Inner City Sumo

"Inner City Sumo" is an entertaining television programme broadcast on Five in the UK. The programme makers have traveled the length and breadth of the country and organised sumo contests staged in pub carparks.

The contestants are hand picked by the programme makers and do not have to be overweight, just willing to take part in the contest.

A ring is drawn in chalk on the carpark surface, and the contestants compete in a best of three match. The object of the game is to push or manhandle the opposition out of the confines of the ring. The winner receives a gold emblazoned dart board as the top prize.

There are sumo advisers on hand to ensure the match is competed fairly. The chief advisor is Mr. Ka Joon, a former sumo champion (born in Namibia, but raised in Japan). He is nicknamed 'Giant Pump' in his homeland after the way he virtually blew his opponents out of the ring. He is aided by Mr. Jo Nas, nicknamed 'Headless Balloon', who was one of the original sumo masters who traveled the world, introducing the sport to new countries. He was particularly successful in the Baltics and Ukraine.

The filming of the current series has been completed, and the makers are waiting to gauge the success of the inaugural competitions prior to making a decision on the commissioning of any future series.