Wrestling is one of the Worlds oldest sports. Vases, thousands of years old, depict wrestling scenes some of which are not dissimilar to SUMO. Different styles developed in all countries. Great Britain had several forms and even today Cumberland /Westmorland and Cornish wrestling survive if only barely and largely thanks to the few. (It was good to hear that C & W was incorporated in the National Police championships, November 2000).

Japanese Rikishi came to England around 1900 and gave demonstrations in the Covent Garden area of London. 100 years later and we are competing against the Japanese in the Birthplace of the potential Olympic Sport. In 2007 we compete for the Championships of the World at the home of the IOC, Lausanne.

Steve Pateman now runs the British Sumo Federation. Steve was awarded his THIRD DAN after winning a Bronze medal in the World Championships.