Sumo Sundays: Fundamentals Drop-In
Just Added!

Sumo Sundays: Fundamentals Drop-In

Our drop-in sessions aim to build confidence and safety around this popular Japanese sport.

By Sumo Sundays

Date and time

Sunday, December 1 · 5:30 - 7:30pm PST

Location

Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall

487 Alexander Street Tatami Room (5th Floor) Vancouver, BC V6A 1C6 Canada

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 3 days before event
Eventbrite's fee is nonrefundable.

About this event

  • Event lasts 2 hours

No experience necessary. All bodies welcome.

Join us for an evening of sumo training! Our drop-in sessions aim to build confidence and safety around this popular Japanese sport. Every session incorporates stretches, techniques based on each participant's skill level and an opportunity to spar.

This session is good for:

  • People trying sumo for the first time
  • People with minimal experience in martial arts and/or other physical activities
  • Casual and regular attendees of Sumo Sundays looking for a chilled experience focusing on basics and refreshers on safety rolls, techniques, use of equipment etc.

We encourage folks of all sizes and genders to participate. Priced at $15-22 (+ fees) on a sliding scale. Max. 14 people per session.

Looking for an intermediate, faster-paced session? Our next intermediate session takes place on Sunday, Dec. 15.

This session is led by Mielle Michaux (she/her) and Kayla Isomura (they/them).

Mielle is an avid sumo fan who has been participating in Sumo Sundays since 2022. Her other martial arts experience includes sambo wrestling and judo. She is passionate about making martial arts spaces welcoming to everyone, and loves being a part of such an inclusive sumo community!

Since 2022, Kayla has co-organized countless sumo drop-ins, workshops and a handful of tournaments through Sumo Sundays, including the annual sumo exhibition at Powell Street Festival (PSF). A mixed fourth-generation Japanese Canadian, Kayla's introduction to sumo has always been through PSF, whether watching it as a kid (one of their favourite events) or trying it for the first time in 2015. Kayla has continued to participate in sumo at PSF and in 2022, earned the big bag of rice, which they credit to previous workshops organized by the festival and impromptu training by Shane Pecknold in a local park. Through these experiences, Kayla’s goal is to make an inclusive and accessible space for sumo in Vancouver.

Learn more about Sumo Sundays at sumosundays.ca.

Frequently asked questions

What makes this different from an intermediate session?

Fundamental sessions operate at a slower pace compared to our intermediate sessions and will always cover basic knowledge. These are great for building confidence for anyone hesitant to jump into the ring or for those looking for a more chill session.

It's my first time. What can I expect? What do I need to bring?

All sessions incorporate warm-up, skills training and sparring. We recommend wearing comfortable athletic clothing + tight/cycling shorts for wearing under the mawashi. A water bottle is a must; mouthguards are recommended for sparring.

Who can participate?

Sumo Sundays aims to be inclusive of all bodies. This means no gendered matches and clothing is never optional (shirts on, please!) We encourage all sizes and genders to participate, including women, non-binary and gender-diverse folks.

What is your policy on COVID-19?

Masks are optional. We abide by provincial guidelines. If you are feeling unwell or showing symptoms of COVID-19, please refrain from attending.

Organized by

Sumo Sundays is a monthly drop-in for folks interested in learning sumo wrestling techniques. Founded in 2022, our goal is to make a space inclusive of all bodies and experiences. This means no gendered matches and no experience to participate is necessary. Whether you are an online sumo spectator, have participated in or witnessed sumo at the annual Powell Street Festival or are simply curious about the sport, we invite you to join us.

From CA$17.31