Why the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in London
This Prestigious Sumo Competition
Location: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Dates: 15-19 October
Exploring Sumo Wrestling
Sumo embodies the traditional sport of Japan, blending tradition, rigorous training and Shinto religious rituals with origins over a millennium.
This physical contest involves two competitors – called rikishi – competing inside a raised circular ring – a dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) across.
Various rituals take place both preceding and following each bout, highlighting the ceremonial aspects in sumo.
Customarily before a match, an opening is made at the center of the ring then filled with symbolic offerings by Shinto priests.
The hole gets sealed, enshrining inside a spirit. The rikishi then perform a ritual stamp with hand clapping to scare away bad spirits.
Professional sumo is governed a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers involved commit completely to it – residing and practicing in group settings.
The London Location
This Major Sumo Event is being held outside of Japan for just the second time, with the competition taking place in London beginning October 15th 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 outside Japan in the sport's history.
Clarifying the decision for the international competition, sumo leadership expressed he wanted to "convey to the people of London sumo's attraction – a historic Japanese tradition".
The sport has seen a significant rise in international interest among international fans recently, and a rare international tournament potentially enhancing the appeal of Japanese culture abroad.
How Sumo Matches Work
The basic rules of sumo are quite simple. The match concludes once a wrestler gets pushed of the dohyo or makes contact with anything other than the sole of his feet.
Matches might end almost instantly or continue over two minutes.
There exist two main fighting styles. Aggressive pushers generally push their opponents from the arena by force, whereas grapplers prefer to grapple their opponent employing 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 strategic evasions. The variety in moves and tactics maintains fan interest, meaning unexpected results can occur in any bout.
Weight classes are not used within sumo, making it normal to see rikishi of varying dimensions. The ranking system decides opponents instead of body measurements.
While women do compete in non-professional sumo globally, they cannot enter professional tournaments or the main arenas.
Rikishi Lifestyle
Sumo wrestlers live and train in communal facilities called heya, under a head trainer.
Everyday life of a rikishi centers completely on sumo. Early mornings dedicated to training, followed by a large meal of chankonabe – a high-protein dish aimed at building mass – and an afternoon nap.
Typical rikishi consumes between six to 10 bowls each sitting – thousands of calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption exist in sumo history.
Wrestlers purposely increase mass to enhance leverage during matches. Despite their size, they demonstrate remarkable flexibility, rapid reflexes with strong bursts.
Virtually every aspect of wrestlers' existence are regulated by their stable and the Sumo Association – creating a distinctive existence among athletic professions.
Competitive standing determines their payment, accommodation options and even personal assistants.
Younger less established rikishi handle chores around the heya, while higher ranked competitors receive special privileges.
Sumo rankings get determined through performance in six annual tournaments. Successful competitors advance, unsuccessful ones drop down the rankings.
Before each tournament, updated rankings are released – a traditional document displaying everyone's status in professional sumo.
The highest level exists the rank of Yokozuna – the pinnacle position. Yokozuna represent the spirit of sumo – beyond mere competition.
Who Becomes a Rikishi
The sport includes 600 rikishi competing professionally, primarily from Japan.
International competitors have been involved significantly for decades, including Mongolian wrestlers reaching top levels in recent times.
Current Yokozuna include global participants, including wrestlers multiple countries reaching elite status.
Recently, young international aspirants have journeyed to Japan pursuing wrestling careers.
