Why the Grand Sumo Tournament Takes Place in London
This Prestigious Sumo Competition
Venue: This Historic London Venue, London. Dates: October 15th through 19th
Understanding Sumo Wrestling
Sumo represents Japan's iconic national sport, blending tradition, rigorous training and Shinto religious rituals with origins over a millennium.
This physical contest involves two competitors – known as rikishi – competing inside a raised circular ring – a dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) across.
Traditional ceremonies are performed before and after every match, highlighting the ceremonial aspects in sumo.
Customarily prior to competition, an opening is made at the center of the ring and filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.
The hole gets sealed, enshrining inside divine presence. The rikishi then perform a ritual stamp and clap to drive off negative energies.
Elite sumo operates under a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers who participate dedicate their entire lives to it – living and training in group settings.
The London Location
The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held outside of Japan only the second occasion, with the competition taking place in London from Wednesday, 15 October through October 19th.
The British capital and The Royal Albert Hall previously held the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion a tournament took place beyond Japan in sumo history.
Clarifying the decision for the international competition, the Japan Sumo Association chair expressed the intention to "convey with London audiences sumo's attraction – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".
Sumo has seen substantial growth in popularity among international fans recently, and a rare international tournament could further boost the popularity of Japanese culture abroad.
How Sumo Matches Work
The fundamental regulations in sumo wrestling are quite simple. The match concludes once a wrestler 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 last over two minutes.
Sumo features two main fighting styles. Aggressive pushers generally push their opponents out of the ring by force, while belt-fighters prefer to grapple the other rikishi employing throwing techniques.
Elite wrestlers frequently excel in multiple combat styles and can adapt against different styles.
Sumo includes dozens of victory moves, including dramatic throws to clever side-steps. The variety in moves and tactics maintains fan interest, so surprises and upsets can occur in any bout.
Size categories do not exist within sumo, so it's common to see rikishi with significant size differences. Sumo rankings determine matchups instead of body measurements.
While women can participate in amateur sumo globally, they cannot enter professional tournaments or the main arenas.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Sumo wrestlers live and train together in training stables called heya, under a stable master.
Everyday life of a rikishi focuses entirely on sumo. Early mornings for intense practice, then consuming a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation aimed at building mass – and an afternoon nap.
The average wrestler consumes between multiple servings per meal – thousands of calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption exist in sumo history.
Wrestlers intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage during matches. Although large, they possess surprising agility, 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, living arrangements including personal assistants.
Younger or lower ranked wrestlers perform duties in the stable, whereas senior ones enjoy special privileges.
Sumo rankings are established by results during yearly events. Successful competitors move up, while those losing drop down in standing.
Prior to events, updated rankings are released – a traditional document displaying everyone's status within the sport.
At the summit exists the rank of Grand Champion – the pinnacle position. Yokozuna embody the essence of sumo – transcending winning.
Who Becomes a Rikishi
There are approximately 600 rikishi in professional sumo, primarily being Japanese.
Foreign wrestlers have been involved prominently over years, with Mongolian athletes achieving dominance currently.
Top champions include international representatives, with competitors multiple countries reaching elite status.
In recent news, young international aspirants have traveled to the homeland seeking professional sumo careers.
