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Sumou is the Japanese National Art.

It has two sides, and it can be understood in two ways - as a Sport and as a Way.

As a Sport, Sumou has developed and changed for hundreds of years. The first mention of Sumou is in Kojiki, which describes a legendary Sumou bout between two Gods.

However Sumou back then was basically a deadly combat, just pure fighting, it wasn't Sumou as is understood today.

Throughout the centuries it has evolved, passing through stages where it was utilized by Samurai as a fighting combat art, entertainment for the Emperor and for the crowds, and finally molded itself into a sport.

But it's more than that.

Sumou is the other side of Sumoudou. It encompasses Sumoudou, including Keiko, and the competitive side Shoubu.

Sumoudou is the philosophical, ethical foundation, a teaching about the Way of Life, how you should live, Sumou is the practial means, how this noble end is accomplished, via Keiko and fighting in contests - the sports side of the philosophical idea - Sumou.

The sports side of Sumou is Oozumou - professional Sumou, and Amateur Sumou.

相撲事典 Sumou Encyclopedia