🔗 Share this article The Reason the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in London The Grand Sumo Tournament Venue: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Schedule: 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 combat sport features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – battling within a circular arena – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter. Traditional ceremonies take place before and after each bout, highlighting the ceremonial aspects of the sport. Customarily prior to competition, an opening is created in the center of the ring and filled with symbolic offerings through Shinto ceremonies. This opening is closed, containing within divine presence. Sumo wrestlers subsequently execute a ceremonial stomp with hand clapping to scare away bad spirits. Professional sumo is governed a rigid ranking system, and the wrestlers who participate dedicate their entire lives to the sport – living and training communally. The London Location The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held internationally only the second occasion, as the tournament occurring in London beginning October 15th through October 19th. The British capital with this iconic venue also hosted the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion a tournament was staged beyond Japan in sumo history. Explaining the reasoning for the international competition, sumo leadership stated the intention to "convey with London audiences the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition". Sumo has experienced a significant rise in international interest among international fans in recent years, and a rare international tournament could further boost the popularity of Japanese culture abroad. Sumo Bout Mechanics The basic rules in sumo wrestling are quite simple. The match concludes once a wrestler gets pushed of the dohyo or touches the floor using anything besides the sole of his feet. Bouts might end almost instantly or last over two minutes. There exist two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers generally push their opponents out of the ring through strength, whereas grapplers prefer to grapple the other rikishi and use throwing techniques. High-ranking rikishi often master multiple combat styles and can adapt against different styles. There are 82 winning techniques, including audacious throws to clever side-steps. This diversity of techniques and strategies maintains fan interest, meaning unexpected results can occur in any bout. Weight classes are not used in sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers with significant size differences. Sumo rankings determine matchups instead of body measurements. While women do compete in amateur sumo worldwide, they cannot enter elite competitions including major venues. Rikishi Lifestyle Professional rikishi live and train in communal facilities known as heya, led by a stable master. The daily routine of a rikishi centers completely on sumo. They rise early for intense practice, followed by a large meal of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – with rest periods. Typical rikishi eats approximately six to 10 bowls each sitting – thousands of calories – although legendary stories of extreme consumption exist in sumo history. Rikishi purposely increase mass for competitive advantage in the ring. Although large, they demonstrate remarkable flexibility, rapid reflexes and explosive power. Virtually every aspect of rikishi life get controlled by their stable and governing body – making a unique lifestyle among athletic professions. Competitive standing affects their payment, accommodation options and even support staff. Younger less established rikishi perform duties around the heya, whereas senior ones enjoy special privileges. Sumo rankings get determined by results in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records advance, unsuccessful ones drop down in standing. Before each tournament, updated rankings gets published – a traditional document showing all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo. At the summit features the title of Grand Champion – the pinnacle position. Yokozuna embody the essence of sumo – transcending winning. Sumo Wrestlers Demographics There are approximately several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, primarily from Japan. International competitors have been involved prominently over years, with Mongolian athletes reaching top levels currently. Current Yokozuna include global participants, with competitors from various nations reaching elite status. In recent news, foreign prospects have journeyed to Japan seeking professional sumo careers.