Why This Major Sumo Event Takes Place in London
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Location: This Historic London Venue, the British Capital. Schedule: October 15th through 19th
Understanding Sumo Wrestling
Sumo represents Japan's iconic national sport, combining tradition, discipline and ancient spiritual practices with origins more than 1,000 years.
This combat sport involves two competitors – called rikishi – competing inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) across.
Traditional ceremonies take place before and after each bout, highlighting the ceremonial aspects in sumo.
Customarily before a match, an opening is made in the center of the dohyo and filled with symbolic offerings by Shinto priests.
This opening gets sealed, enshrining inside a spirit. The rikishi subsequently execute a ceremonial stomp and clap to scare away bad spirits.
Elite sumo operates under a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers who participate commit completely to it – residing and practicing communally.
Why London?
This Major Sumo Event is being held internationally for just the second time, as the tournament taking place in London beginning October 15th until Sunday, 19 October.
The British capital with this iconic venue previously held the 1991 edition – marking the initial occasion a tournament took place outside Japan in the sport's history.
Clarifying the decision behind going overseas, sumo leadership expressed he wanted to share with London audiences the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition".
The sport has seen substantial growth in popularity globally in recent years, with overseas events could further boost the appeal of Japanese culture internationally.
Sumo Bout Mechanics
The basic rules of sumo are straightforward. The bout concludes when a rikishi gets pushed of the dohyo or touches the floor with anything other than their foot soles.
Matches can conclude in a fraction of a second or continue over two minutes.
There exist two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters typically shove competitors from the arena through strength, whereas grapplers choose to grip the other rikishi employing judo-like throws.
Elite wrestlers frequently excel in multiple combat styles adjusting to their opponents.
There are 82 winning techniques, including audacious throws to clever side-steps. This diversity of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, so surprises and upsets may happen during any match.
Size categories do not exist within sumo, making it normal to observe wrestlers of varying dimensions. The ranking system decides opponents rather than physical attributes.
While women can participate in non-professional sumo worldwide, they're excluded from professional tournaments including major venues.
Rikishi Lifestyle
Sumo wrestlers reside and practice together in training stables known as heya, under a stable master.
The daily routine for wrestlers focuses entirely around the sport. They rise early for intense practice, then consuming a substantial lunch the traditional stew – a protein-rich preparation aimed at building mass – with rest periods.
The average wrestler eats approximately six to 10 bowls each sitting – thousands of calories – although legendary stories of massive eating are documented.
Wrestlers purposely increase mass for competitive advantage during matches. Despite their size, they demonstrate remarkable flexibility, rapid reflexes with strong bursts.
Virtually every aspect of wrestlers' existence are regulated by their stable and the Sumo Association – creating a unique lifestyle in professional sports.
Competitive standing determines their payment, accommodation options and even personal assistants.
Junior or lower ranked rikishi handle chores in the stable, while higher ranked competitors receive special privileges.
Competitive standings get determined by results in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records advance, while those losing drop down the rankings.
Before each tournament, a new banzuke are released – a ceremonial list displaying everyone's status in professional sumo.
At the summit exists the rank of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. These champions embody the spirit of the sport – transcending winning.
Who Becomes a Rikishi
There are approximately 600 rikishi competing professionally, with most being Japanese.
International competitors have been involved significantly for decades, with Mongolian athletes achieving dominance in recent times.
Top champions include global participants, with competitors multiple countries reaching elite status.
Recently, young international aspirants have traveled to the homeland pursuing wrestling careers.
