Why the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in the UK Capital
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Location: This Historic London Venue, London. Schedule: 15-19 October
Understanding Japan's National Sport
Sumo embodies the traditional sport of Japan, combining tradition, discipline and ancient spiritual practices with origins more than 1,000 years.
This physical contest features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – battling within a circular arena – a dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) in diameter.
Various rituals are performed before and after every match, highlighting the ceremonial aspects of the sport.
Customarily before a match, a hole is made at the center of the ring and filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.
This opening is closed, 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 dedicate their entire lives to it – living and training in group settings.
Why London?
This Major Sumo Event is being held internationally for just the second time, with the competition 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 such an event took place beyond Japan in sumo history.
Explaining the reasoning for the international competition, sumo leadership stated he wanted to "convey to the people of London the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition".
Sumo has seen a significant rise in popularity among international fans in recent years, and a rare international tournament could further boost the appeal of Japanese culture abroad.
How Sumo Matches Work
The basic rules in sumo wrestling are straightforward. The match concludes when a rikishi gets pushed from the ring 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.
There exist two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers generally push competitors out of the ring through strength, while belt-fighters prefer to grapple their opponent employing judo-like throws.
High-ranking rikishi frequently excel in multiple combat styles and can adapt to their opponents.
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 are not used within sumo, making it normal to see rikishi with significant size differences. The ranking system decides opponents instead of physical attributes.
While women can participate in amateur sumo globally, they cannot enter professional tournaments including major venues.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Sumo wrestlers live and train in communal facilities called heya, under a stable master.
Everyday life for wrestlers centers completely around the sport. They rise early for intense practice, followed by a large meal the traditional stew – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – with rest periods.
Typical rikishi consumes between multiple servings each sitting – approximately 10,000 calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption exist in sumo history.
Rikishi intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage during matches. Despite their size, they demonstrate remarkable flexibility, rapid reflexes and explosive power.
Nearly all elements of wrestlers' existence get controlled through their training house and the Sumo Association – creating a unique lifestyle among athletic professions.
Competitive standing affects their payment, living arrangements including personal assistants.
Junior less established rikishi handle chores around the heya, while higher ranked ones enjoy preferred treatment.
Competitive standings are established through performance in six annual tournaments. Successful competitors advance, while those losing drop down the rankings.
Before each tournament, updated rankings gets published – a traditional document showing all wrestlers' positions within the sport.
The highest level exists the rank of Grand Champion – the pinnacle position. These champions embody the spirit of sumo – transcending winning.
Sumo Wrestlers Demographics
The sport includes several hundred wrestlers in professional sumo, with most from Japan.
International competitors have participated prominently for decades, including Mongolian wrestlers reaching top levels currently.
Current Yokozuna include international representatives, with competitors from various nations achieving high ranks.
Recently, young international aspirants have traveled to Japan seeking professional sumo careers.
