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, Sumo in Mud, Water Pillow Fight, Mud Sumo Wrestling, and Sumo-ans) 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[]
United States[]
In Palau, its debut season, Koror narrowly managed to beat out Ulong for immunity.
The challenge reappeared as a Reward Challenge in Fiji. Moto won, taking home fishing gear, toiletries, coffee, and potatoes.
The Heroes won this challenge in Heroes vs. Villains in a blowout 8-0 victory. In addition to immunity, the tribe also won rice, sugar, coffee, and the tribe's luxury items.
The challenge appeared once again in 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 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.
During the airing of Survivor 48, Jeff Probst clarified in his On Fire podcast that combat-oriented challenges like Sumo at Sea were retired from the roster of Survivor challenges.[1]
Australia[]
Mexico (Unofficial)[]
The challenge was used as a Final Challenge in La Isla 2012, where the tribes played surrounded by water, and the first tribe to reach six points would win. The Celebridades tribe had a blowout victory, not letting the Famosos tribe score a single point.
New Zealand[]
Quebec[]
Russia (Unofficial)[]
In Serdtse Afriki, the challenge was used for immunity. During the challenge, Roman Lebedev doesn't let Dmitry Makarov get up, and Dmitry pushes Roman off the platform with his hands, both of which were against the rules. Ultimately, Sand claims immunity once again.
South Africa[]
In Santa Carolina, the tribes had to elect one member to represent them in the challenge, where the opponents would attempt to push each other off a balance beam using one of three stick weapons. Chibudu selected Okkert Brits, while Timbila selected Izak Davel. Although Izak won the first round, Okkert won the next three rounds to clinch an assortment of groceries for his tribe.
Spain[]
This was used as a reward challenge on Supervivientes 2024, in which four members of each tribe played the four from the other. Miri Pérez-Cabrero lost narrowly to Blanca Manchón; Gorka Ibarguren beat Mario González after a restart; and Arantxa del Sol beat Rocío Madrid. Carmen Borrego withdrew from the last challenge to hand the Red Team the win. The prize was meatballs with spaghetti.[2]
Sweden[]
United Kingdom[]
The challenge was used as the fifth tribal Reward Challenge of Survivor U.K. (2023), where the first tribe to score four points won camp comforts and hot chocolate. The rival Caletón and La Nena tribes were even heading into the seventh and final round, where Caletón's Rachel Golding faced off against La Nena's Christopher Haul. However, an unintentional headbutt caused both competitors to sustain injuries, prompting the Medical Team to step in and host Joel Dommett to cancel the challenge without a winner declared. Joel later showed up to both tribes with an even share of the reward.
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 |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Survivor (2017) Episode 7 |
Tribal Immunity |         Samatau |
| Champions v Contenders (2018) Episode 2 |
Tribal Reward |             Champions |
| Blood v Water Episode 5 |
Tribal Reward |            Water |
| Brains v Brawn II "The Pest Problem" |
Tribal Reward |           Brawn |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| La Isla 2012 Cycle 3, Episode 11 |
Tribal Immunity |      Celebridades (2012) |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Survivor Québec 1 Episode 5 |
Tribal Immunity |          Kalooban |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Serdtse Afriki Episode 2 |
Tribal Immunity |          Sand |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Carolina Episode 3 |
Tribal Reward (Hero Challenge) |
      Chibudu |
| Maldives Episode 1 |
Team Reward |     Jacques, MXO, Roxy, Vanessa |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Supervivientes 2024 Supervivientes 2024 |
Tribal Reward |       Red Tribe (Supervivientes 2024) |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Robinson 2023 Episode 22 |
Individual Reward |  Erik Wahrolén |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Survivor U.K. (2023) Episode 5 |
Tribal Reward | None Challenge canceled due to injury |
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 challenge producer John Kirhoffer, the matches are usually two out of three instead of one single bout.[3]
References[]