Success for Oxford Sumo at England National Championships

Harvey Dines and Robert Godfrey took silver and bronze respectively in the 77kg category at the amateur sumo wrestling tournament.

Mr Godfrey started the club last July and this is its first England Sumo Nationals, which were held on Saturday, March 28, at Brunel University in London.

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It is the only competitive amateur sumo tournament in England this year and the winners qualify to represent England at the European Sumo Championships in Scotland this June.

Mr Dines entered having only trained in sumo since the start of this year.

Oxford Sumo Club took home two medals (Image: Rob Godfrey)

Mr Godfrey said: “Sumo is not just for bigger sizes but there are lighter weight categories for men and women too.

“Sumo is easy to start but hard to master.”

The English Sumo Nationals is organised by Deep Sumo and sanctioned by British Sumo.

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Its description of the tournament is: “This is not the same as professional sumo in Japan (the kind you see on TV with the yokozuna and the elaborate ceremonies).

“Amateur sumo follows the same basic rules — push your opponent out of the ring or make them touch the ground — but the competitors are regular people who train in their spare time.”

“That said, the level is serious.”