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This Prestigious Sumo Competition

Location: This Historic London Venue, the British Capital. Dates: 15-19 October

Exploring Japan's National Sport

Sumo represents Japan's iconic national sport, combining tradition, rigorous training and Shinto religious rituals dating back more than 1,000 years.

This combat sport involves two competitors – known as rikishi – competing within a circular arena – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across.

Traditional ceremonies are performed before and after each bout, highlighting the traditional nature in sumo.

Customarily before a match, a hole is made in the center of the dohyo and filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.

This opening is closed, enshrining inside divine presence. The rikishi subsequently execute a ritual stamp with hand clapping to scare away bad spirits.

Professional sumo operates under a rigid ranking system, and the wrestlers involved dedicate their entire lives to it – living and training communally.

Why London?

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

London and The Royal Albert Hall also hosted the 1991 tournament – the first time a tournament took place beyond Japan in the sport's history.

Clarifying the decision behind going overseas, the Japan Sumo Association chair stated he wanted to "convey with London audiences the appeal of Sumo – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".

The sport has experienced substantial growth in popularity globally in recent years, with overseas events could further boost the appeal of Japanese culture abroad.

How Sumo Matches Work

The basic rules of sumo are straightforward. The match is decided once a wrestler gets pushed of the dohyo or makes contact using anything besides their foot soles.

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

Sumo features two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters generally push competitors out of the ring by force, while belt-fighters choose to grip the other rikishi and use throwing techniques.

High-ranking rikishi frequently excel in multiple combat styles adjusting to their opponents.

There are dozens of victory moves, ranging from dramatic throws strategic evasions. This diversity in moves and tactics keeps audiences engaged, so surprises and upsets may happen in any bout.

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

While women can participate in non-professional sumo globally, they cannot enter elite competitions including major venues.

Rikishi Lifestyle

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

Everyday life for wrestlers centers completely around the sport. They rise early dedicated to training, followed by a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a high-protein dish designed for weight gain – with rest periods.

The average wrestler consumes between multiple servings per meal – thousands of calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption exist in sumo history.

Wrestlers purposely increase mass to enhance leverage during matches. Although large, they demonstrate remarkable flexibility, rapid reflexes with strong bursts.

Nearly all elements of rikishi life get controlled by their stable and the Sumo Association – making a distinctive existence in professional sports.

A wrestler's ranking affects their payment, accommodation options including personal assistants.

Younger less established rikishi handle chores in the stable, while higher ranked ones enjoy special privileges.

Sumo rankings are established by results during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records move up, unsuccessful ones descend in standing.

Prior to events, a new banzuke gets published – a traditional document displaying everyone's status in professional sumo.

At the summit features the title of Yokozuna – the pinnacle position. These champions represent the essence of the sport – beyond mere competition.

Sumo Wrestlers Demographics

There are approximately 600 rikishi in professional sumo, primarily being Japanese.

Foreign wrestlers have been involved significantly over years, including Mongolian wrestlers achieving dominance in recent times.

Top champions feature international representatives, including wrestlers from various nations achieving high ranks.

In recent news, foreign prospects have traveled to the homeland seeking professional sumo careers.