The Reason the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in London

The Grand Sumo Tournament

Venue: This Historic London Venue, London. Dates: 15-19 October

Exploring Sumo Wrestling

Sumo represents the traditional sport of Japan, blending custom, rigorous training and ancient spiritual practices dating back over a millennium.

This physical contest involves two competitors – known as rikishi – competing inside a raised circular ring – a dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) across.

Traditional ceremonies take place both preceding and following every match, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects of the sport.

Customarily prior to competition, a hole is made at the center of the ring and filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.

The hole gets sealed, enshrining inside a spirit. The rikishi subsequently execute a ceremonial stomp with hand clapping to scare away bad spirits.

Elite sumo operates under a rigid ranking system, and the wrestlers involved dedicate their entire lives to the sport – residing and practicing in group settings.

The London Location

This Major Sumo Event is taking place outside of Japan only the second occasion, with the competition taking place in London from Wednesday, 15 October through October 19th.

The British capital and The Royal Albert Hall previously held the 1991 tournament – the first time a tournament took place beyond Japan in the sport's history.

Explaining the reasoning for the international competition, sumo leadership stated the intention to "convey with London audiences sumo's attraction – a historic Japanese tradition".

Sumo has seen a significant rise in international interest among international fans recently, with overseas events potentially enhancing the appeal of Japanese culture internationally.

Sumo Bout Mechanics

The basic rules of sumo are quite simple. The bout concludes when a rikishi gets pushed from the ring or touches the floor using anything besides the sole of his feet.

Bouts can conclude in a fraction of a second or continue several minutes.

There exist two main fighting styles. Aggressive pushers typically shove competitors out of the ring by force, whereas grapplers prefer to grapple their opponent employing throwing techniques.

High-ranking rikishi frequently excel in multiple combat styles adjusting to their opponents.

Sumo includes 82 winning techniques, ranging from audacious throws to clever side-steps. This diversity of techniques and strategies maintains fan interest, meaning unexpected results may happen in any bout.

Size categories do not exist within sumo, making it normal to see rikishi of varying dimensions. Sumo rankings determine matchups instead of physical attributes.

Although female athletes can participate in non-professional sumo globally, they're excluded from professional tournaments or the main arenas.

Rikishi Lifestyle

Sumo wrestlers live and train together in training stables called heya, under a head trainer.

Everyday life for wrestlers focuses entirely around the sport. Early mornings for intense practice, then consuming a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a high-protein dish aimed at building mass – with rest periods.

The average wrestler consumes between multiple servings per meal – thousands of calories – with notable instances of massive eating exist in sumo history.

Rikishi purposely increase mass to enhance leverage during matches. Although large, they demonstrate surprising agility, rapid reflexes and explosive power.

Nearly all elements of rikishi life get controlled by their stable and governing body – creating a distinctive existence among athletic professions.

Competitive standing determines earnings, living arrangements and even support staff.

Junior or lower ranked rikishi handle chores around the heya, while higher ranked competitors receive special privileges.

Sumo rankings are established by results during yearly events. Successful competitors move up, unsuccessful ones drop down the rankings.

Before each tournament, updated rankings are released – a traditional document displaying all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo.

The highest level exists the rank of Grand Champion – the pinnacle position. Yokozuna embody the essence of the sport – transcending winning.

Who Becomes a Rikishi

There are approximately 600 rikishi in professional sumo, primarily being Japanese.

Foreign wrestlers have been involved significantly for decades, including Mongolian wrestlers reaching top levels in recent times.

Top champions include global participants, including wrestlers multiple countries achieving high ranks.

In recent news, foreign prospects have traveled to the homeland seeking professional sumo careers.