The Reason the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in London
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Venue: The Royal Albert Hall, London. Schedule: 15-19 October
Understanding Sumo Wrestling
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 inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.
Traditional ceremonies take place before and after every match, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects of the sport.
Customarily prior to competition, a hole is created at the center of the dohyo then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.
This opening gets sealed, enshrining inside divine presence. The rikishi then perform a ritual stamp and clap to scare away bad spirits.
Professional sumo is governed a rigid ranking system, and the wrestlers involved dedicate their entire lives to the sport – living and training communally.
Why London?
This Major Sumo Event is being held internationally only the second occasion, with the competition occurring in London from Wednesday, 15 October until Sunday, 19 October.
The British capital and The Royal Albert Hall also hosted the 1991 edition – marking the initial occasion a tournament took place beyond Japan in the sport's history.
Clarifying the decision for the international competition, the Japan Sumo Association chair expressed he wanted to "convey to the people of London the appeal of Sumo – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".
Sumo has experienced substantial growth in popularity globally in recent years, with overseas events could further boost the appeal of traditional Japan internationally.
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 might end almost instantly or continue over two minutes.
Sumo features two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters generally push their opponents out of the ring by force, whereas grapplers prefer to grapple their opponent and use throwing techniques.
Elite wrestlers often master various techniques and can adapt to their opponents.
Sumo includes 82 winning techniques, ranging from dramatic throws to clever side-steps. The variety of techniques and strategies maintains fan interest, meaning unexpected results may happen in any bout.
Size categories are not used within sumo, making it normal to see rikishi of varying dimensions. Sumo rankings determine matchups rather than physical attributes.
Although female athletes do compete in non-professional sumo globally, they cannot enter elite competitions including major venues.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Professional rikishi live and train together in training stables called heya, under a stable master.
The daily routine for wrestlers focuses entirely on sumo. Early mornings dedicated to training, then consuming a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – with rest periods.
Typical rikishi consumes between six to 10 bowls each sitting – approximately 10,000 calories – with notable instances of massive eating are documented.
Wrestlers intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage in the ring. Although large, they demonstrate remarkable flexibility, rapid reflexes and explosive power.
Nearly all elements of rikishi life are regulated by their stable and the Sumo Association – making a unique lifestyle among athletic professions.
A wrestler's ranking determines their payment, accommodation options and even support staff.
Junior less established wrestlers perform duties around the heya, whereas senior competitors receive preferred treatment.
Sumo rankings get determined by results during yearly events. Successful competitors advance, while those losing drop down the rankings.
Before each tournament, a new banzuke gets published – a ceremonial list showing everyone's status within the sport.
At the summit exists the rank of Grand Champion – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna represent the essence of the sport – beyond mere competition.
Sumo Wrestlers Demographics
There are approximately several hundred wrestlers in professional sumo, with most being Japanese.
Foreign wrestlers have been involved significantly for decades, including Mongolian wrestlers achieving dominance in recent times.
Current Yokozuna feature global participants, with competitors from various nations achieving high ranks.
Recently, young international aspirants have traveled to Japan pursuing wrestling careers.