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The Grand Sumo Tournament

Venue: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Dates: October 15th through 19th

Understanding Japan's National Sport

Sumo represents the traditional sport of Japan, combining tradition, discipline and ancient spiritual practices with origins more than 1,000 years.

This physical contest involves two competitors – known as rikishi – competing within a circular arena – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.

Various rituals take place both preceding and following each bout, highlighting the ceremonial aspects in sumo.

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

The hole gets sealed, containing within a spirit. Sumo wrestlers subsequently execute a ritual stamp and clap to scare away bad spirits.

Professional sumo is governed a rigid ranking system, and the wrestlers involved commit completely to it – living and training in group settings.

The London Location

The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held outside of Japan for just the second time, as the tournament taking place in London beginning October 15th through October 19th.

The British capital with this iconic venue also hosted the 1991 edition – marking the initial occasion such an event took place outside Japan in the sport's history.

Clarifying the decision behind going overseas, sumo leadership expressed the intention to share with London audiences sumo's attraction – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".

Sumo has experienced substantial growth in popularity globally recently, with overseas events could further boost the appeal of traditional Japan abroad.

How Sumo Matches Work

The basic rules in sumo wrestling are quite simple. The match is decided once a wrestler 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 over two minutes.

There exist two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers generally push their opponents out of the ring through strength, whereas grapplers choose to grip their opponent employing throwing techniques.

High-ranking rikishi often master multiple combat styles and can adapt against different styles.

There are dozens of victory moves, including dramatic throws strategic evasions. This diversity in moves and tactics maintains fan interest, meaning unexpected results can occur in any bout.

Size categories do not exist in sumo, so it's common to see rikishi with significant size differences. Sumo rankings determine matchups instead of physical attributes.

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 reside and practice together in training stables called heya, led by a stable master.

Everyday life of a rikishi centers completely around the sport. They rise early dedicated to training, then consuming a large meal the traditional stew – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – and an afternoon nap.

The average wrestler consumes between six to 10 bowls per meal – thousands of calories – although legendary stories of extreme consumption exist in sumo history.

Rikishi intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage in the ring. Despite their size, they possess surprising agility, quick movements and explosive power.

Virtually every aspect of wrestlers' existence are regulated through their training house and governing body – creating a unique lifestyle among athletic professions.

Competitive standing determines earnings, accommodation options and even personal assistants.

Younger less established wrestlers perform duties in the stable, while higher ranked ones enjoy preferred treatment.

Competitive standings are established by results during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records advance, while those losing drop down the rankings.

Before each tournament, a new banzuke gets published – a traditional document showing everyone's status within the sport.

At the summit features the title of Grand Champion – the pinnacle position. These champions embody the spirit of sumo – beyond mere competition.

Who Becomes a Rikishi

The sport includes 600 rikishi in professional sumo, with most being Japanese.

International competitors have been involved prominently over years, including Mongolian wrestlers achieving dominance currently.

Current Yokozuna feature global participants, with competitors from various nations achieving high ranks.

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