Anyone who has watched a sumo match must know that a wrestler will raise one foot high and slam the ground hard before the official match. According to legend, this action has religious connotations of strengthening the body and deterring evil spirits. However, what most people may not know is that this simple action can also help exercise the hip joints, waist and leg muscles, and prevent knee joint disease!
Not just a ceremony! The four-legged step in sumo wrestling has hidden health significance
The sumo wrestlers stand on the arena (soil surface), take turns raising one foot high and then slamming the ground hard. This action is called the "four-legged step". One of the 5 basic movements. Most people think that this action is just a ritual before a match, but for sumo wrestlers, it is undoubtedly a muscle exercise, which can tighten the pelvis, muscles around the hip joints, and exercise the waist and legs.
Recently, the "Four Steps", which is regarded as a patent of sumo wrestlers, has become a highly praised stretching exercise among the Japanese public. What are the benefits of doing the Four Steps? ?
Shintaro Sakai, a judo therapist known in Japan as having the "Hand of God", is the supervisor of the book "Cure Your Knee Joints Yourself? A Complete Illustration of Hip Pain". The book mentions Practicing the four-leg stepping regularly has at least three benefits:
Strengthen the flexibility of the ankles, knees, and hip joints.
The center of gravity is placed on one foot in turn, and finally ends with standing on one foot, which can train the sense of balance.
Exercise the muscles around the waist such as the iliopsoas, gluteal muscles, quadriceps, and hamstring muscles.