Newspaper Sumo

Clearly, Newspaper Sumo is yet another junkyard sport destined for the Junkyard Sports® Hall of Fame. The first newspaper-using sport, I might add.

The game was devised by some educators in Japan. I took a few liberties with the description of the game - modifying it only slightly to take it out of the classroom context.

1. Place a sheet of newspaper on the floor.

2. One stands on the edge of the paper. The other stands on the other side. Their backs are facing each other.

3. The asks a question (e.g. "How old are you?", "What's this?" etc.)

4. The first to answer correctly takes one half step back.

5. Repeat from 3 until....

6. When their feet touch, they stop. The says "Go!" and without turning round they have to push the other player off the newspaper!! Just like the real game of Sumo, the first person to touch any part of the ground outside of the "ring" (or newspaper) loses!

My respect for the playability of this Newspaper Sumo increased significantly when I read the author(s) comment: "The beauty of this game is that the kids love to play it themselves in their free time!"