The Reason the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in London
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Venue: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Dates: 15-19 October
Exploring Sumo Wrestling
Sumo embodies Japan's iconic national sport, combining tradition, discipline and ancient spiritual practices dating back more than 1,000 years.
This combat sport features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – competing within a circular arena – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.
Traditional ceremonies are performed both preceding and following every match, highlighting the traditional nature of the sport.
Traditionally before a match, an opening is created in the center of the dohyo then filled with symbolic offerings through Shinto ceremonies.
The hole gets sealed, containing within a spirit. Sumo wrestlers then perform a ritual stamp and clap to drive off bad spirits.
Elite sumo is governed a strict hierarchy, with competitors who participate dedicate their entire lives to it – residing and practicing in group settings.
The London Location
The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held internationally only the second occasion, with the competition occurring in London beginning October 15th until Sunday, 19 October.
The British capital with this iconic venue also hosted the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion such an event was staged outside Japan in the sport's history.
Clarifying the decision for the international competition, the Japan Sumo Association chair stated the intention to share with London audiences sumo's attraction – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".
The sport has experienced a significant rise in popularity globally recently, and a rare international tournament could further boost the popularity of Japanese culture abroad.
Sumo Bout Mechanics
The basic rules of sumo are quite simple. The match is decided once a wrestler is forced out from the ring or makes contact with anything other than their foot soles.
Matches can conclude almost instantly or continue over two minutes.
There exist two main fighting styles. Aggressive pushers typically shove competitors out of the ring by force, while belt-fighters choose to grip their opponent employing judo-like throws.
Elite wrestlers often master various techniques adjusting to their opponents.
Sumo includes dozens of victory moves, including dramatic throws strategic evasions. This diversity of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results may happen in any bout.
Weight classes are not used within sumo, so it's common to see rikishi with significant size differences. The ranking system decides opponents instead of physical attributes.
Although female athletes do compete in non-professional sumo globally, they cannot enter elite competitions or the main arenas.
Rikishi Lifestyle
Sumo wrestlers reside and practice in communal facilities called heya, led by a stable master.
The daily routine of a rikishi focuses entirely on sumo. Early mornings dedicated to training, followed by a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation aimed at building mass – with rest periods.
Typical rikishi eats approximately six to 10 bowls per meal – approximately 10,000 calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption are documented.
Wrestlers intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage in the ring. Despite their size, they demonstrate remarkable flexibility, quick movements with strong bursts.
Virtually every aspect of rikishi life are regulated by their stable and governing body – making a distinctive existence among athletic professions.
Competitive standing determines earnings, living arrangements including personal assistants.
Younger or lower ranked rikishi perform duties around the heya, while higher ranked ones enjoy special privileges.
Sumo rankings are established by results in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records move up, while those losing descend the rankings.
Before each tournament, a new banzuke are released – a ceremonial list showing everyone's status within the sport.
The highest level exists the rank of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna embody the spirit of the sport – beyond mere competition.
Who Becomes a Rikishi
The sport includes several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, with most from Japan.
International competitors have been involved significantly over years, with Mongolian athletes reaching top levels in recent times.
Current Yokozuna feature global participants, with competitors from various nations reaching elite status.
Recently, foreign prospects have journeyed to the homeland seeking wrestling careers.
