rikishi and the raised platform, knee injuries are inevitable. I've seen some really scary examples of fighters falling and landing in very dangerous positions that could have resulted in critical head/ neck / back injuries as well. However this is considered an accepted risk by the competitors so I don't buck it. The problem however, as many have pointed out is the lack of on-site medical professionals and strict guidelines for injuries. It's more like an "Ah, get up and shake it off." attitude by the officials.

[@mjstc7893]

Guy in the back at 3:52 got dem jumbos

[@SCHATTENJGGER]

I was looking for this comment

[@bassvillain]

Changing the height of the dohyo would be a challenge, I think, but padding the outside edge like a climbing gym wouldn't affect any traditional measurements while surely minimizing injuries considerably. That being said, medical professionals on hand are essential in any sport, and especially so in high-impact ones like sumo.

[@SoylentGamer]

Other commenters have pointed out that they often do have medical staff on hand, however the staff is clearly managed different. In western sports, they'd be watching closely to be ready for action at a moment's notice. Here it seems like nobody is there at the ready and watching the action for potential injuries. Every injury seems to be met with people looking at each other like "Was that bad enough that we should get help? Or should we just ignore him?" Nobody is swooping in to check vital signs and reflexes.

[@geebeepman]

l agree with many older comments. there will always be risk of injuries in contact sports, its the first aid response and equipment that needs to be improved to save careers and lives. I also think the stage outside the dohyo circle should also be wider to prevent rikishis from falling down and risking further injuries that could've easily been avoidable because from several videos of sumo matches I've seen, rikishis falling down the raised stage is a fairly common occurrence.

[@Mike_Hunt_-_]

“ I agree with many older comments “ Bold statement my friend 😂

[@jerrysmith2461]

It’s incredible how every sumo wrestler looks the exact same 😭😂 their faces are all so similar

[@bneuhaus001]

with as hard as Deaisho has been pushing, if him and Shodai end up at the end, I dont know if Shodai could stop him with that ankle. as soon as he starts moving backwards, he starts to panic

[@firoza8994]

daiesho has been suceptible to lateral motion by his opponents at the edge, catching his arms and whatnot. that seems like something clearly within shodai's forte. if shodai somehow gets inside he wins though, we'll see!

[@4akaimalko]

In the good ol days there was no need for pads. The first rows were always packed, and the rikishi were falling onto the spectators. It was a win-win. It is a great honor to be squished by falling rikishi, and it also softens the landing.

[@maximoleon3110]

You just made my day sir, thank you

[@willstuart4504]

Every time I see two massive fighters engaged in a real tough battle, it reminds me of two big grizzly bears fighting for dominance.

[@klausreviewscraftrestore3152]

the way the ring is and the platform is so high there will always be injury's.

[@samuelveloso4448]

A única coisa que importa pra esses caras e o orgulho. Podem pensar oque quiser mas quando eles saem caminhando depois de se machucar mostra toda a honra que tem nesse esporte. Se vocês olharem pra oque tá acontecendo sem tentar entender o contexto da vida desses caras vocês não vão entender nada.

[@kamarotokakai]

Ter atendimento médico rápido não faz com que a honra diminua, a questão é preservar o atleta.

[@Rearmostbean]

The sport seems designed to injure people. Encourage overweight ⭕️ Elevated surface of play ⭕️ People right at the base of elevated surface ⭕️ Injury withdraw=demotion ⭕️ It is a contact sport, I know, and these are grown men, making their own choice. But as sumo fledges to maintain interest from youth, some changes to improve safety surely would help.

[@billyoldman9209]

It is said that sumo originally didn't have a ring and the goal was to throw the opponent, so push-sumo didn't exist. If the ring was made larger or taken away (which will probably never happen), wrestlers would have much less reason to reach insane bodyweights.

[@machinegunkaz6422]

On average their actually 26.2% body fat which is really interesting

[@Beos_Valrah]

@@billyoldman9209 What you describe really applies to Mongolian wrestling, also called "Bökh".

[@Chhipz]

Shodai's warpath to Hatsu redemption from 2020 would be my favorite storyline. Him or Terunofuji being the next Yokozuna would be awesome.

