Why the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in the UK Capital

The Grand Sumo Tournament

Venue: This Historic London Venue, the British Capital. Schedule: October 15th through 19th

Exploring Japan's National Sport

Sumo represents the traditional sport of Japan, combining tradition, discipline and ancient spiritual practices with origins over a millennium.

This physical contest involves two competitors – known as rikishi – battling within a circular arena – the dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) across.

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

Customarily before a match, a hole is created at the center of the dohyo then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.

The hole is closed, enshrining inside a spirit. The rikishi then perform a ritual stamp with hand clapping to drive off bad spirits.

Elite sumo is governed a rigid ranking system, with competitors who participate dedicate their entire lives to the sport – living and training in group settings.

Why London?

This Major Sumo Event is being held outside of Japan only the second occasion, as the tournament taking place in London beginning October 15th through October 19th.

The British capital and The Royal Albert Hall previously held the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion a tournament was staged beyond Japan in the sport's history.

Explaining the reasoning behind going overseas, sumo leadership stated he wanted to "convey with London audiences the appeal of Sumo – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".

The sport has experienced substantial growth 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 straightforward. The bout is decided when a rikishi is forced out of the dohyo or makes contact with anything other than their foot soles.

Bouts might end almost instantly or continue over two minutes.

There exist two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters generally push their opponents from the arena by force, while belt-fighters prefer to grapple their opponent employing judo-like throws.

Elite wrestlers often master various techniques adjusting to their opponents.

Sumo includes 82 winning techniques, ranging from audacious throws to clever side-steps. This diversity of techniques and strategies maintains fan interest, meaning unexpected results may happen during any match.

Weight classes are not used within sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers of varying dimensions. Sumo rankings decides opponents instead of physical attributes.

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

Rikishi Lifestyle

Professional rikishi live and train together in training stables known as heya, under a head trainer.

Everyday life for wrestlers focuses entirely on sumo. They rise early dedicated to training, then consuming a large meal the traditional stew – a high-protein dish aimed at building mass – with rest periods.

The average wrestler consumes between six to 10 bowls each sitting – thousands of calories – with notable instances of massive eating exist in sumo history.

Rikishi purposely increase mass for competitive advantage during matches. Despite their size, they possess remarkable flexibility, rapid reflexes and explosive power.

Virtually every aspect of wrestlers' existence get controlled by their stable and governing body – creating a distinctive existence in professional sports.

Competitive standing determines their payment, accommodation options and even support staff.

Younger less established wrestlers handle chores in the stable, while higher ranked competitors receive preferred treatment.

Competitive standings are established through performance during yearly events. Successful competitors advance, while those losing descend in standing.

Prior to events, a new banzuke are released – a ceremonial list showing all wrestlers' positions within the sport.

The highest level exists the rank of Grand Champion – the pinnacle position. These champions embody the spirit of sumo – beyond mere competition.

Who Becomes a Rikishi

There are approximately 600 rikishi competing professionally, with most from Japan.

International competitors have participated prominently for decades, with Mongolian athletes achieving dominance currently.

Top champions include international representatives, with competitors from various nations reaching elite status.

In recent news, foreign prospects have journeyed to the homeland seeking professional sumo careers.