The Reason the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in London
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Location: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Dates: October 15th through 19th
Exploring Sumo Wrestling
Sumo represents Japan's iconic national sport, combining custom, discipline and Shinto religious rituals dating back more than 1,000 years.
This combat sport features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – battling within a circular arena – the dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) in diameter.
Traditional ceremonies are performed before and after each bout, highlighting the traditional nature of the sport.
Traditionally before a match, a hole is created at the center of the dohyo and filled with symbolic offerings through Shinto ceremonies.
The hole gets sealed, containing within divine presence. Sumo wrestlers then perform a ritual stamp and clap to drive off bad spirits.
Elite sumo operates under a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers who participate dedicate their entire lives to it – living and training communally.
Why London?
This Major Sumo Event is taking place internationally only the second occasion, with the competition 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 beyond Japan in the sport's history.
Explaining the reasoning for the international competition, sumo leadership stated the intention to "convey with London audiences sumo's attraction – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".
Sumo has seen substantial growth in international interest among international fans recently, and a rare international tournament potentially enhancing the appeal of Japanese culture internationally.
How Sumo Matches Work
The basic rules of sumo are straightforward. The match is decided when a rikishi gets pushed from the ring or makes contact with anything other than their foot soles.
Matches might end in a fraction of a second or continue several minutes.
Sumo features two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters generally push their opponents from the arena through strength, whereas grapplers prefer to grapple their opponent and use judo-like throws.
Elite wrestlers frequently excel in various techniques and can adapt to their opponents.
There are 82 winning techniques, ranging from audacious throws to clever side-steps. The variety in moves and tactics maintains fan interest, meaning unexpected results may happen during any match.
Weight classes are not used within sumo, making it normal to see rikishi of varying dimensions. The ranking system determine matchups rather than body measurements.
Although female athletes do compete in amateur sumo worldwide, they cannot enter professional tournaments or the main arenas.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Professional rikishi live and train in communal facilities known as heya, led by a head trainer.
The daily routine for wrestlers centers completely around the sport. They rise early dedicated to training, then consuming a substantial lunch the traditional stew – a high-protein dish designed for weight gain – with rest periods.
The average wrestler consumes between six to 10 bowls per meal – approximately 10,000 calories – with notable instances of massive eating are documented.
Wrestlers intentionally gain weight to enhance leverage during matches. Despite their size, they possess surprising agility, rapid reflexes with strong bursts.
Nearly all elements of wrestlers' existence are regulated through their training house and the Sumo Association – creating a distinctive existence in professional sports.
A wrestler's ranking determines earnings, living arrangements and even support staff.
Junior or lower ranked wrestlers perform duties around the heya, while higher ranked ones enjoy special privileges.
Competitive standings get determined through performance during yearly events. Successful competitors advance, unsuccessful ones drop down in standing.
Before each tournament, a new banzuke gets published – a ceremonial list displaying all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo.
The highest level exists the rank of Grand Champion – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna represent the spirit of sumo – transcending winning.
Who Becomes a Rikishi
The sport includes 600 rikishi in professional sumo, primarily being Japanese.
International competitors have participated prominently for decades, including Mongolian wrestlers reaching top levels in recent times.
Top champions include international representatives, with competitors from various nations reaching elite status.
In recent news, young international aspirants have traveled to Japan pursuing professional sumo careers.
