Results tagged “sumowrestling”

We don't know about you, but we kind of love Sumo Wrestling, and we're excited to see that the ancient Japanese sport based around two fat guys trying to push each other out of a ring seems to be gaining popularity here in America. The latest sign of this growing appreciation is Saturday's Battle of the Giants event at the Wachovia Center. It'll be a round robin tournament consisting of 31 matches between wrestlers from all over the world. Competitors will face-off against each other to the sounds of Taiko drum music, and the audience will also be treated to "a theatrical Cirque de Soleil style spectacular representing the mythological origins of sumo." Sounds awesome! Sure, the TV commercials for this event make it look like a cross between professional wrestling and a monster truck rally, but how could it be so corny when it's sanctioned by the Japanese-based world governing body for Sumo - the International Sumo Federation - and will be conducted according to traditional Japanese Sumo rules and judged by licensed officials? We expect it will be a serious competition, and quite a thrilling spectacle.

What's interesting on TV this week.

We all know Philly is a sports town, so much so that sports couldn't even be left out of our celebration of the Cherry Blossom Festival (3/25-4/10). "But what sport has anything to do with cherry blossoms?" you ask. Well, you've probably already guessed from the picture over there, but...it's the ancient Japanese sport of sumo wrestling, of course! Phillyist has always been fascinated by this ritualized competition of large men trying to push each other out of a ring, so we were excited to hear about the Festival event at the International House, wherein the United States Sumo Federation will explain the sport, give a demonstration, and then invite audience members to come up and try it themselves! The event description says "sumo wrestling isn't just for huge men with good hairstyles and massive thighs and bellies," so we suppose even lightweights, females, and people having a bad hair day can give it a try. Awesome.