Why the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in the UK Capital
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Location: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Dates: 15-19 October
Understanding Japan's National Sport
Sumo embodies Japan's iconic national sport, combining tradition, rigorous training and ancient spiritual practices with origins more than 1,000 years.
This combat sport features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – competing inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) across.
Various rituals are performed before and after each bout, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects of the sport.
Customarily before a match, an opening is created in the center of the dohyo and filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.
The hole gets sealed, enshrining inside a spirit. Sumo wrestlers subsequently execute a ceremonial stomp and clap to scare away negative energies.
Professional sumo operates under a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers involved dedicate their entire lives to the sport – residing and practicing communally.
Why London?
The Grand Sumo Tournament is taking place internationally for just the second time, as the tournament occurring in London from Wednesday, 15 October through October 19th.
London and The Royal Albert Hall also hosted the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion a tournament was staged outside Japan in the sport's history.
Clarifying the decision for the international competition, the Japan Sumo Association chair stated he wanted to share with London audiences sumo's attraction – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".
Sumo has experienced a significant rise in international interest 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 straightforward. The match is decided when a rikishi is forced out of the dohyo or touches the floor with anything other than their foot soles.
Matches might end in a fraction of a second or continue over two minutes.
Sumo features two primary techniques. Pusher-thrusters generally push competitors from the arena through strength, while belt-fighters prefer to grapple the other rikishi employing judo-like throws.
Elite wrestlers frequently excel in multiple combat styles and can adapt to their opponents.
Sumo includes dozens of victory moves, including audacious throws strategic evasions. This diversity of techniques and strategies maintains fan interest, so surprises and upsets may happen during any match.
Size categories do not exist in sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers of varying dimensions. The ranking system decides opponents rather than physical attributes.
While women can participate in amateur sumo worldwide, they cannot enter professional tournaments including major venues.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Professional rikishi live and train in communal facilities known as heya, led by a head trainer.
Everyday life of a rikishi focuses entirely on sumo. They rise early for intense practice, then consuming a large meal of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation aimed at building mass – with rest periods.
Typical rikishi consumes between six to 10 bowls per meal – approximately 10,000 calories – although legendary stories of massive eating are documented.
Rikishi intentionally gain weight to enhance leverage in the ring. Although large, they possess remarkable flexibility, quick movements with strong bursts.
Virtually every aspect of rikishi life are regulated through their training house and governing body – making a unique lifestyle in professional sports.
Competitive standing affects their payment, accommodation options and even personal assistants.
Junior or lower ranked wrestlers perform duties in the stable, while higher ranked ones enjoy preferred treatment.
Competitive standings are established through performance during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records move up, unsuccessful ones descend in standing.
Before each tournament, a new banzuke gets published – a traditional document showing everyone's status in professional sumo.
The highest level features the title of Yokozuna – the pinnacle position. Yokozuna represent the essence of sumo – beyond mere competition.
Who Becomes a Rikishi
The sport includes several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, primarily from Japan.
International competitors have participated prominently for decades, including Mongolian wrestlers achieving dominance currently.
Top champions include global participants, with competitors multiple countries reaching elite status.
Recently, foreign prospects have journeyed to the homeland pursuing professional sumo careers.
