Mawashi Practice

Sumo Day is quickly approaching.  As the oldest class, Dougie gets to participate in the Sumo exercises wearing the traditional Sumo Mawashi (Sumo diaper...).

My friend Carol, also a Seika mom, had checked YouTube for videos and found one.  We both recognized the linoleum.  And the sensei...

Another friend, this time from home (Washington), was curious and checked on YouTube.  So she sent me this link:

And there is the linoleum...  And Kamei sensei (Ian's sensei)...  And one of the moms...  Great choice Lisa and Claire!!!

Indeed, this video was taken during Seika's Mawashi tying lessons last year!  This year, I get to package Dougie's package ;)  He was not overly taken by the idea.

He and his forever friend Kent (Carol's son) looked a bit apprehensive...  Definitely a bonding experience!

Dougie and Kent stand at the ready, holding their toilet paper rolls (the soon-to-be mawashi belt), Dougie holding his shirt shut...  The normally happy-to-dance-in-my-underwear-especially-if-it-is-on-backwards kid was looking a bit concerned, and modest, at the whole idea of dropping trou and being mummified.

Carol and I, ahem, may have been, ahem, a little, ahem, nervous as well...

Their faces say it all.  For the moment...

My handiwork - Not too shabby!  Even Dougie started to warm to the idea.

Kent & Dougie tested their knots...

and their moves...  Kent completely schooled Dougie.  In fact, he schooled most of the kids!  The boys have a wrestle-off and the top eight get to wrestle on Sumo Day.  The "last one left standing" gets to wrestle the Sumo himself.  Kent is determined to be the one to wrestle the Sumo.  Not only does he have the motivation, he is really scrappy.  I know I will be cheering him on!

All the boys started to catch the Mawashi fever and began wrestling each other - and laughing hysterically

Kent even took on his mom.  Schooled her too... ;)

The question in all of our minds is: How do you judge a quality Mawashi-tie-up?  The clear answer is that your kids "privates" stay, well, private.  We opted for the tensile test:

Our tie-jobs stood up to the test.  I may implement this attire full time in our house!  With all of the boys...

Kent even tried out Dougie's "handle"!

We are really looking forward to Sumo Day and seeing all these boys in their Mawashi.  Minus the: shirts, ties, socks, shoes and UNDERWEAR!  It will be a very cheeky day...