Japan’s seemingly unchanging ancient sport of sumo may already be at peak optimization

Wrestlers at Tamanoi Stable work with outside trainers after their normal morning practice in Oct. 2018. | John Gunning

Nov 5, 2026

The Chicago Bears carving up the vaunted Seattle Seahawks defense on Monday Night Football this week was a reminder of just how vital technical innovation is in team sports.

Head coach Ben Johnson reached deep into his bag to pull out formations and plays that put Seahawks’ defense in a blender, with experienced players constantly caught out of position.

It was a scene that starkly contrasted with how things normally play out in individual sports.

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