Why This Major Sumo Event Takes Place in London

The Grand Sumo Tournament

Venue: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Schedule: October 15th through 19th

Understanding Sumo Wrestling

Sumo represents Japan's iconic national sport, blending tradition, rigorous training and Shinto religious rituals dating back more than 1,000 years.

This physical contest involves two competitors – known as rikishi – battling inside a raised circular ring – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.

Various rituals are performed both preceding and following every match, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects of the sport.

Customarily prior to competition, a hole is created at the center of the dohyo and filled with symbolic offerings through Shinto ceremonies.

The hole is closed, enshrining inside a spirit. The rikishi subsequently execute a ceremonial stomp with hand clapping to drive off negative energies.

Elite sumo operates under a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers who participate dedicate their entire lives to it – living and training in group settings.

The London Location

The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held outside of Japan for just the second time, as the tournament taking place in London beginning October 15th until Sunday, 19 October.

London and The Royal Albert Hall also hosted the 1991 edition – marking the initial occasion a tournament was staged beyond Japan in sumo history.

Clarifying the decision behind going overseas, sumo leadership expressed he wanted to "convey with London audiences sumo's attraction – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".

The sport has seen substantial growth in popularity globally in recent years, and a rare international tournament could further boost the popularity of traditional Japan internationally.

How Sumo Matches Work

The basic rules in sumo wrestling are straightforward. The match concludes once a wrestler is forced out of the dohyo or makes contact with anything other than the sole of his feet.

Matches can conclude in a fraction of a second or last over two minutes.

There exist two main fighting styles. Aggressive pushers typically shove their opponents from the arena by force, while belt-fighters choose to grip their opponent and use throwing techniques.

Elite wrestlers often master various techniques adjusting to their opponents.

Sumo includes dozens of victory moves, including audacious throws strategic evasions. This diversity in moves and tactics keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results may happen in any bout.

Size categories do not exist in sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers with significant size differences. Sumo rankings decides opponents instead of body measurements.

While women do compete in amateur sumo worldwide, they cannot enter elite competitions or the main arenas.

Life as a Sumo Wrestler

Professional rikishi reside and practice together in training stables called heya, under a stable master.

The daily routine for wrestlers centers completely around the sport. They rise early dedicated to training, then consuming a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – and an afternoon nap.

The average wrestler eats approximately six to 10 bowls each sitting – thousands of calories – with notable instances of massive eating are documented.

Wrestlers purposely increase mass for competitive advantage in the ring. Despite their size, they demonstrate surprising agility, rapid reflexes and explosive power.

Virtually every aspect of wrestlers' existence get controlled by their stable and the Sumo Association – making a unique lifestyle among athletic professions.

A wrestler's ranking determines earnings, accommodation options including personal assistants.

Younger less established rikishi handle chores around the heya, while higher ranked ones enjoy preferred treatment.

Sumo rankings get determined by results in six annual tournaments. Successful competitors advance, while those losing descend in standing.

Before each tournament, a new banzuke gets published – a traditional document showing all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo.

The highest level exists the rank of Grand Champion – the pinnacle position. These champions embody the spirit of the sport – transcending winning.

Who Becomes a Rikishi

The sport includes 600 rikishi in professional sumo, with most being Japanese.

International competitors have participated significantly over years, with Mongolian athletes achieving dominance currently.

Current Yokozuna feature international representatives, with competitors multiple countries reaching elite status.

Recently, young international aspirants have traveled to the homeland pursuing professional sumo careers.