Sumo Kaboom

Leslie and Laurie Collins, Texan sisters and diehard sumo fans, talk about all things sumo.

About the show

Sumo Kaboom!

A weekly podcast dedicated to our favorite sport - sumo wrestling. We chat about tournaments, current events, history and our favorite wrestlers.

Both Collins sisters are performers, improvisers, and creators and have absolutely no sumo training. But, they are huge sumo fans.

Having lived in Japan, Leslie loves the history and traditions of sumo. She also has a deep love for sumo karaoke singers. Laurie is fascinated by sumo wrestler fandom, the sumo training regimen and physicality of the sport.

Together, they serve up exciting sumo treats for sumo-curious fans. These kooky sisters share an enthusiasm for sumo and like all sisters, they work amazingly well together. All of the time. There are never any issues. Ever.

We also occasionally send out sumo related content. It is NOT hard-hitting sumo journalism and is usually very silly. If you want to receive our writing about all things sumo or receive notification when Sumo BINGO cards are available, join our Substack below. We won't ever share your info.

Sumo Kaboom on social media

Episodes

  • Basho Day 3 - 9 Weeblewobbles, Andre the Giant and Danny Devito

    September 22nd, 2020  |  42 mins 54 secs
    comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, nhk, square dancing, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament, weeblewobble, wrestlers

    The Aki Basho? It's filled to the brim with athletic sumo, surprises and cringe-worthy moments.

  • BINGO, Aki Basho, and Andy from the Tachiai Blog

    September 15th, 2020  |  53 mins 25 secs
    comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, nhk, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament

    We pack so much into this episode! Our first 2 Bingo winners! The non-technical breakdown of the basho days 1 and 2. And, Andy from the Tachiai blog.

  • Banzuke, Bingo and Endo

    September 9th, 2020  |  28 mins 47 secs
    ando, basho, bingo, comedy, endo, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, nhk, sanyaku, september, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament

    Sumo and bingo. They go together like shamalama dippity dingy dong.

  •

    Ozeki Takakeisho and Asanoyama

    September 2nd, 2020  |  44 mins 3 secs
    asanoyama, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, nhk, ozeki, sumo, sumo wrestling, takakeisho, tournament

    Interesting facts, great nicknames, and random thoughts about these two very different ozeki. And, can someone please explain what an extreme vacuum hand is??

  •

    Sekiwake: Mitakeumi and Shodai. Mushroom Hunter and Enigma.

    August 26th, 2020  |  41 mins 4 secs
    comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, mitakeumi, nhk, sekiwake, shodai, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament

    We take a deep, kinda serious look at our current two Sekiwake: Mushroom Hunter Mitakeumi and The Enigma Shodai.

  • Komusubi: Spitball of Fire and Hotpants Magee; Daieisho and Okinoumi.

    August 19th, 2020  |  43 mins 3 secs
    comedy, daieisho, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, komusubi, nhk, okinoumi, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament

    We take a deep, not too serious look at our current two komusubi: Spitball of Fire and Hotpants Magee.

  •

    All About Abi

    August 12th, 2020  |  36 mins 33 secs
    abi, comedy, escape, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, heya, improv comedy, japan, jsa, nhk, resignation, sumo, sumo wrestler, sumo wrestling, takayasu, tournament

    Lots of news happened this week in the sumo world, from baby announcements to daring escapes and Abi. We break it all down and try to understand from an outsider's point of view.

  • July Basho Wrap Up Days 10 - 15

    August 4th, 2020  |  42 mins 57 secs
    asanoyama, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, hakuho, improv comedy, japan, mitakeumi, nhk, onosho, ozeki, shodai, sumo, sumo wrestling, terunofuji, tournament

    So much emotion all wrapped into one basho! The matches that made us laugh. The fights that made us jump from our chairs. The storylines that made us cry.

  •

    July Basho Day 3 - 9

    July 28th, 2020  |  41 mins 22 secs
    basho, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, july, nhk, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament

    Exciting times! This is sumo greatest hits from Day 3 - 9 of the July basho 2020.

  • The Basho Begins with Sumo Mainichi

    July 22nd, 2020  |  1 hr 1 min
    basho, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, july basho, nhk, sumo, sumo breakdown, sumo mianichi, sumo wrestling, tournament

    A 3-part episode: current events, a breakdown of basho day 1 and 2, and a talk with Dave and Amy from Sumo Mainichi.

  •

    Getting Excited

    July 15th, 2020  |  47 mins 24 secs
    comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, july basho, nhk, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament, training

    Texas gals gone wild for sumo. We're getting too, too excited for the July basho.

  •

    Do Fans Affect Sumo Wrestlers?

    July 8th, 2020  |  31 mins 26 secs
    comedy, corona virus, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, nhk, sports, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament

    News, corona virus funk, and some science behind how fans affect sports.

  •

    The Dohyo, COVID-19, and Staying in Sumo Shape

    July 1st, 2020  |  36 mins 59 secs
    abi, basho, comedy, covid, covid 19, dohyo, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, july basho, nhk, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament

    What kind of prep goes into a professional sumo tournament? And, what's happens differently when we're in a pandemic? How are the wrestlers staying in sumo shape?

  •

    Akebono, Cellulitis, and Tochinoshin's Bandaids

    June 24th, 2020  |  44 mins 16 secs
    akebono, cellulitis, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, nhk, skin infections, sumo, sumo wrestling, tochinoshin, tournament, yokozuna

    Leslie focuses on the great American yokozuna, Akebono while Laurie focuses on sumo and skin infections.

  • The Banzuke. What's a banzuke??

    June 17th, 2020  |  34 mins 40 secs
    banzuke, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, nhk, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament

    What the heck is a banzuke? We help you make sense of it, from the way it's created to how a wrestler moves up or down within it.

  •

    Injury, Healing, and Singing

    June 10th, 2020  |  48 mins 54 secs
    comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, nhk, sumo, sumo folk singing, sumo folk song, sumo wrestling, tournament

    Sumo and injury. We talk about the prevalence of injury in the sport and what it takes to heal after one. We also manage to talk about John Gunning, Mariah Holmes, Tamawashi's baking prowess and sumo folk singing.