[@wraithstrongopark]

this was a tough one. i can't stand to see people getting hurt.

[@GaiusJuliusCaesarMasterOfRome]

Lol just kidding

[@lordot8665]

Why did you watch this then?

[@Boborick5]

Why would you watch something about a physical sport?

[@jsecretbroadcasts]

Hmm. Have you maybe tried sitting to see people getting hurt?

[@eaterofcrayons7991]

The size and elevation of the platform seem to be contributing to the severity of many of the injuries

[@Ktmfan450]

3:42 Those are some glorious moobs in the front row

[@ProvencaLeGaulois]

This is Bulgarian rikishi Aoiyama Kōsuke, he's quite loathed by the western sumo community for practicing a rough and unpleasant to watch kind of sumo. Look up Kotonowaka Masahiro for some glorious quadruple moops!

[@DanSFSD]

This is actually a really fun video for people interested in sports medicine. You will notice that many Sumo elders lose lots of weight when they retire compared to NFL players or heavyweight Freestyle Wrestlers or Boxers, one of the reasons why is not simply heart of lung health, but also to take some pressure off all of those knee, back, neck, etc. injuries. You’ll notice that many of the Sumo Elders who are still heavy did not have prolific injury profiles. Great video Oss!

[@Allan_Melon]

This showed up in my recommended, and I watched all of it, had no idea that sumo wrestlers can be so dangerous, I didn't know the platform was so high up, but the lack of response from injury after is horrible!

[@yousefk1293]

Any combat sport, these people are conscious the risks that they might not make it out. Anything can happen. Respect to their dedication 🙌🏼

[@fantasmakiller3507]

1:16 um abraço de antigos amigos pra matar a saudade é a coisa mais linda gente

[@ryuhanja3415]

I love how they have literally no padding as well as stairs around the arena!

[@shanevanorder2644]

This is more entertaining then anything in the Olympics

[@xLilPuddinTater]

No medical staff and the fights being on a raised platform is a recipe for disaster

[@Bess1201]

I do not agree. 1.If they argument that sumo is a dangerous sport (and yes, true), then there is no excuse that they do not have an emergency team at the ready at every time, like in pretty miuch EVERY other sport that is only half as dangerous as sumo. 2. Yes, sumo is dangerous but there is a difference between Rikishi generally having a risk of getting hurt more or less which can't be prevented, and not stopping a match immediately after a full (and dangerous!) knowckout like two days ago. It's very easy: the head judge should have a little whistle (or gong or whatever is Japanese enough) and if a Rikishi is knocked out and can't stand up by himslef then the match has to be stopped immediately as a rule. See, very easy to react to such things without totally relativating what happened two days ago - and that is what it sounds like here in this video. 3. Many accidents could be prevented by finally making the ring even to the ground instead of artificially hightening the danger by making Rikishi fall off from such height.

[@I3igI3oss1]

You can tell Tradition is getting in the way of safety and practicality of sumo wresting.

[@nomad1517]

It's such a unusual art. But once someone learns more about it, its very impressive.

[@theneonpython]

pretty absurd how they still dont have medical staff ready

[@TheMatt777]

This is Some Damn SERIOUS Sport right Here... These Guys are some BEASTS!

[@EskenRock]

I would NEVER want to be slapped by a sumo fighter. They are monsters.

[@Ace-Vincent-Arevalo]

heck, you would never want a sumo to do any kind of strike on you.

[@Frisbieinstein]

Don't worry. You'll get used to it. Maybe even get to like it.

[@LIONTAMER3D]

@@Frisbieinstein after a while, he'll be paying strangers off Craigslist to slap him =/

[@EskenRock]

@@Frisbieinstein 🤣🤣🤣

[@Tenchi707]

@@LIONTAMER3D men have weird fetishes

[@Thegamercat420]

Some pads outside of the ring. Would help prevent some injuries.

[@Lukemasonmedia]

Never thought about them getting injured but it makes sense in any physical sport that injuries will happen. The raised height of the dohyo is quite dangerous for no real reason

[@agonleed3841]

definitely a real reason. motivation to not lose. therefore harder fights. if everything is safe, they'll fight softer. knowing they ONLY have to worry about a pin or push. knowing they could fall and hurt themselves makes them fight with even more purpose

[@user-sj3fp2xq2m]

5:16 I don't watch too much sumo, but from what I've seen, this is the only time I saw someone pick up their opponent.

