The Reason This Major Sumo Event is Being Held in the UK Capital
This Prestigious Sumo Competition
Location: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Schedule: 15-19 October
Understanding Japan's National Sport
Sumo represents Japan's iconic national sport, combining tradition, rigorous training and ancient spiritual practices with origins over a millennium.
This physical contest features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – battling inside a raised circular ring – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across.
Traditional ceremonies are performed both preceding and following each bout, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects in sumo.
Traditionally prior to competition, an opening is created at the center of the ring then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.
The hole gets sealed, enshrining inside divine presence. Sumo wrestlers then perform a ritual stamp with hand clapping to scare away negative energies.
Elite sumo operates under a rigid ranking system, with competitors involved commit completely to the sport – residing and practicing in group settings.
The London Location
This Major Sumo Event is being held internationally only the second occasion, as the tournament taking place 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 outside Japan in the sport's history.
Clarifying the decision behind going overseas, sumo leadership stated the intention to "convey with London audiences sumo's attraction – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".
Sumo has experienced a significant rise in international interest globally recently, and a rare international tournament could further boost the popularity of Japanese culture abroad.
Sumo Bout Mechanics
The basic rules of sumo are quite simple. The bout is decided when a rikishi gets pushed from the ring or touches the floor using anything besides their foot soles.
Matches might end in a fraction of a second or last several minutes.
There exist two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters typically shove their opponents from the arena by force, while belt-fighters prefer to grapple the other rikishi and use judo-like throws.
Elite wrestlers often master multiple combat styles and can adapt to their opponents.
There are 82 winning techniques, including dramatic throws strategic evasions. The variety in moves and tactics keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results can occur during any match.
Size categories do not exist within sumo, making it normal to observe wrestlers with significant size differences. Sumo rankings decides opponents instead of body measurements.
While women can participate in non-professional sumo worldwide, they cannot enter professional tournaments or the main arenas.
Rikishi Lifestyle
Professional rikishi live and train together in training stables called heya, under a head trainer.
The daily routine for wrestlers focuses entirely around the sport. Early mornings for intense practice, followed by a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – with rest periods.
The average wrestler consumes between multiple servings 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 remarkable flexibility, rapid reflexes with strong bursts.
Virtually every aspect of rikishi life get controlled through their training house and governing body – creating a distinctive existence in professional sports.
A wrestler's ranking determines their payment, accommodation options including support staff.
Junior or lower ranked wrestlers perform duties around the heya, whereas senior ones enjoy special privileges.
Competitive standings get determined by results in six annual tournaments. Successful competitors advance, while those losing drop down in standing.
Before each tournament, a new banzuke gets published – a ceremonial list displaying everyone's status in professional sumo.
At the summit features the title of Yokozuna – the pinnacle position. These champions embody the essence of sumo – beyond mere competition.
Sumo Wrestlers Demographics
There are approximately several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, primarily being Japanese.
International competitors have been involved prominently over years, including Mongolian wrestlers reaching top levels in recent times.
Top champions feature international representatives, including wrestlers multiple countries reaching elite status.
In recent news, foreign prospects have journeyed to the homeland seeking wrestling careers.
