The Reason the Grand Sumo Tournament Takes Place in the UK Capital

This Prestigious Sumo Competition

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

Exploring Sumo Wrestling

Sumo represents Japan's iconic national sport, blending tradition, discipline and Shinto religious rituals dating back over a millennium.

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

Traditional ceremonies are performed before and after each bout, emphasizing the traditional nature of the sport.

Customarily before a match, a hole is created in the center of the ring and filled with symbolic offerings by Shinto priests.

The hole is closed, enshrining inside divine presence. The rikishi subsequently execute a ritual stamp and clap to scare away bad spirits.

Elite sumo is governed a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers involved commit completely to the sport – residing and practicing in group settings.

The London Location

The Grand Sumo Tournament is taking place outside of Japan only the second occasion, with the competition taking place in London from Wednesday, 15 October through October 19th.

The British capital with this iconic venue previously held the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion a tournament took place outside Japan in sumo history.

Clarifying the decision for the international competition, the Japan Sumo Association chair stated he wanted to "convey to the people of London the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition".

Sumo has experienced a significant rise in popularity among international fans in recent years, and a rare international tournament potentially enhancing the appeal of Japanese culture abroad.

How Sumo Matches Work

The basic rules in sumo wrestling are straightforward. The match concludes once a wrestler gets pushed from the ring or makes contact using anything besides the sole of his feet.

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

There exist two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters generally push competitors from the arena through strength, whereas grapplers choose to grip their opponent employing judo-like throws.

High-ranking rikishi frequently excel in various techniques adjusting against different styles.

There are dozens of victory moves, including audacious throws to clever side-steps. The variety of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, so surprises and upsets can occur in any bout.

Weight classes are not used within sumo, so it's common to see rikishi with significant size differences. Sumo rankings decides opponents instead of body measurements.

Although female athletes do compete in non-professional sumo worldwide, they cannot enter elite competitions 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 on sumo. They rise early for intense practice, followed by a large meal of chankonabe – a high-protein dish designed for weight gain – with rest periods.

Typical rikishi consumes between six to 10 bowls each sitting – approximately 10,000 calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption are documented.

Rikishi intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage in the ring. Although large, they demonstrate surprising agility, quick movements and explosive power.

Nearly all elements of rikishi life are regulated by their stable and governing body – making a distinctive existence among athletic professions.

Competitive standing determines earnings, living arrangements and even personal assistants.

Younger or lower ranked wrestlers perform duties around the heya, whereas senior ones enjoy preferred treatment.

Sumo rankings get determined by results in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records advance, unsuccessful ones drop down the rankings.

Before each tournament, updated rankings are released – a ceremonial list showing everyone's status within the sport.

At the summit features the title of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna embody the essence of sumo – transcending winning.

Who Becomes a Rikishi

The sport includes several hundred wrestlers in professional sumo, primarily from Japan.

Foreign wrestlers have participated significantly over years, with Mongolian athletes reaching top levels currently.

Current Yokozuna include international representatives, with competitors multiple countries achieving high ranks.

In recent news, foreign prospects have traveled to Japan pursuing wrestling careers.