The Reason the Grand Sumo Tournament Takes Place in London

This Prestigious Sumo Competition

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

Understanding Japan's National Sport

Sumo embodies Japan's iconic national sport, combining custom, rigorous training and Shinto religious rituals dating back over a millennium.

This physical contest features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – competing inside a raised circular ring – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across.

Traditional ceremonies take place both preceding and following every match, highlighting the ceremonial aspects of the sport.

Customarily before a match, an opening is created at the center of the dohyo and filled with symbolic offerings through Shinto ceremonies.

This opening gets sealed, containing within divine presence. Sumo wrestlers subsequently execute a ceremonial stomp and clap to drive off negative energies.

Elite sumo operates under a strict hierarchy, with competitors who participate commit completely to it – living and training in group settings.

The London Location

This Major Sumo Event is being held outside of Japan for just the second time, with the competition taking place in London from Wednesday, 15 October until Sunday, 19 October.

London and The Royal Albert Hall previously held the 1991 edition – marking the initial occasion a tournament took place outside Japan in the sport's history.

Clarifying the decision for the international competition, sumo leadership stated the intention to share to the people of London the appeal of Sumo – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".

Sumo has experienced substantial growth in popularity among international fans recently, with overseas events potentially enhancing the popularity of traditional Japan internationally.

Sumo Bout Mechanics

The fundamental regulations of sumo are quite simple. The bout concludes once a wrestler gets pushed from the ring or makes contact with anything other than the sole of his feet.

Bouts might end in a fraction of a second or last over two minutes.

Sumo features two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers typically shove their opponents out of the ring by force, whereas grapplers choose to grip their opponent employing throwing techniques.

Elite wrestlers frequently excel in multiple combat styles and can adapt to their opponents.

There are 82 winning techniques, ranging from audacious throws to clever side-steps. This diversity in moves and tactics keeps audiences engaged, so surprises and upsets can occur during any match.

Size categories are not used within sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers of varying dimensions. Sumo rankings decides opponents instead of body measurements.

Although female athletes do compete in amateur sumo worldwide, they cannot enter elite competitions including major venues.

Life as a Sumo Wrestler

Professional rikishi live and train in communal facilities called heya, led by a stable master.

The daily routine for wrestlers focuses entirely around the sport. Early mornings for intense practice, followed by a large meal the traditional stew – a protein-rich preparation aimed at building mass – and an afternoon nap.

The average wrestler consumes between six to 10 bowls per meal – approximately 10,000 calories – although legendary stories of massive eating are documented.

Wrestlers purposely increase mass to enhance leverage in the ring. Despite their size, they demonstrate surprising agility, rapid reflexes and explosive power.

Nearly all elements of rikishi life get controlled through their training house and the Sumo Association – making a distinctive existence among athletic professions.

Competitive standing affects earnings, accommodation options and even personal assistants.

Junior or lower ranked wrestlers handle chores around the heya, whereas senior ones enjoy preferred treatment.

Sumo rankings are established through performance during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records advance, unsuccessful ones drop down the rankings.

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

The highest level features the title of Yokozuna – the pinnacle position. These champions embody the essence of the sport – transcending winning.

Who Becomes a Rikishi

There are approximately several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, with most being Japanese.

Foreign wrestlers have been involved prominently over years, including Mongolian wrestlers reaching top levels currently.

Current Yokozuna feature global participants, including wrestlers from various nations reaching elite status.

Recently, young international aspirants have journeyed to Japan pursuing professional sumo careers.