An extremely agile combatant (think Bruce Lee) faces off against a regular (large) sumo opponent for a sumo match. Could the nimble guy run rings around the big guy, maybe using judo moves to use the weight against him and throw him out of the ring? Or perhaps use rapid open hand strikes to quickly disorient the other fighter?
There was a sumo wrestler (note, not called fighter) Mainoumi, who had weighed less than 220 lbs. He regularly beat much larger wrestlers who outweighed him by two to almost three times. He rose up to the komusubi level, the 4th level from the top, a remarkable accomplishment.
If a larger wrestler got a good grip on him he would be finished. A full push would send flying so he frequently feigned at the taichi-ai (initial contact) and would jump out of the way. The opponent’s momentum would often be enough to down himself, or Mainoumi would be able to get beside or behind him and push the opponent down or out of the ring. He was famous for coming up with new moves, including once when he jumped over Akebono and knocked him down.
As opponents started getting used to him they wouldn’t go full-out at the tachi-ai. It would break down into a slapping contest with neither wrestler committing full bodyweight to the forces. He couldn’t win a pushing contest, so he would try to get to the side or behind the opponent. He had enough strength and leg moves to throw opponents once he was in a favorable position.
He was more vulnerable to other smaller, comparatively mobile wrestlers who could keep him in front of them.
Since kicks and punches aren’t allowed, a Bruce Lee type of karate fighter would have a much harder time. Although he would have greater quickness, his lack of weight would make it that much easier to smack down if a chance movement hit him, while making it harder to for him to push out opponents unless he were completely behind him.
Akebono, the first foreigner to become a yokozuna and a giant at 517 lbs failed in his K-1 career after retiring from sumo. While he could pummel his opponents if he could corner them, he didn’t have the mobility, speed or hand quickness to effectively fight.
Bruce would likely do better to challenge sumo wrestlers to a K-1 bout.
ETA: The hard strike attack would be difficult. Sumo wrestlers put up with an incredible amount of pain and since only open hand slaps are allowed, the Bruce would not be able to get a strong punch in. Standing his ground and trying to get into a tsupari-ai (slap fight) with a 400 lb. giant isn’t that adviced.
A lot of people who aren’t familiar with sumo think it’s just fat guys pushing each other around. While there is a lot of pushing it’s just as technical a sport as judo. There are an official 82 winning techniques. Sumo is all about using your opponent’s weight against him.
Another slender wrestler in a world of giants was Terao, one of my favourites, who weighed around 250 pounds and retired at the ripe old age of 39. When he won, it was usually a beautiful display of speed, skill and deadly timing. When he lost, he was literally getting thrown off the dohyo.
The good days with Terao and Konishiki. There’s nothing like watching a 500 lb plus wrestler grasping for air as Terao has moved to the side and is just another spectator to Hawaiian momentium.
Here is an easily accessibleyoutube video of a Mainoumi match (smaller guy mentioned earlier). It’s rather cool and it’s only about 25 seconds.