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The Grand Sumo Tournament

Location: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Dates: 15-19 October

Exploring Sumo Wrestling

Sumo embodies Japan's iconic national sport, combining custom, discipline and ancient spiritual practices with origins more than 1,000 years.

This combat sport features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – battling within a circular arena – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across.

Traditional ceremonies are performed before and after each bout, emphasizing the traditional nature in sumo.

Traditionally before a match, a hole is made at the center of the dohyo then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.

This opening gets sealed, enshrining inside a spirit. The rikishi then perform a ceremonial stomp and clap to scare away negative energies.

Professional sumo operates under a strict hierarchy, with competitors 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 occurring in London beginning October 15th until Sunday, 19 October.

The British capital with this iconic venue also hosted the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion such an event was staged outside Japan in sumo history.

Explaining the reasoning behind going overseas, sumo leadership expressed the intention to "convey with London audiences the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition".

Sumo has seen substantial growth in popularity globally recently, with overseas events potentially enhancing the appeal of Japanese culture abroad.

Sumo Bout Mechanics

The basic rules of sumo are straightforward. The match is decided once a wrestler is forced out of the dohyo or makes contact using anything besides the sole of his feet.

Matches might end in a fraction of a second or continue several minutes.

Sumo features two primary techniques. Pusher-thrusters typically shove competitors from the arena by force, while belt-fighters choose to grip their opponent and use throwing techniques.

Elite wrestlers frequently excel in various techniques adjusting against different styles.

There are 82 winning techniques, including dramatic throws to clever side-steps. This diversity in moves and tactics keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results may happen in any bout.

Size categories do not exist in sumo, making it normal to observe wrestlers with significant size differences. Sumo rankings decides opponents instead of physical attributes.

While women do compete in non-professional sumo worldwide, they're excluded from professional tournaments including major venues.

Life as a Sumo Wrestler

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

Everyday life of a rikishi focuses entirely on sumo. They rise early for intense practice, followed by a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – 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.

Wrestlers intentionally gain weight to enhance leverage during matches. Despite their size, they possess remarkable flexibility, quick movements with strong bursts.

Virtually every aspect of wrestlers' existence 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 in the stable, whereas senior competitors receive special privileges.

Competitive standings are established by results in six annual tournaments. Successful competitors move up, unsuccessful ones descend the rankings.

Before each tournament, updated rankings are released – a traditional document displaying all wrestlers' positions within the sport.

The highest level features the title of Grand Champion – the ultimate achievement. These champions embody the spirit of sumo – beyond mere competition.

Who Becomes a Rikishi

The sport includes several hundred wrestlers in professional sumo, primarily being Japanese.

International competitors have participated significantly for decades, including Mongolian wrestlers achieving dominance currently.

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

Recently, young international aspirants have traveled to Japan seeking wrestling careers.