Here you can see the powerful build of a sumo wrestler combined with a ninja mask and a katana. This character combines a number of different styles and themes related to drawing and character design. The second component is the sumo wrestler, one of the strongest and most iconic figures in Japanese culture, also found in many games, such as Street Fighter.
As you go through this tutorial, I hope you have fun and learn something about how to draw. Please fav, vote and comment. Everyone, thank you for your support. Love and hugs to you.
Before you start drawing, keep in mind that in the first steps you should not press too hard with your pencil. As always, begin with a stickman - a figure made of simple lines and circles. This stage is very simple but also very important.
Let's dive into the steps!
Step 1: Basic Guidelines
Start with some guidelines as you see here to make a frame for your Japanese wrestler. First draw a circle for the head and then add the facial guidelines. You will then draw the arm lines as well as the torso line.
Read also: Sumo Wrestling and WWE Compared
Step 2: Head and Facial Features
First, draw an oval as a guide for the head of the sumo ninja. Add the lines of facial symmetry: the horizontal line divides the face into two parts and helps you locate the center of the head, while the vertical line divides the face in half and helps you place the eyes.
Next, draw out the shape of his chubby face and then the lines for his eyes. You can start sketching out the detailing and features of his face which in this case looks very mean.
Step 3: Adding Volume to the Body
Sumo wrestlers are extremely powerful athletes, arguably among the strongest in all combat sports, and this should be reflected in their body structure. Begin adding volume to the sumo ninja by drawing a large, powerful torso. Then, using simple cylinders and very light lines, outline the arms, which are crossed in front of the chest in a characteristic motion.
Now you will start sketching out the actual shape and outline of his body starting with the arms.
Step 4: Lower Body and Legs
Now, using the same principles, move on to the lower part of the body and outline the massive, powerful legs of the sumo ninja.
Read also: Tradition and Performance in Sumo
Because of the angle that this sumo is lunging in, his body will take the shape of a large kidney bean. His arms are each drawn in three parts, and his hands are a fourth addition. His head has been drawn exaggeratedly small to give his body a larger appearance. This step will cover a lot of ground quickly and with easy to draw lines and shapes.
Step 5: Adding Facial Details
From this step, begin gradually adding details to the sumo ninja drawing. As always, start with the upper part of the head: draw the eyes using the guidelines created in the very first step. Then, with thick curved lines, draw the eyebrows above the eyes and add a few folds around the eyes along with the outline of the visible part of the sumo ninja’s nose.
Take your time as you draw the sumo’s face. Notice how his face is drawn with simple lines and curves. Don’t let this overwhelm you. Just take your time.
Step 6: Detailing the Torso and Arms
Now move on to the torso of the sumo ninja and begin adding details to his powerful arms and shoulders. Start by outlining the shoulders, tracing the previously sketched shapes with darker, cleaner lines. Define the deltoids, then work down to the biceps, triceps, and forearms, gradually refining the forms and checking the symmetry as you draw the left and right sides in turn.
Add more shape to the arms and then draw out the hands fingers and all.
Read also: History of Japan's Sumo Wrestling
Step 7: Refining the Head and Mask
Now it’s time to finish the head of the sumo ninja and refine the mask in detail. As in our ninja drawing lesson, carefully outline the shapes by tracing the previously sketched contours and adding multiple folds while maintaining symmetry.
Step 8: Drawing the Loincloth and Pants
Now move on to the lower part of the figure and begin adding details. First, using confident, clean lines, draw the loincloth - one of the most recognizable and important elements of a sumo wrestler’s clothing.
Now draw the leg and the rest of the Mawashi of the wrestler whose back is facing us.
Step 9: Final Details on the Upper Body
Now let’s add the final details to the upper part of the sumo ninja. First, refine the muscles and add veins where needed, then erase all remaining construction lines. Next, detail the shoulder straps and the combat bracers. Carefully draw the hands in detail, adding the fingernails and small folds.
This is your last drawing step and all you have to do now is finish sketching out his face and then his hair style. Add the shape for his overweight boobs and then draw two almond like shapes for his nipples.
Step 10: Final Details on the Lower Body
Finish detailing the lower body of the character by adding all the final elements to this part of the body. First, refine the loincloth, adding small features and decorative details. Then finalize the pants by outlining them where needed and erasing all unnecessary construction lines.
Step 11: Adding the Katana
Now, using clean, confident lines, draw the katana on the ninja’s back. Show the visible end of the scabbard in the lower part and the handle at the top. Add the characteristic braided pattern on the grip.
Step 12: Final Check and Adjustments
Finally, check the symmetry of your sumo ninja drawing and see whether the proportions and overall look appear natural.
Step 13: Shading and Tone
As mentioned at the very beginning of this sumo ninja drawing lesson, we will use classic comic-style shading, the same approach applied in our other comic drawing tutorials. First, outline the shadow areas in the necessary places. Then fill them with solid black.
This is the first start. This is where you would sketch in small circles or lines to shade the areas. It would take hours upon hours to cover all that area with a pencil. I chose to shade with pastels. In a few strokes I've got area coverage. I added some more dark gray to shadowed areas and their Mawashi. What's interesting is I haven't used a pencil yet during this stage.
Here is how your picture can look once you have finished. Don't be afraid to add highlights to their shoulders and upper knee areas.
Here is the outline done with a 0.7mm mechanical pencil.
PENCIL STROKES & TONE, SHADING, TEXTURE -- For your convenience, I have inserted this step with different pencils, strokes to use. The picture here is a great exercise for value shading. I've got a little secret tip for you to make things easier.
You can download this to your desktop. First click on the picture to have access to full size. After printing out a number of the above template, practice shading in the values like this picture.
Step 14: Coloring
You are now ready to color in your super-sized sumo warrior! He is now ready for battle.
If you are interested on what I used for this full color picture (which I rarely do here), click on picture for this step.
This is what your wrestler should look like when you are done. All you have to do is color him in.
Additional Information about Sumo
Sumo is traditional Japanese wrestling. It was established as the national sport in 1909.
Professional sumo is organized by the Japan Sumo Association. The members of the association, called oyakata, are all former wrestlers, and are the only people entitled to train new wrestlers. All practicing wrestlers are members of a training stable (heya) run by one of the oyakata, who is the stablemaster for the wrestlers under him. Currently there are 54 training stables for about 700 wrestlers.
I have done many portrait faces recently. This time, we can relax. These sumo wrestlers are cartoon-like and to make things easier, their faces are not detailed.
I am hoping you learned something from this tutorial. I am closing out now. I must say, there is something mighty majestic about these athletes. Perhaps it is because of they are mysterious or purely their physique, whichever, I wish I can meet a sumo wrestler. In Japan, they are the celebrities of their sport world.
This is what your wrestler should look like when you are done. All you have to do is color him in.
Here is the last step. I made this line drawing especially for you if you don't want to do the pencil shading and blending part.
| Organization | Members (Oyakata) | Training Stables (Heya) | Wrestlers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan Sumo Association | Former Wrestlers | 54 | Approximately 700 |