2019 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Martins Licis continues traversing across the East, exploring ancient strength traditions. While in Japan, he lifted enormous stones at various temples. On Dec. 3, 2023, he shared a video on his YouTube channel that documented his life as a sumo wrestler. Licis’ foray into sumo spanned three days and can be seen below:
[Related: SBD World’s Strongest Man Is Returning to Myrtle Beach, SC, in May 2024]
History of Sumo Wrestling
Sumo wrestling began 2,000 years ago as a religious Shinto ritual. The act of sumo was to “entertain the Divine and secure a bountiful harvest,” according to Licis. Samurai warriors adopted the martial art. Through the Japanese aristocracy, sumo became a national sport with a specific ranking system and prestige bestowed unto its victors. The name given to sumo wrestlers, Rikishi, translates to “strength man.”
Once Licis was granted access to a sumo wrestling practice, he commented on how similar it is to a Strongman workout. The wrestlers push their opponent with maximum intensity and then rest. After witnessing sumo training and bonding with the wrestlers, Licis saw the annual tournament that featured many of the best sumo wrestlers in the world.
Day One
Licis donned the mawashi, the silk belt of sumo wrestlers, to begin his two-day stint as a sumo trainee. He opened with bodyweight squats with a stomp on each foot interspersed with planks and push-ups for an hour. Afterward, Licis performed a balancing exercise comprised of shuffling forward in a deep squat across the ring. Licis and his fellow sumo wrestlers shuffled side to side to mimic the motions of a typical sumo match.
Once the warm-up was complete, Licis wrestled in the sumo ring for the first time. He was pushed out swiftly in his first match — pain radiated from his neck down to his arms from whiplash. However, he scored a win in his second bout with renewed aggression.
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[Related: 2023 Official Strongman Games Results]
The Sumo Wrestling Lifestyle
After training, Licis showered, got his hair done in the style of a traditional sumo wrestler, and dined with his fellow sumo athletes. They eat twice a day. Both meals are massive. During the meal, Licis learned that the sumo athletes stay on their training campus — a “stable” — for anywhere from two to 14 years. Depending on a sumo wrestler’s rank, they can remain with the other fighters for years. If one of them achieves a high enough rank, they are compelled to find a place to live on their own.
Most sumo wrestlers are afforded a monthly stipend while training. Their stipend, in yen, is commensurate with their rank. The Sekitori, one of the uppermost rankings possible, have attendants who live with them to perform daily tasks for the wrestlers, including housekeeping. However, the money and services are not guaranteed if a wrestler loses their rank — many will quit if they fall below the rank of Juryo.
Day Two
The second training day brought another hour-long warm-up of stomping squats, push-ups, and planks. Licis developed more strategic movements in the sumo ring, winning a handful of matchups. However, he caveated that the wrestlers in this stable were the “greenest of the green,” with many of them too young to legally drink alcohol. To Licis, it was still not an easy challenge, and wrestling an athlete with a higher ranking seemed daunting.
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Licis voiced his respect for professional sumo wrestlers. If one achieves the highest rank — Yokozuna — they are “adored beyond imagination and even regarded as a deity.” Even those who fall shy of that special ranking are given decent salaries and can choose where to live and carry out their wrestling careers.
Licis will return to competitive strongman at the 2024 Arnold Strongman Classic on March 1-2, 2024, in Columbus, OH. He will attempt to reclaim the title he won in 2022 but did not attempt to defend in 2023.
Featured image: @martinslicis on Instagram
