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Our Program

SumoKids is inclusive!

SumoKids is not just a sports program. It works with all of the diverse talents of its local participants and builds a festival. There are places for wrestlers, artists, singers, dancers, reporters, judges, musicians and much more.

SumoKids does not exclude students with disabilities. There are almost no physical or academic reasons to prevent young people from participating in the program and the festival.

SumoKids is Fun!

SumoKids keeps participants engaged by keeping the program fun. As our pre pilot demonstrated, this is a very powerful way to provide education.

Full programs run for a full academic year. We also can deliver elements of the program as SumoKids one-day clinics. We can create an athletic clinic, an arts clinic, and so on.

The Program:

Sport:

A modern version of the traditional Japanese sport, SumoKids is fun as well as educational. While enjoying the program, young people will learn the sport's ancient history and the code of honor and respect that is at the core of Sumo's philosophy.

Battle of the Spirit:

Artistic and athletic talents combine their talents build a festival to showcase and celebrate their work.

Education:

In our pilot program, students wished to learn more about sumo. We have answered this need by providing a personally mentored distance learning course. This allows us to reach each student individually and help troubled students in a way that meets their needs and concerns.

Festival:

We demonstrate all of the students' skills and talents at the festival. Although students may compete for points, it will not necessarily be in head to head competition.

By this time, participants will show that they have learned to win with courtesy and lose with dignity. They will show honor to each other as a reflection of the skills they have learned.

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Our Program

A Typical School or Community Center Program

All students participate in the Sumo Rituals. Each session starts with an opening ceremony, followed by stretching exercises and sumo drills. The session ends with a closing ceremony.

The SumoKids training program focuses on balancing the subconscious and conscious minds of young people. The training station drills reach and maintain that balance by getting the subconscious and conscious minds to work together. The training drills stress relaxation while focusing on a task.

From the training station drills, participants will learn the three important lessons:

1. The physical fundamentals of Sumo.
2. How to win with courtesy and to lose with dignity and grace.
3. How to control their emotions and actions and how to show the same degree of politeness in SumoKids and their daily lives.

As they go through the training station drills, young people will develop the rhythm and techniques that are essential to each station. These drills have a profound effect on their growth and progress.

One of the most effective skills one can have in life is the ability to set goals effectively. Through the reinforcement of the drills and the distance learning course, students learn to develop their goal setting skills.

Once the participants become familiar with the drills, they break up into talent areas. While the athletes continue to hone their sumo skills, the arts students begin to craft theirs in the spirit of sumo. With staff guidance, these students begin to design a festival for the program that will reflect their local culture as well as the sumo culture.

Late in the program, when the skills are set and practiced, the students begin rehearsing for the festival. They are lead through the event format a number of times, including a full dress rehearsal before the big day.

The festival is awash with culture, drama and color. Although excited to show off their hard work, the SumoKids students participate in the festival with the control and respect that they've learned from the program.

The event begins with the teams entering the venue. Each team has their own music. As they parade around the sumo ring, they dance, wave banners and show their team spirit.

The teams then gather around the ring and begin the opening ceremony. Jican! Jican! Jican! Now is the time!

All participants loosen up with stretching and then depart, leaving the athletic team. We demonstrate several bouts and the kids gain points by effort and temperament.

Then the athletes march off and the battle of the spirit begins. In turn, the various talents demonstrate their skills within a SumoKids environment. The kids also can earn points during these demonstrations.

Throughout the festival, the kids show one-another dignity and respect.

Then it is time for the closing ceremony.

The SumoKids have had fun while learning. They've learned about sumo and expanded their own talents. They have shown their families and friend what we have all gained from the process.

Throughout the program, coaches and mentors are available on line. Standings, reports and pictures will be on the website http://www.sumokidsfoundation.org

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News

Marathon Runners to Support SumoKids

April 2010

Help support two Marathon Runners as the run to support SumoKids....
Find out more.   

SumoKids Foundation Receives 501 (c) (3) Tax Exempt Status

January 2006

Children's program begins fundraising after being certified by the....
Find out more.   

SumoKids is coming to Canada!

April 2005

The SumoKids Foundation announced the official Canadian launch of SumoKids...
Find out more.

First SumoKids Festival

June 2005

There was art. There was dancing and, of course, there was sumo wrestling!
Find out more.