How to compete?

[Raiden]

Hello,

I am a grappler who would like to compete in sumo. How does one do that in Canada?

Also, is there Canadian Nationals?

As a Canadian sumo wreslter in the light weight class, how would I qualify for the World Championships? What route do I have to take in terms of qualifying tournaments?

Do I have to win the Nationals, then place in the top 2 in my weight class at the North Americans or something like that?

Thanks for any help you guys can give me! I appreciate it!

[Sasanishiki]

I'll try to answer the questions from what I know.

Firstly, each national sumo federation decides how it chooses its athletes and the criteria for selection. As long as that national sumo federation is acknowledged by the International Sumo Federation and pays membership fees for that year then an athlete can compete. there needs to be paperwork filled out for the competition and that usually has to be done by a deadline about 6-8 weeks before the Sumo World Championships each year.

Now, regarding Canadian sumo, the team used to be active and has attended the Sumo World Champs many years ago. After that Canadian athletes competed in teh North American Champs. However, I think that tournament has withered in more recent years as the US is the only active country and they focus more on running their nationals (because there was not much uptake from others). The only thing that I have found for Canada was the Ronin club, attached to a judo and martial arts club. I'd suggest googling that and then trying the contact details to see if anyone is still active or knows who is running Canadian sumo. The other alternative might be contacting the Americans and seeing if they have any current contacts. If the organisation in Canada has fallen over through neglect it might be a case of starting it up again so that you are able to compete.

Good luck with your endeavours and feel free to ask more.

[Harry]

Ronin still does some sumo:

http://www.roninjudo.com/Practice_times.html

7pm Thursday nights in Toronto

Looks out of date:

http://www.geocities.com/sumoronin/

[Raiden]

Thanks guys!

Yeah, I found that Ronin website myself, but it looked pretty out of date. Like 5 years out of date. But that schedule you attached was from this week, so it looks like there is still Sumo going on. Not sure about competitions though.

I'll call them none the less and figure out how I go about qualifying.

How do wrestlers in the US qualify? Do they have to be National champions?

[Sasanishiki]

How do wrestlers in the US qualify? Do they have to be National champions?

They are the current national champions. If anyone wins two grades (for example the heavyweight and open weight) then the next best finisher is the representative.

[JAB]

Is there one National Championship in the US? Where is it?

Also how soon do they announce the world championships? I know this years was just in Estonia, where is next years?

Thanks

Jake

[aderechelsea]

I know this years was just in Estonia, where is next years?

Thanks

Jake

Egypt

[JAB]

Wow! Thanks.

Jake