This article is about the challenge. For the episode of the same name, see "Sumo at Sea".
Sumo at Sea (also known as Kung Fu Cannibals and Sumo in Mud) is a recurring challenge that originated in Survivor: Palau and was used in later seasons.
Rules
One member from each tribe faces off on a platform surrounded by either water (Palau, Blood vs. Water, and San Juan del Sur) or mud (Fiji and Heroes vs. Villains). Using their padded bags, or any other body part other than their hands, they must try to knock each other off the platform. Doing so would score their tribe a point. The first tribe to reach a certain number of points would win.
History
In Survivor: Palau, its debut season, Koror narrowly managed to beat out Ulong for immunity.
The challenge reappeared as a Reward Challenge in Survivor: Fiji. Moto won, taking home fishing gear, toiletries, coffee, and potatoes.
The Heroes won this challenge in Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains in a blowout. In addition to immunity, the tribe also won rice, sugar, coffee, and the tribe's luxury items.
The challenge appeared once again in Survivor: Blood vs. Water. Although Tadhana started off strong, Galang managed to make a comeback and ended up winning their third Immunity Challenge.
The challenge appeared again in Survivor: San Juan del Sur as the second Immunity Challenge. The two tribes were very evenly matched, and Kelley Wentworth avenged her loss to Jaclyn Schultz in the first round by defeating her in the final round, securing immunity for Hunahpu for the second straight time.
Winners
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Palau "Sumo at Sea" | Tribal Immunity |          Koror |
| Fiji "Love Many, Trust Few, Do Wrong to None" | Tribal Reward |        Moto |
| Heroes vs. Villains "That Girl Is Like a Virus" | Tribal Reward/Immunity |         Heroes |
| Blood vs. Water "Opening Pandora's Box" | Tribal Reward/Immunity |         Galang |
| San Juan del Sur "Method to This Madness" | Tribal Immunity |          Hunahpu |
Gallery
Trivia
- Tom Westman and Tyson Apostol are the only people to participate in this challenge twice.
- However, Tom is the only person to be on the winning tribe of this challenge twice since Tyson only won it in his second attempt (despite Tyson losing his individual matchup).
- Both competed in a variation with water and mud.
- The occurrence of this challenge in Survivor: San Juan del Sur marks the first time a challenge has ever taken place in the ocean in seasons filmed in Nicaragua.
- Tyson Apostol and Baylor Wilson have both been injured as a result of this challenge.
- According to John Kirhoffer, the matches are usually two out of three instead of one single bout.[1]
References
