“Starting Sumo” Interview with Joshua Clements
List your Sumo experience, awards, accolades, etc.
National competitor - 2019
Co-Head Coach of Georgia Sumo Club (with Eric Griffin)
What made you start sumo?
I started Sumo in 2017 after seeing a demonstration at a Judo tournament. I’ve been hooked ever since.
What advice do you have for new sumōtori in the USSF?
Plug in anywhere and anytime you can. You can also use certain resources such as books and videos to begin your training by yourself. As you plug into the Sumo community, coaches can clean up your technique and offer advice.
How did you find a place for your club to practice?
I am the owner and coach of Redemption Martial Arts Academy. Having a place of our own has been a huge benefit. If you don’t have that luxury, start in your backyard or find a local dojo with which you can partner.
What does a typical practice look like at your club?
Our typical warm up involves Chugoshi, Shinkyaku stretching, Mattawari stretching, and lot of Shiko. We then do Sumo push-ups. We then go through our work in the dohyo, which includes variations of Suriashi, Butsukari, and other partner drills. Many of our drills focus on the fundamental movements and positions that are common in Sumo. We will also work various styles of Sumo such as Oshi (Pushing style) or Yotsu (belt-grabbing). Sometimes we focus on specific kimarite (technique) for example Kakenage, Yorikiri, and Katasukashi. We round out the keiko (training session) with wrestling.
How did you find training partners and build a team?
I recruited family members and students from my martial arts gym. Start with people you know and build it from there. Once the word started getting out that we did Sumo, we had people come from miles (sometimes hours) away to train. I also recruited from the local high school wrestling team (I am a former coach). Find a few former wrestlers or football players that want to get off the couch.