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Let me just say that sumo wrestling is Awesome. I never thought I would be calling a ritualized, flesh-abundant, jiggly exhibition of male wrestling awesome, but it’s just so true. The sumo wrestling part isn’t as enthralling as the whole day’s events I’d say. It’s a little hard to get excited about a 30-second match, especially when you don’t know much or anything about either of the wrestlers challenging each other. Of course, I’m not what anyone would call ‘knowledgeable’ or very ‘aware’ of the sport that is sumo, so don’t take my word for it. We were, after all, betting on the winner via groin-cloth color. I must say though, some of those sumo wrestlers had a good eye for color.

So, since the wrestling match lasts for about 30 seconds, for the rest of the time those sumo wrestlers are really just ‘hanging out’. They wandered around the venue’s grounds freely, buying food from vendors (translates to happy vendors), using the restrooms that the audience used (you ever think of how the they go to the restroom and then redress themselves?), and just watching the other wrestlers. They’d get ready in the arena too and let me emphasize, there is nothing like seeing a sumo wrestler in sumo-loin-cloth doing the splits with his stomach to the floor. They’re more flexible than you might think.

In the spirit of any good sporting event, there was a lot of drinking involved. Considering it was an almost day-long event (8am-3pm), you can bet we were pretty drunk by the end there. I really didn’t think I’d be reliving the early morning cocktails that dotted W&M’s campus (hello blowout and KD golf), but you know, when in Rome, something something. Actually the drinking was more a necessity rather than an option--I’d like to see you handle seeing that much flesh sober at 10 in the morning.

Equally awesome was the part of the tournament that allowed tiny elementary school boys to try and wrestle one of the sumo wrestlers. Mind you, they challenged them one at a time, not all at once. It was probably the most absurd and adorable thing I’ve seen in a long while.

The sumo wrestlers didn’t stick around after it was over really, that was a bit disappointing. It might have been for the best, though.

Young foreign dudes + copious amounts of alcohol + sumo wrester = bad idea.