[@KarmaFlight]

It's the horrible way that they handle it afterwards that is the problem.

[@Amalvipls]

its extremely insulting to their honor to run to their aid after they have fallen its a cultural thing that clearly you don't understand, and I'm not saying that condescendinly as an insult

[@KarmaFlight]

Amalvipls how much time have you spent in Japan? Have we ever met?

[@Amalvipls]

@@KarmaFlight if you took it the wrong way that's your own problem get lost now, I have no further desire to talk anything with someone so rude

[@KarmaFlight]

Amalvipls go take your meds.

[@yoinkhaha]

The douhyo has got to remain high up... it adds sooo much urgency to the bout as being forced out means you take a spill off a precipice. It isn't just aesthetics. The poor onhand medical response to injuries is truly the embarrassment for sumo and it HAS to get better, and I think it will if Japanese sumo gains in international popularity. Otherwise, if you compare it to other martial arts organization, especially other forms of prize fighting, it's relatively respectful. The guys all understand the health risks involved as does anyone who watches one day of matches.

[@Netherlands031]

isn't losing the match enough urgency?

[@yoinkhaha]

​@@Netherlands031 That's a really interesting question. I can't help but think: Why does Dwight Howard shoot 80% free throws in practice but 57% in NBA games? My point there is just: the "stage" matters. The externals definitely have an effect on the sport..

[@andrewchesler2029]

DO there exist statistics about those injuries? Would be interesting.

[@juniorjulio8723]

Parabéns aos guerreiros são realmente muito fortes 👏👏👏👏

[@vlada]

5:21 the move is a basic judo 'o uchi gari' that kids are taught... it's not even remotely a leglock and not really dangerous when compared to hip and shoulder throws or even foot sweeps as you end up simply falling on your ass (compared to the other more impactful throws). This is one of the moves that beginners/kids appreciate more when they start than other foot sweeps because the fall isn't as scary so it was kind of weird to see highlighted.

[@Beos_Valrah]

Yeah, I think you are right

[@Doggieman1111]

Why does everyone always look so bewildered when someone gets injured? I've never seen such cluelessness on so many faces, even though it happens all the time.

[@Ligmamonkey]

They don't care about people getting injured, so they don't prepare and are therefore confused.

[@sailorgabbie]

This isn't about the fact that sumo is dangerous. We all know it is. This is about how injury is managed- and the JSA gets a big, fat "F" for their failure to have any sort of coherent plan.

[@noelhutchins7366]

In the first second, was a well practiced modified Karate-Chop, a straight armed clutching-finger-strike to the vegas-nerve; it was so subtle and perfectly executed, I had to comment because I'm certain nobody caught what happened themselves.

[@carlosguvetis9347]

It’s not the injury that people protest, it’s the lack of medical care when there is an injury. Rikishi lay on the clay for a long time with no medical personnel rushing to help him. Then after a rikishi is injured and has to take time off they lose their rank as they recover.

[@sry4gotmyusername]

What concerns me in the case of Churanoumi is that it seems like he hit his head on Hakuyozan's knee/thigh which is what seems to have caused the concussion. Idk why Hakuyozan didn't scoot out of the way or at least try to break Churanoumi's fall a little bit. Its not the first time I see him on the sidelines when a rikishi is sent flying dangerously close to him and he does nothing.

[@garyanddoris6022]

These guys need to have some kind of medical attention at ring side , that would be only fair these guys go all.out to put on a great show so they deserve to be treated great ......

[@Beos_Valrah]

Exactly

[@WhatAboutTheBee]

2:32 Right Cross to the jaw. Sure, not a closed fist, but nearly the same with the heel of the palm of his hand. Knockout type blow in boxing, and clearly had simar effect here. Concussive? Yes.

[@jjavodelb]

Legal

[@dirtyshirtinfo]

That first body slam….dude was out cold. Legs stiff and elevated, toes curled, his operating system was rebooting.

