【英语趣味课堂】相扑-Sumo

 Yeah, hi, I wanna talk about, yeah, watching sports, like live or on TV. I mean I like to play sports more than I like to watch sports but sometimes a good game on TV or watching it live can be really good, um, you know, everybody, or many people like to watch the olympics or the world cup of soccer, I mean those kinds of sports are really, really exciting. I like to watch them too. I like to watch a good game on TV, you know, it there's lots of buildup and tension for the match, it's even better. One sport that I've been really getting into recently is Japanese Sumo wrestling, yeah, it's, you know, it's quite a spectacle¹. Many westerners think that it's kind of a joke, you know, a bunch of fat guys in tiny underwear², you know bashing their bodies against each other, but there's really a lot more to it than that, I mean, these guys are incredibly athletic³. They also are quite strong and they have a repertoire⁴ of martial⁵ arts and wrestling ability. It's pretty amazing to watch. I mean the matches are really really short so sometimes the uninitiated don't know what going on but basically the rules are stay on your feet and stay in the small circle and, you know, try to get your opponent to fall down or to go out of the circle. That's why they only take about 10 or 20 seconds to finish a match because they do everything they can, but finally, before you know it, the match is over, you know, they do wrestling throws, they do martial arts, they do all kinds of things. It's really fun, and there's the whole ritual⁶ with it as well, I mean it's pretty amazing.

 

学习内容：

 

buildup and tension

 

I like to watch a good game on TV, and it's even better if there's lots of buildup and tension for the match. 

 

A 'buildup' is an increase in intensity⁷, in this case, and increase in suspense⁸.  There is 'tension' between two people when their relationship is strained.  Notice the following:

 

Can you just tell me what is wrong? I feel a lot of buildup and tension.

They didn't directly fight, but there was a lot of buildup and tension.

getting into

 

One sport that I've been really getting into recently is Japanese Sumo wrestling. 

 

When used like this, 'getting into' means something that you are just starting to enjoy doing.  Notice the following:

 

I would like him to get into exercise, but he is kind of lazy.

I am really getting into cooking right now.

spectacle

 

Japanese Sumo wrestling is quite a spectacle. 

 

A 'spectacle' is a public display or show that attracts the attention of people.  Notice the following:

 

Their house is always a spectacle around Christmas when it is full of lights.

She made quite a spectacle when she feel down the stairs.

repertoire

 

These wrestlers have a repertoire of martial arts and wrestling ability. 

 

A wrestler's 'repertoire' is the skills or moves that he uses when fighting.  Notice the following:

 

You need to add a new move to your repertoire.

All of the jokes he is doing right now are part of his repertoire.

uninitiated

 

The matches are really short, so sometimes, the uninitiated don't know what's going on. 

 

Something that is 'uninitiated' hasn't been started yet.  Notice the following:

 

He is an uninitiated member right now.

That discounted offer is uninitiated right now.

stay on your feet

 

Basically, the rules are stay on your feet and stay in the small circle. 

 

When you 'stay on your feet,' you stay standing⁹.  It means that you don't fall over.  Notice the following:

 

My legs get really tired if I stay on my feet for a long time.

If this is your first time ice skating, it will probably be hard for you to stay on your feet.

before you know it

 

They do everything they can, and finally, before you know it, the match is over. 

 

You can use the phrase 'before you know it' to show that something happens more quickly than you would expect.  Notice the following:

 

It will be Christmas before you know it.

I will be there before you know it.

1 spectacle   

n.（大规模）场面，壮观[pl.]眼镜

参考例句：

• She was fascinated at the spectacle of a rocket launching.她被发射火箭的壮观场面强烈地吸引住了。
• The opening ceremony was a fine spectacle.开幕式典礼是个壮观的场面。

2 underwear   

n.衫衣，内衣，贴身衣

参考例句：

• He had removed his underwear.他已脱去了内衣。
• They left off their woollen underwear when the weather got warm.天气转暖的时候，他们不再穿羊毛内衣。

3 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

4 repertoire   

n.(准备好演出的)节目，保留剧目；(计算机的)指令表，指令系统， <美>(某个人的)全部技能；清单，指令表

参考例句：

• There is an extensive repertoire of music written for the flute.有很多供长笛演奏的曲目。
• He has added considerably to his piano repertoire.他的钢琴演奏曲目大大增加了。

5 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

6 ritual   

adj.例行的，老规矩的，惯常的

参考例句：

• This was the monthly ritual.这是每月一次的例规。
• I realized that here the conventions required me to make the ritual noises.我意识到此时按照惯例我应该说些客套话。

7 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

8 suspense   

n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑

参考例句：

• The suspense was unbearable.这样提心吊胆的状况实在叫人受不了。
• The director used ingenious devices to keep the audience in suspense.导演用巧妙手法引起观众的悬念。

9 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。