New to Sumo?
Two minutes of rules is all you need to enjoy a night of sumo. Here is how it works, and what the Sumo Championship League does differently.
How you win a bout
Two wrestlers meet in a circular ring called the dohyo. You win by forcing your opponent out of the ring, or by making any part of his body other than the soles of his feet touch the ground. Most bouts last seconds. There are no rounds, no scoring judges, and no draws: someone goes out or goes down.
What is not allowed
Traditional sumo bans punching with a closed fist, hair pulling, eye gouging, choking, and striking the ears or groin. Slaps with an open hand, throws, trips, and lifting your opponent out of the ring are all legal. We will document SCL's exact ruleset as the league publishes it.
How SCL events work
Per the league's announcements: each event features 12 wrestlers. Everyone fights everyone in a full round robin, the top 6 advance to a second round robin, and the top 4 settle it in a knockout bracket. Wrestlers earn league points by finishing position, and points accumulate across the season toward the SCL Annual Championship in late 2027. Every wrestler receives a $1,000 appearance fee; the event purse is $15,000, with $10,000 to the winner.
No weight classes
This is the part that surprises people. The field in Season One runs from 185 to 450 lbs, and anyone can draw anyone. Size is a weapon, but leverage, speed and technique beat mass often enough to keep it interesting. See the weights page for the full field.
Five words you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Dohyo | The ring itself |
| Rikishi | A sumo wrestler |
| Mawashi | The belt: gripping it is central to most technique |
| Tachiai | The initial charge that opens a bout |
| Kimarite | The winning technique that ends a bout |
Ready to pick a favorite? Start with the pre-season seed ratings or browse all 46 athletes.