[@MrMaKeMeDiNnEr]

I have a suggestion. Maybe make the arena same level as the ground so fighters dont fall off 1 meter high on their heads

[@sailemartini5902]

Sumo is one of the oldest sports that has kept its tradition the longest that I know. It doesn’t need nor want to be a ‘world class sport’, these wrestlers know what they are getting into with this sport. You know what it’s not just a sport, it’s a god damn lifestyle. So kudos to every guy who lives for the sumo.

[@F.J._Claes]

Looks fun! I want to watch it live.

[@Nithavela]

It's not only the lack of preparedness for wrestler injuries that is a problem, but also the lack of preparedness for emergencies in the audience. Sumo draws thousands of people, many of which are older. What difference would it make if there were trained paramedics on hand if one of the spectators got injured from a rikishi falling on them, having a bad fall or even a stroke or heart attack. Sumo must get trained paramedics on call that come out when a wrestler is visibly injured. It also needs a stretcher that can support the wrestlers weight, because in many cases having the wrestler get into a wheelchair is too dangerous. And it needs to have enough room around the Dohyo that the paramedics can work and the stretcher and wheelchair can be moved next to the injured wrestler.

[@Ligmamonkey]

That would cost money, they are fine with people dying if it saves a bit if cash.

[@marty7435]

If you don't want to get hurt don't do it..........don't try to change or stop other people who want to take the risk........

[@skyedog24]

A lot of the injuries could be by bringing it down to ground level. And the heart attacks could be avoided by not overeating so much. You wanted answers there are the two biggest.

[@JboyAAA]

Ouchigari is fine, that throw by hoshoryu isn’t going to reinsure the knee. A lot of the rest of this is very scary, agreed in general. That head injury is absolutely terrifying.

[@FCL70]

Right now, one must favor Daieisho. He's already beaten the entire sanyaku, whereas Shodai has Teru tomorrow and almost assuredly Asanoyama on Sunday.

[@FirstnameLastname-yc2mt]

Who won???

[@kasmo_adRojo]

Sometimes it's just best to mind our business and hope they realize it on their own, I'm sure there's a reason for this, maybe fighters want it like that or whatever.

[@HasanAhmed-ex6jv]

1 hour in the gym and 23 at the food table but the most amazing thing is that after all that they still have room for one thing, the classic heart attack

[@UrbanRonin35]

Is the striking that i observed @ churanoimi vs takegenji, 2 minutes and 10 seconds legal in sumo? Anyone have an answer? thanks!

[@ziapsp4167]

New to your channel. Great content. Always admired the sport and was aware of the athleticism involved but not the injuries. Make senses when Giants wrestle these things happen.

[@DakarBlues]

And the refined elegance of the referee’s attire ❤️

[@taigaboi]

I dont think they should change anything. I love how well preserved the tradition of sumo is. Even the referees uses the samurai kimono that dates back 1000 years ago. This is sumo and everyone knows the dangers it holds.

[@potzysk2]

Lowering the dohyo 8 inches (20 cm) would hardly be noticed by the spectators, but would make the falls a lot less dangerous. Tomokaze might be an Ozeki by now.

[@2themoon863]

Or down to the level of the first step? What about widening the platform (more area)?

[@tanngrisnr5076]

the lack of ringside doctors or even padding is so strange.

[@cybergothika6906]

Every fighting in any culture has risk of injury. When we get to it, we're well aware of the risks. Passion speaks louder, call that human nature and go opinion but it just makes it more rewarding.

[@ChiakiNanami736]

I’ve been watching sumo since the March 2017 basho and injures are STILL hard for me to watch 😓😓😓 How hard would it be for the NSK to have medical staff, especially in Tokyo? I get it would be harder on jungyo, but still.

[@Ligmamonkey]

They don't care about safety and human life, they care about money.

[@rafael9910]

Isso nunca foi um espetáculo. Sempre foi força e coragem

[@rockedthecrapout]

They'll cut the injuries in half by just bringing the ring down to floor level.

