Barnsley sumo wrestling club launched

Mr Riggs’ group now includes about 10 members, who travel from as far away as Hull to take part in training.

He said the sport had a number of positive impacts.

“I’m a lot more flexible than I ever used to be, having to get down in the lower squat positions, it does your hips and your legs a world of good,” Mr Riggs said.

The common impression of sumo wrestling – heavier, half-nude men trying to push each other outside a ring – was “pretty much” accurate in the professional sport, he said.

But the group had adopted a more casual approach.

“We still wear the mawashi – the belt, but we’ve got kit on underneath, and we have it in weight classes as well,” Mr Riggs, from Dodworth, said.

“We’ve got guys weighing 60kg (9st 6lb) who are doing a great job, then guys at 150kg or 160kg (25st 2lb) doing an equally good job.”