Hi Kiddo. Sorry. With winter coming on and the nights are getting cold and not being able to sleep in the back of my Escape like I could with the Explorer I’m going to have to pass. That plus the fact that the fat boys are wrestling and I love to watch them make their own little quakes when they hit the floor.

Sumo has its roots in the Shinto religion. The matches were dedicated to the gods in prayers for a good harvest. The oldest written records date back to the 8th century. But it is probably more than 1500 years old.

Sumo prints from the 18th and 19th century prove the popularity of the sport in the past. During the last two decades the art of sumo wrestling could establish itself even outside of Japan. Akebono, an American born in Hawaii, became the first American champion to reach the highest rank.

A sumo wrestling match is accompanied by a lot of traditional ceremony. The marching-in of the wrestlers is a sequence of formal rituals. Two assistants accompany the wrestlers - one walking in front and one behind him - the one behind is usually hard to spot. It’s not like he is small, but that the sumo is so much bigger.

The referee is clad in a luxurious kimono and wears a strange hat. Some of the kimonos are the envy of women. After performing a series of opening rituals, the contest begins. Most of the time it begins with a crash of human flesh, head to head, belly to belly.

The wrestling match is all about pushing or throwing the opponent out of the doyo - the ring - or to bring the other guy down on the floor.

Sumo does not know any weight categories. I would sure hate to have one fall on me. There are a few basic techniques - from pulling the opponents legs to grabbing his belt and trying to throw or carry the opponent out of the ring.

Sumo is very popular in Japan. Last year when they had a strong quake in the area, which shook the building no one blinked. I’m not sure if anyone even felt the quake, but you could see the little house above the ring swinging back and forth. They went on with the match as if nothing happened.

Anyway most likely the quake won’t occur. When I get there the “earthquake god” will say here is that person who takes that weird lady all over the country so she can feel a quake. I’ll be darned if I’m going to accommodate him. I’ll just wait until he’s gone then I’ll pop one. Take Care…Cowboy