Description
Date: Saturday, November 15th 2025
Full Athlete's Packet: đź”— LINK
2025 Sumo Regional Championship of the SOUTH: Athlete’s Packet
November 15, 2025 - Nashville, TN
Venue Location
Shawn Hammonds Jiu Jitsu
2909 Armory Dr, Nashville, TN 37204
Prize Packages
The goal of the prize packages will be to provide assistance to champions to compete in the 2026 U.S. Sumo National Championships in Las Vegas, NV. The South will be supporting our best athletes at Nationals! Based on registrations, the prize package may include housing or may simply cover registration fees or some meals. There are no medals or trophies for this competition, as registration fees will be focused on providing the prize package for the champions in each division. The prize packages will be announced within one week after the Early Bird Registration Deadline.
There will be a children’s exhibition, and there will be small awards for the kids which are not part of the prize packages for Nationals.
Participation
Participation in this tournament is restricted to athletes from states and territories defined by the Southeastern Sumo Collative (SESC). These include:
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, US Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia.
USSF Sanction and Membership
United States Sumo Federation Sanction #11607.
All competitors must be registered members of the USSF.
Not yet a member? Register on ussumo.org
Registration
Register on SmoothComp.
Children under 13 are free. Please register here
$40 - Early Bird Registration ends Sunday, October 12, 2025 at 11:59 PM
$50 - Regular Registration ends Sunday, November 9, 2025 at 11:59 PM
There is no late registration for this event.
Format
- Separate divisions for men and women; separate divisions for Juniors and Seniors.
- Most divisions will be in a double-elimination bracket. Divisions with too few members may compete in a round robin variation. To best accommodate the competitors who are present, these formats may be altered on the day of the tournament.
- Want more matches and chances to win?
- Junior members are allowed to also compete in Senior brackets.
- Competitors may compete in higher weight classes.
- Email tnsumo22@gmail.com to have your name manually added to alternate divisions.
- The Teams Exhibition and the Children's Exhibition are not eligible for the prize package.
Setting
This is an indoor Sumo Tournament in a Jiu Jitsu gym with over 1000 square feet of padded mat space. The gym is in a sand-colored brick building with no windows. There is a blue awning over the door and a Shawn Hammonds sticker on the black mailbox.
Mandatory Athlete’s Meeting
All competitors should arrive at Shawn Hammonds Jiu Jitsu by 10 am on Saturday, November 15 to CHECK IN.
There will be a mandatory Athlete’s Meeting held at 10:30 am.
Missing this meeting will mean forfeiting your spot in the tournament bracket.
Event Order: Saturday, November 15th
- 10:00 AM: All athletes check-in
- Day-of weigh-ins
- Officials Meeting (Gyoji and Shinpan and volunteers)
- 10:30 AM: Mandatory Athletes Meeting
- 11:00 AM: Tournament begins with welcome and announcements
- Children’s Exhibition - Under 13 years old (based on participation)
- The following order is tentative and subject to change:
- Junior Division
- Format based on participation
- Men’s Division
- Lightweight
- Middleweight
- Light Heavyweight
- Heavyweight
- Women's Division
- Format based on participation
- Women’s Open Weight
- Men’s Open Weight
- Teams Exhibition
Awards photo opportunities will be presented at the conclusion of each weight class.
Weigh-ins
IFS Weight Classes
- Weight classes are determined by the International Sumo Federation
In-person weigh-ins
Location: Shawn Hammonds Jiu Jitsu, 2909 Armory Dr, Nashville, TN 37204
Friday, November 14th: 5:00 - 6:00 PM
Day-of Weigh-ins - Saturday, November 15th: 10:00 - 10:30 AM
Note: There will be no remote weigh-ins for this event.
Attire
- MAWASHI - the Sumo belt
- Adults: The mawashi must be of appropriate weight and thickness. Adult mawashi sourced from Japan are recommended, and Duck Canvas #4 and #6 are appropriate materials. Fabric that bunches up too easily when grabbed will not be permitted in competition.
- Juniors and Children: Lighter-weight mawashi are permitted, but a “sturdiness” is needed for Sumo. Please email tnsumo22@gmail.com with questions about your mawashi.
- Women & Men:
- No coverings should extend below the elbow or below the knees.
- Singlets or Leotards with WIDE straps over the shoulders are allowed.
- Rashguards and compression shirts/shorts that are cut to short-sleeve shirts and shorts are allowed.
- Anything worn should also be form fitting so that your opponent is not able to accidentally grab clothing and potentially injure themselves by getting caught on loose clothing.
- Women:
- Wearing only a sports-bra or anything that is considered a “spaghetti strap” is not permitted.
- Men:
- Men may choose to compete “traditional”, in mawashi only.
- Form Fitting shorts are common for men, with no clothing above the mawashi. Whatever is worn below should be form fitting, like compression shorts.
- Supportive equipment for elbows, knees, ankles, etc. are permitted; however, items with metal or similar hard edges are not allowed. Please email tnsumo22@gmail.com with questions about your specific gear.
- Outside of competition, sandals that are easy to slip on and off are recommended to walk around the event space.
