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World Sumo League 2006 Mega Tour Sumo Wrestling Mystique And Spirtuality Dates Back Over 1500 Years
The World Sumo League 2006 Mega Tour will hit Tampa June 12, 2006, with 24 world class heavy weight sumo competitors. Champion sumo wrestlers from multiple nations of the world will test their athletic skills against each other in the confines of the traditional dohyo. When the large sumo wrestlers sprinkle the salt, stomp their feet and exchange intimidating positions to begin the bout, one gets to watch one of the most entertaining sights in the world of sport!
Big Boy Productions, LLC. has formed the World Sumo League (WSL), a worldwide sports organization that will promote professional Sumo matches at first-class venues in countries all over the world. "Sumo has been the fastest growing sport in countries worldwide over the past decade," said President and CEO Noah Goldman. "World-class International sumo is a global phenomenon and there are professional Sumo organizations in more than 80 countries. Because of this growing international appeal, the sport may be added to the Olympics, possibly as early as the 2012 Summer Games." Chairman and COO Jeffrey Daniels stated, "Sumo wrestlers are amazing athletes who combine power, speed and agility steeped in ancient tradition and spirituality. Big Boy is committed to keeping all the tradition and excitement of the sport alive and creates a recognizable brand which will further enhance the
popularity of Sumo worldwide."
Sumo wrestling is one of the oldest forms of martial arts and Japan's national sport. The most notable feature of the sport is the size of the athletes, ranging from 200 to 600 pounds. Sumo opponents battle barefoot and wear a mawashi, a traditional loin cover. The object is to throw your opponent outside an 18-foot ring, called a dohyo, or knock him to the ground. Wrestlers use many moves, including the oshi-dashi, or push, to drive an opponent backward, and the tzuki-dashi, or slap, to upset an
opponent's balance. A typical Sumo match lasts less than one-minute; if a bout goes as long as three-minutes, there is a short pause after which the combatants go at each other again. In addition to fierce aggression, Sumo is a sport with solemn traditions, including a pre-fight ritual where opponents squat facing each other and open their hands to show they have no weapons.
An ancient sport, Sumo dates back more than 1,500 years. According to Japanese lore, the very origin of the Japanese race sprang from the outcome of a Sumo match. Early sumo was far different from the sport practiced today. The matches were rough-and-tumble affairs that combined elements of boxing and wrestling with few or no holds barred. Under the patronage and support of the Imperial Court, however, rules were formulated and techniques created and developed, resulting in the form of sumo practiced today.
Although the World Sumo League contains all the spirituality and mystique inherent in traditional Sumo wrestling, it is punctuated by special effects as well as live music provided by Taikoza, a thunderous percussion group that features taiko drums - large barrel-like drums that produce a magnificent sound -- creating a visual and audio treat for spectators. The matches will be conducted under traditional Japanese
sumo rules with internationally approved officials from around the world overseeing the event.
World Sumo League 2006 Tour is scheduled one event on June 12, 2006 at 7:00 pm. Tickets for this event are on sale now at the McDonald's Box Office at the St. Pete Times Forum and all Ticketmaster Outlets including Spec's Music and FYE. To order tickets by phone, call Ticketmaster at (813) 287-8844 or (727) 898-2100. Tickets are priced at $46.75, $36.75 and $26.75. A limited number of floor and ringside seats are available for $101.75 and $66.75. Prices do not include service
charges. For more information please call (813) 301-2500 or visit stpetetimesforum.com.
For dinner reservations at Medallions Restaurant on the night of the event please call (813) 301-6926.
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