TORRANCE, Calif. — Sumo wrestling is a culturally important practice with much more to it than meets the eye. In Japan, only men practice the sport professionally, but at the international level, the sport attracts people of all ages, genders and sizes.

Jenni Crook, a nurse, and mother of three, was inspired to try out sumo wrestling after her son, Josh, picked up the sport four years ago. Now, the mother and son duo train together regularly at the Yamamoto Sumo Dojo in Torrance.

“People are familiar with a lot of different sports and martial arts similar to sumo. Different things like freestyle wrestling or judo. Sumo, more than most, focuses on the footwork, the legwork, staying low, keeping a certain position... Reflexes are super important, because if you take one wrong step, even a few inches, you’re going to go out of the ring. When people come and try a practice, they find out that Sumo is actually an incredible workout,” said Andrew Freund, Director of USA Sumo.

Jenni Crook explained how she got into sumo after watching her son’s competitions.

“I realized it wasn’t just big men bumping bellies. There’s so much strategy and technique. And after the third competition, I realized there’s women out there. And I thought, ‘I want to play. I don’t want to just sit and watch anymore.’ I wanted to try it,” Jenni shared.

Josh Crook said it has never been awkward to share the sport with his mother. When she asked him if she could participate too, he didn’t hesitate.

“I was a little worried, though, just because she can be prone to injury. Sometimes I think about it without the sumo mindset some time and I’m like, ‘I’m like slapping her and she’s hitting me.’ That’s kind of weird for a mother-son dynamic, but it doesn’t feel weird at all in the ring or after,” Josh said.  

Freund brings sumo champions from Japan and Mongolia to the Yamamoto Sumo Dojo to help train his students. 

The Yamamoto Sumo Dojo hosts training sessions every Sunday. Visit USASumo.com for the latest training schedules and to learn more about sumo culture.

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