What It Takes to Be a World Champion Sumo Wrestler

Being a sumo wrestler is brutal. Though slamming down bowls of chanko-nabe (which is delicious) and taking naps might sound cushy, there's a lot more to the sport than bulking up. Slamming your body against someone for money is grueling, and it requires a lot of training before one can throw on a mawashi and step into the ring.

To find out what it takes to be a top-tier sumo wrestler—and why you'd want to do it in the first place—VICE met up with Byambajav Ulambayar, a four-time world champion. The 340-pound athlete walked through the strict training regimen he uses to stay at the top of his game, explaining what it takes to eat, sleep, and exercise like a pro.