Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Day 2


Thank you Demonoid. I get to watch right from day 2 of the Osaka Tournament, the March Basho or Sumo tournament. I loves me some Sumo. The place is packed, English coverage and the big boys causing tsunamis every time the clash. Life is good in the Cave.

I caught the bug while teaching the grade 7 unit of Japan. We were connected with a classroom in Japan and while our kids talked about hockey and curling their kids were all into Sumo wrestling. It's an ancient sport based on speed, strength and tradition.

I probably know more Japanese words related to that sport than anything else. Won't help me stranded in the country but I am sure I could find my way to the training stable and then the wrestlers would help me. They are noble and kind. 13 sweet days to go.

5 comments:

TS Hendrik said...

Not trying to sound rude about it, but what makes it fun? I've never seen a match outside of comedic parody, but it just seems like two big guys trying to push each other out of circle.

I'm not slamming the sport, despite how that sounded, I'm actually curious. Since you were drawn to it, what is it that holds one's attention?

Cal's Canadian Cave of Coolness said...

The tradition. How it has remained unchanged for a thousand years. How only in the past twenty years have you had a foreign born grand champion. I mostly followed his fortunes from lowly competitor to his rise up the ranks. It's something that is very Japanese, iconically Japanese.

meheart said...

Do these guys sweat? They never look like they are sweating. Isn’t this sort of like two guys doing the macho man handshake only bigger and with hugging? Sweating would make it more fun.

Cal's Canadian Cave of Coolness said...

You are a sick sick girl meheart. I like it.

California Keys said...

Have you ever read Freakonomics? Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner make a really interesting comparison of sumo wrestling and teaching....

I think you'd like it....