[@47imcoming]

5:15 that was honour and sportsmanship and is very rarely seen

[@Watchdog_McCoy_5.7x28]

Top 5 dangers for Sumo wrestlers 1. High blood pressure 2. Diabetes 3. Heart attack 4. Stroke 5. Slim Fast

[@sam-yh5rl]

The way that takagenji threw churanoumi down was strange, it looked like he was trying to hurt him

[@OLJeffo]

Churanoumi was probably out on his feet after that last slap, Takagenji was just pushing against dead weight. Hard to control the take down at that point.

[@Ganbarizer]

Yeah, that was my first impression. First it was that VERY hard slap which clearly dazed the hell out of him and then the way in which he threw him down with such force afterwards. Takagenji and his brother are known to be bullies and I think his bully side came out in this match. He looked pretty angry in there and then didn’t seem to show any care that his opponent was very injured. Just stood there calmly waiting for his name to be called.

[@reitak18]

On tv it looks like he hits the back of his head on Hakuyozan’s knee when he falls,

[@MrGrimm1911]

It not visible from this angle, but when Churanoumi fell the back of his head landed directly on Hakuyozan's knee. It was more probably that that stunned him, especially the way he was pointing at his head/neck area once they got him on his feet.

[@Ale-mv3gr]

Man, how do you modernize grand sumo without losing its role in japanese society? Rikishi are truly outstandig men.

[@calamorta]

New to this, but I've seen people say that technically, it's not a true sport (considering all its religious rituals and so on), so it's hard to propose changes. But to begin with, the "ring" shouldn't be that tall from the floor and it shouldn't make getting taken down feel like hitting a rock solid surface. The current dohyo doesn't bring any advantage to the wrestlers, only unnecessary risk of injuries, but it's "sacred" so not changing it. I've also read a couple of years ago that women can't get near the dohyo even if it's to provide medical aid to someone. Should I say anything else? These two aspects could be changed without "losing its role in Japanese society", that's for sure, but I don't think it will happen. There are probably a few other traditions that are "holding it back", while others don't affect performance so shouldn't be changed at all.

[@Frisbieinstein]

@@calamorta A mayor had a heart attack while doing a sumo ceremony. A woman doctor rushed to his aid, later to be critisized for touching the dohyo.

[@zambimaru]

I'd say the most dangerous part of the sport is falling out of the ring.

[@redstaplerguyforlifepastpr5763]

Yeah...and when that happens, it really is a case for the bigger they are the harder they fall type of thing haha, ...; that's not how it usually is real life combat , but it's fascinating, to see that aspect of it being shown in a way fr, even if it is hilarious half the time haha.

[@pmc8451]

In terms of combat sports Sumo has a relatively low rate of injuries and less serious injuries. Most Sumo injuries are common injuries with people of that size whether they’re fighting or not, joint problems, back problems, arthritis etc. I’m not aware of there being any concussion data on Sumo but it’s obviously going to be less than boxing, MMA and probably even American Football. They get hit in the head with force a lot less frequently than all of those sports. In some bouts, yes they do receive numerous hard thrusts to the head but the bouts in Sumo rarely last longer than a miinute or two and most bouts don’t include a lot of strong thrusts to the head.

[@mcuniboob]

why dont they just put like a 2 metres of padding around the outside of the ring, therefore you can keep the symbolism without the risk of serious injury

[@miguellemsev2006]

Its simple just put protecion around the stage.....

[@alexcarter8807]

I've ridden my dirt bike in Hawaii on trails that are hard mud, and at the time, to me at least, the falls were pretty minor. A little less soft than falling on grass, but nothing at all like falling on concrete. And that mud was at least as hard as the mud the sumo ring's made of maybe a bit harder. Also keep in mind these guys wrestle and fall every day in their home rings.

[@TribuneAquila]

Im guessing youre wearing padding if unintentinally in your clothes, and two keep in mind your wieght, most of these guys are around 300 lbs

[@Tenchi707]

Why can't you see it from the sumos perspective? It always has to be about YOU 🤦‍♂

[@jazhussain128]

0:26 thank me later 😂

[@milesg7877]

The pride and tradition of this sport goes too far if you will not help the injured

[@inquisitive_stranger]

The lack of help for the wrestlers during injuries is just terrible....