As If They Need To Appear Bigger: Sumo Wrestlers

A file photo dated 06 January 2010 shows Mongolian sumo grand champion, or Yokozuna, Asashoryu performing dohyo-iri, or the ring entrance ceremony at Meiji Shrine in central Tokyo. Asashoryu announced his intention to retire from professional sumo wrestling on 04 February to take responsibility for his drunken assault on a man.

Dohyo-iri is is a ring-entering ceremony where the wrestler will make himself bigger by widening his stance and as we see here opening his arms. It is done to intimidate their opponent.

We can see variations of this in everyday life: people will place their hands on their hips, arms out to the sides with bent elbows.

Most people feel most comfortable when they are standing with their feet shoulder width, if you see them out farther, it is to appear larger.

Men before a fight will often take in a large breath expanding their torso which serves both the purpose of taking in oxygen, and to appear larger; sometimes this is done at a night club to impress the object of their attraction.◦

As If They Need To Appear Bigger: Sumo Wrestlers