The Reason the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in the UK Capital
This Prestigious Sumo Competition
Venue: The Royal Albert Hall, London. Dates: October 15th through 19th
Exploring Japan's National Sport
Sumo embodies Japan's iconic national sport, blending tradition, rigorous training and ancient spiritual practices with origins more than 1,000 years.
This combat sport involves two competitors – called rikishi – battling inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.
Various rituals take place both preceding and following each bout, highlighting the ceremonial aspects of the sport.
Traditionally before a match, a hole is created in the center of the dohyo and filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.
The hole is closed, enshrining inside divine presence. Sumo wrestlers then perform a ritual stamp and clap to scare away negative energies.
Professional sumo operates under a rigid ranking system, and the wrestlers involved dedicate their entire lives to the sport – residing and practicing communally.
Why London?
The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held internationally only the second occasion, with the competition occurring in London from Wednesday, 15 October until Sunday, 19 October.
The British capital with this iconic venue also hosted the 1991 edition – marking the initial occasion a tournament was staged outside Japan in the sport's history.
Explaining the reasoning behind going overseas, the Japan Sumo Association chair stated the intention to "convey with London audiences sumo's attraction – a historic Japanese tradition".
The sport has seen substantial growth in international interest among international fans recently, with overseas events potentially enhancing the popularity of traditional Japan abroad.
How Sumo Matches Work
The fundamental regulations in sumo wrestling are straightforward. The bout concludes when a rikishi is forced out from the ring or touches the floor with anything other than their foot soles.
Bouts might end in a fraction of a second or last several minutes.
There exist two main fighting styles. Aggressive pushers generally push competitors out of the ring through strength, while belt-fighters choose to grip the other rikishi employing judo-like throws.
High-ranking rikishi frequently excel in multiple combat styles and can adapt to their opponents.
Sumo includes dozens of victory moves, ranging from audacious throws to clever side-steps. This diversity in moves and tactics keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results may happen during any match.
Weight classes do not exist within sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers of varying dimensions. The ranking system determine matchups instead of body measurements.
Although female athletes do compete in non-professional sumo worldwide, they cannot enter elite competitions or the main arenas.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Sumo wrestlers reside and practice in communal facilities known as heya, led by a head trainer.
The daily routine for wrestlers focuses entirely on sumo. They rise early for intense practice, followed by a large meal of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – and an afternoon nap.
Typical rikishi eats approximately multiple servings per meal – thousands of calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption exist in sumo history.
Rikishi intentionally gain weight to enhance leverage in the ring. Despite their size, they demonstrate remarkable flexibility, rapid reflexes with strong bursts.
Nearly all elements of rikishi life are regulated by their stable and governing body – making a distinctive existence among athletic professions.
Competitive standing determines their payment, living arrangements and even personal assistants.
Junior or lower ranked wrestlers perform duties in the stable, whereas senior ones enjoy preferred treatment.
Competitive standings get determined through performance during yearly events. Successful competitors advance, while those losing descend in standing.
Prior to events, updated rankings gets published – a traditional document showing all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo.
The highest level features the title of Grand Champion – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna represent the essence of sumo – beyond mere competition.
Who Becomes a Rikishi
There are approximately 600 rikishi competing professionally, with most from Japan.
Foreign wrestlers have been involved significantly over years, with Mongolian athletes reaching top levels in recent times.
Current Yokozuna include global participants, including wrestlers multiple countries achieving high ranks.
In recent news, foreign prospects have journeyed to the homeland pursuing wrestling careers.
