About / Austin, Texas · Est. 2019
Dark Circle Sumo
Austin’s competitive sumo team and home to Team USA athletes. We train every Sunday, host IFS-sanctioned tournaments, and welcome every size, every gender and every level of experience.
Always moving forward
Our approach
Keiko is the word many Japanese martial arts use for training. Ours is built on traditional sumo spirit, technique and form, adapted for the international game.
Sumo (相撲) means “striking one another.” A rikishi wins by forcing the opponent out of the dohyō, or making them touch the ground with anything other than the soles of their feet.
Born in Japan, sumo is now a world sport, with top athletes from Ukraine, Mongolia, Egypt and beyond.
We build on the 82 kimarite (winning techniques), cross-train with judo and wrestling seminars, and prepare serious athletes to compete nationally and internationally.
Your first practice
Two hours, every Sunday. Here’s how the time is spent.
Minutes per block. Arrive on time and stretch: late arrivals do 100 shiko before matches. Skipping the warm-up is how injuries happen.
What to bring
Buying a mawashi: heavy canvas, about 18 in. wide and 20–24 ft long (lightweights often cut theirs to about 18 ft). Quality black mawashi from Japan are available from Andrew Freund, director@usasumo.com.
Weight classes
International sumo has weight classes, so you don’t have to be huge to compete. Every division also has an Open category with no weight limit.
| Class | kg | lb |
|---|---|---|
| Lightweight | up to 85 | up to 187 |
| Middleweight | up to 100 | up to 220 |
| Light heavyweight | up to 115 | up to 253 |
| Heavyweight | over 115 | over 253 |
| Class | kg | lb |
|---|---|---|
| Lightweight | up to 65 | up to 143 |
| Middleweight | up to 73 | up to 161 |
| Light heavyweight | up to 80 | up to 176 |
| Heavyweight | over 80 | over 176 |
Coming in 2027: the IFS approved new lighter classes (men under 75 kg, women under 60 kg), starting at the 2027 World Championships in Tokyo.
Sumo 101
Is sumo only in Japan?
No. Amateur sumo is governed worldwide by the International Sumo Federation (IFS), founded in 1992 with national federations in more than 85 countries. The IFS is recognized by the IOC and WADA and holds a World Championships every year. Sumo returns to The World Games in 2029.
Can women compete?
Yes. Professional sumo in Japan is men-only, but amateur sumo under the IFS has full women’s divisions, and the competition is fierce, especially from Japan, Ukraine and Mongolia. Watch Little Miss Sumo for a great introduction.
Where does Dark Circle Sumo fit in?
We’re sanctioned through the United States Sumo Federation (USSF), the U.S. member of the IFS. Our athletes compete at U.S. Nationals and represent Team USA internationally, and we host the IFS-sanctioned Consulate’s Cup in Austin every year.
Do I need experience or a certain size?
No. You don’t need a sumo background to start. Weight classes keep competition fair, and beginners train alongside national-level athletes from day one.
See you on the dohyo
Sign the waiver before your first Sunday, then just show up.