The Reason This Major Sumo Event Takes Place in the UK Capital

This Prestigious Sumo Competition

Location: The Royal Albert Hall, London. Dates: October 15th through 19th

Exploring Sumo Wrestling

Sumo represents the traditional sport of Japan, combining custom, discipline and Shinto religious rituals with origins more than 1,000 years.

This physical contest involves two competitors – called rikishi – battling inside a raised circular ring – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.

Traditional ceremonies take place before and after each bout, emphasizing the traditional nature in sumo.

Traditionally prior to competition, a hole is made in the center of the dohyo and filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.

The hole gets sealed, containing within divine presence. Sumo wrestlers subsequently execute a ritual stamp with hand clapping to scare away bad spirits.

Elite sumo is governed a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers involved dedicate their entire lives to the sport – residing and practicing in group settings.

The London Location

The Grand Sumo Tournament is taking place outside of Japan for just the second time, as the tournament taking place in London beginning October 15th through October 19th.

London and The Royal Albert Hall also hosted the 1991 edition – marking the initial occasion a tournament was staged beyond Japan in sumo history.

Clarifying the decision behind going overseas, sumo leadership expressed he wanted to share to the people of London sumo's attraction – a historic Japanese tradition".

The sport has experienced substantial growth in popularity among international fans recently, with overseas events potentially enhancing the popularity of traditional Japan abroad.

Sumo Bout Mechanics

The basic rules of sumo are straightforward. The match concludes when a rikishi gets pushed from the ring or touches the floor with anything other than their foot soles.

Bouts might end almost instantly or last several minutes.

There exist two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers typically shove competitors out of the ring through strength, whereas grapplers choose to grip the other rikishi and use judo-like throws.

High-ranking rikishi frequently excel in various techniques and can adapt against different styles.

There are dozens of victory moves, ranging from dramatic throws to clever side-steps. This diversity of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results may happen during any match.

Weight classes are not used within sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers of varying dimensions. Sumo rankings decides opponents instead of physical attributes.

Although female athletes do compete in non-professional sumo worldwide, they're excluded from professional tournaments or the main arenas.

Life as a Sumo Wrestler

Professional rikishi live and train in communal facilities known as heya, led by a head trainer.

The daily routine for wrestlers centers completely on sumo. Early mornings for intense practice, followed by a large meal the traditional stew – a high-protein dish aimed at building mass – with rest periods.

Typical rikishi consumes between six to 10 bowls per meal – approximately 10,000 calories – with notable instances of massive eating are documented.

Wrestlers intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage during matches. Although large, they possess surprising agility, rapid reflexes and explosive power.

Nearly all elements of rikishi life get controlled through their training house and governing body – creating a unique lifestyle among athletic professions.

A wrestler's ranking determines earnings, accommodation options including support staff.

Younger less established rikishi handle chores around the heya, whereas senior competitors receive special privileges.

Sumo rankings get determined by results during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records move up, while those losing descend in standing.

Before each tournament, a new banzuke gets published – a traditional document showing all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo.

At the summit features the title of Grand Champion – the pinnacle position. These champions embody the essence of the sport – transcending winning.

Who Becomes a Rikishi

There are approximately several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, primarily being Japanese.

International competitors have participated significantly for decades, including Mongolian wrestlers reaching top levels in recent times.

Current Yokozuna feature global participants, including wrestlers multiple countries achieving high ranks.

In recent news, young international aspirants have journeyed to Japan seeking wrestling careers.