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Dohyo

What is Dohyo?

A "dohyo" is the ring or platform where sumo wrestling matches take place. It is typically made of a special kind of clay and covered with a layer of sand. The dohyo is circular and has a diameter of about 4.55 meters (approximately 15 feet). The boundaries of the ring are marked by rice-straw bales that are buried in the clay. The dohyo is considered a sacred space, and various rituals are performed to purify it before matches. Sumo wrestlers, or rikishi, compete within this ring, and the objective is to force the opponent out of the ring or to make any part of their body other than the soles of their feet touch the ground.

Related Article: Sumo Wrestling: The Traditional Japanese Combat Sport

When you train, you should train as if on the battlefield. Make your eyes glare, lower your shoulders and harden your body. If you train with the same intensity and spirit as though you are striking and blocking against an actual opponent, you will naturally develop the same attitude as on a battlefield
Anko Itosu

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