Why the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in London

This Prestigious Sumo Competition

Location: The Royal Albert Hall, London. Dates: October 15th through 19th

Understanding Japan's National Sport

Sumo embodies the traditional sport of Japan, combining custom, discipline and Shinto religious rituals with origins over a millennium.

This combat sport involves two competitors – known as rikishi – battling inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across.

Traditional ceremonies take place before and after each bout, highlighting the ceremonial aspects in sumo.

Traditionally prior to competition, a hole is created in the center of the dohyo then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.

The hole is closed, enshrining inside a spirit. Sumo wrestlers then perform a ritual stamp and clap to scare away negative energies.

Professional sumo is governed a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers who participate commit completely to the sport – residing and practicing communally.

The London Location

The Grand Sumo Tournament is taking place outside of Japan only the second occasion, as the tournament occurring in London beginning October 15th through October 19th.

The British capital with this iconic venue also hosted the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion a tournament was staged outside Japan in the sport's history.

Explaining the reasoning for the international competition, sumo leadership stated the intention to share to the people of London sumo's attraction – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".

The sport has seen a significant rise in international interest globally in recent years, and a rare international tournament could further boost the appeal of traditional Japan abroad.

Sumo Bout Mechanics

The basic rules in sumo wrestling are quite simple. 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 might end in a fraction of a second or last over two minutes.

There exist two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers typically shove competitors out of the ring by force, while belt-fighters prefer to grapple the other rikishi employing judo-like throws.

Elite wrestlers often master multiple combat styles and can adapt to their opponents.

There are 82 winning techniques, ranging from dramatic throws to clever side-steps. The variety in moves and tactics maintains fan interest, meaning unexpected results may happen in any bout.

Weight classes are not used within sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers with significant size differences. The ranking system determine matchups rather than physical attributes.

Although female athletes can participate in non-professional sumo worldwide, they cannot enter professional tournaments including major venues.

Rikishi Lifestyle

Sumo wrestlers live and train together in training stables known as heya, under a stable master.

The daily routine of a rikishi 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 – with rest periods.

The average wrestler consumes between multiple servings each sitting – thousands of calories – although legendary stories of massive eating are documented.

Wrestlers purposely increase mass to enhance leverage in the ring. Despite their size, they possess remarkable flexibility, rapid reflexes and explosive power.

Nearly all elements of rikishi life get controlled by their stable and the Sumo Association – creating a unique lifestyle in professional sports.

Competitive standing affects their payment, accommodation options including support staff.

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

Sumo rankings get determined through performance during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records move up, while those losing drop down the rankings.

Prior to events, a new banzuke gets published – a traditional document displaying all wrestlers' positions within the sport.

At the summit exists the rank of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna embody the spirit of sumo – transcending winning.

Sumo Wrestlers Demographics

There are approximately 600 rikishi competing professionally, primarily from Japan.

Foreign wrestlers have been involved prominently for decades, including Mongolian wrestlers reaching top levels in recent times.

Current Yokozuna include international representatives, with competitors from various nations achieving high ranks.

Recently, young international aspirants have traveled to Japan seeking professional sumo careers.