The Reason the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in London
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Location: The Royal Albert Hall, London. Schedule: October 15th through 19th
Understanding Sumo Wrestling
Sumo represents Japan's iconic national sport, blending custom, discipline and ancient spiritual practices dating back more than 1,000 years.
This combat sport involves two competitors – called rikishi – competing inside a raised circular ring – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across.
Various rituals take place both preceding and following each bout, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects in sumo.
Customarily before a match, an opening is created at the center of the dohyo then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.
This opening is closed, containing within divine presence. Sumo wrestlers subsequently execute a ceremonial stomp and clap to drive off bad spirits.
Professional sumo operates under a strict hierarchy, with competitors who participate dedicate their entire lives to it – residing and practicing communally.
The London Location
The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held outside of Japan for just the second time, as the tournament occurring in London from Wednesday, 15 October until Sunday, 19 October.
London and The Royal Albert Hall previously held the 1991 tournament – the first time such an event took place outside Japan in the sport's history.
Clarifying the decision behind going overseas, the Japan Sumo Association chair stated he wanted to share with London audiences the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition".
The sport has seen substantial growth in popularity among international fans in recent years, and a rare international tournament could further boost the appeal of traditional Japan internationally.
How Sumo Matches Work
The basic rules of sumo are quite simple. The match concludes when a rikishi gets pushed of the dohyo or touches the floor with anything other than the sole of his feet.
Bouts might end in a fraction of a second or continue several minutes.
There exist two main fighting styles. Aggressive pushers generally push their opponents from the arena through strength, whereas grapplers choose to grip their opponent and use judo-like throws.
High-ranking rikishi often master various techniques and can adapt against different styles.
Sumo includes dozens of victory moves, ranging from dramatic throws to clever side-steps. This diversity in moves and tactics keeps audiences engaged, so surprises and upsets may happen during any match.
Weight classes are not used in sumo, making it normal to observe wrestlers of varying dimensions. Sumo rankings determine matchups rather than body measurements.
Although female athletes do compete in non-professional sumo worldwide, they cannot enter professional tournaments including major venues.
Rikishi Lifestyle
Professional rikishi live and train in communal facilities known as heya, under a stable master.
The daily routine for wrestlers focuses entirely on sumo. Early mornings dedicated to training, then consuming a substantial lunch the traditional stew – a protein-rich preparation aimed at building mass – with rest periods.
Typical rikishi eats approximately multiple servings each sitting – thousands of calories – although legendary stories of extreme consumption are documented.
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 wrestlers' existence get controlled through their training house and governing body – creating a unique lifestyle in professional sports.
Competitive standing determines earnings, accommodation options including support staff.
Junior less established wrestlers handle chores in the stable, whereas senior competitors receive preferred treatment.
Competitive standings are established through performance in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records advance, unsuccessful ones drop down the rankings.
Before each tournament, a new banzuke are released – a ceremonial list displaying all wrestlers' positions within the sport.
The highest level features the title of Grand Champion – the pinnacle position. These champions embody the essence of the sport – transcending winning.
Who Becomes a Rikishi
The sport includes 600 rikishi competing professionally, primarily being Japanese.
Foreign wrestlers have been involved significantly for decades, including Mongolian wrestlers reaching top levels in recent times.
Top champions include global participants, with competitors from various nations achieving high ranks.
In recent news, young international aspirants have journeyed to the homeland seeking wrestling careers.