Sumo wrestlers used to be thin

Underground
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some old photos

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http://www.t-enami.org/

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CORRECT. Yokozuna portraits from before 1980, a lot of them are thinner (still heavily built compared to the average person). Even back in the 1970s there were numerous thinner high ranked wrestlers (Yokozuna Wajima and Ozeki Takanohana 1 come to mind).

Then steroids happened. Later this year serious steroid testing is going to begin. Basically everybody in the top ranks is on the silly sauce.

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Today's small man: The Amazing Ama, 6'2" 270lbs

May 2008 vs. 6'6" 360lbs Wakanoho:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WdMJxTA68Y

Back in 2005 when Ama was only 235lbs, vs. 400lbs+ Iwakiyama

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAUYcDeidmg

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ttt

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ttt

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the outdoor matches show that the wrestlers in the pics are probably amateurs and just didn't have access to a lot of food.

Compare this to Ukiyo-e illustrations usually show wrestlers as fat:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ukiyo-e_of_sumo_wrestlers