Sumo weight classes
Amateur sumo competitions use weight categories so that athletes of all sizes can compete fairly. The adult categories below match the setup used for English Sumo Nationals 2026 on Smoothcomp. This event-specific list does not necessarily include every international weight class; check the listing for the competition you are entering.
Last updated: 2026-11-02. Event reference: English Sumo Nationals 2026 (Smoothcomp) (opens in new tab) . International reference: International Sumo Federation.
See also: What is sumo, Competing in sumo in England, Adapted sumo, Team England Sumo, Governance, and Sumo weight categories (Sumo Cup) .
Senior men
- M-77KG — Under 77 kg
- M-85KG — Under 85 kg
- M-92KG — Under 92 kg
- M-100KG — Under 100 kg
- M-115KG — Under 115 kg
- M+115KG — 115 kg and over
- M-OPEN — Open weight (no limit)
Senior women
- W-60KG — Under 60 kg
- W-73KG — Under 73 kg
- W+80KG — 80 kg and over
- W-OPEN — Open weight (no limit)
Junior men (EFS reference classes)
- Lightweight — Under 80 kg
- Middleweight — 80 kg and under 100 kg
- Heavyweight — 100 kg and over
- Open weight — No weight limit
Junior women (EFS reference classes)
- Lightweight — Under 60 kg
- Middleweight — 60 kg and under 75 kg
- Heavyweight — 75 kg and over
- Open weight — No weight limit
Veterans (30+)
Veteran sumo helps athletes stay in the sport for longer. Veterans compete in the same standard weight categories listed above — your age does not change your weight class — but entries are also grouped into veteran age bands so older athletes compete against athletes of a similar age. The idea is the same as adapted sumo: removing barriers that push people out of the sport.
- 30–39
- 40–49
- 50–59
- 60–69
How the bands are applied depends on entries: organisers may merge bands or split an age group into weight divisions so that brackets fill. For example, the English Veterans Open (opens in new tab) on Sunday 13 December 2026 at Black Belt Academy in Norwich may combine or split categories depending on entries. Always check the current event listing on Smoothcomp and confirm your eligibility before entering.
Notes
- EFS vs IFS: the European Sumo Federation (EFS) and International Sumo Federation (IFS) do not always use identical weight-class structures. EnglandSumo is listing the categories offered at the 2026 English Nationals above; other events may use different categories.
- Open weight is an additional unrestricted category in which athletes of any weight can compete.
- Adult category names on this page mirror the 2026 English Nationals setup on Smoothcomp. Specific category offerings can still vary event-to-event, so always check the current event listing and registration page.
- Veteran age bands: the IFS and EFS championship structures define youth through senior categories but no veteran bands — the 30–39, 40–49, 50–59 and 60–69 veteran groups above are an EnglandSumo implementation. Individual events may merge or split these bands based on entries, so check the event listing.
- Junior and adult age bands follow the European (EFS) structure used for England events and may be adjusted by event organisers. Confirm category eligibility with your club coach before entering an event.
If you are not sure which category you fit into, your club coach or EnglandSumo can help — start with Clubs in England or contact info@englandsumo.com.