Why the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in the UK Capital
This Prestigious Sumo Competition
Location: This Historic London Venue, London. Dates: October 15th through 19th
Exploring Sumo Wrestling
Sumo embodies the traditional sport of Japan, combining custom, rigorous training and ancient spiritual practices with origins more than 1,000 years.
This physical contest features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – battling inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) in diameter.
Traditional ceremonies take place both preceding and following every match, highlighting the traditional nature of the sport.
Traditionally prior to competition, a hole is created at the center of the ring and filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.
The hole gets sealed, containing within divine presence. The rikishi then perform a ceremonial stomp and clap to scare away bad spirits.
Professional sumo operates under a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers who participate commit completely to it – residing and practicing in group settings.
The London Location
This Major Sumo Event is taking place internationally for just the second time, as the tournament taking place in London beginning October 15th through October 19th.
The British capital with this iconic venue also hosted the 1991 tournament – the first time a tournament was staged beyond Japan in the sport's history.
Explaining the reasoning behind going overseas, the Japan Sumo Association chair expressed he wanted to share to the people of London the appeal of Sumo – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".
Sumo has experienced a significant rise in international interest globally recently, and a rare international tournament could further boost the popularity of Japanese culture abroad.
How Sumo Matches Work
The basic rules of sumo are quite simple. The bout concludes when a rikishi is forced out from the ring or touches the floor with anything other than their foot soles.
Matches might end almost instantly or continue several minutes.
Sumo features two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers generally push competitors out of the ring through strength, while belt-fighters choose to grip the other rikishi employing throwing techniques.
High-ranking rikishi often master multiple combat styles adjusting against different styles.
Sumo includes dozens of victory moves, including dramatic throws to clever side-steps. The variety of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results may happen during any match.
Size categories do not exist within sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers of varying dimensions. Sumo rankings determine matchups instead of physical attributes.
Although female athletes can participate in non-professional sumo worldwide, they cannot enter professional tournaments including major venues.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Sumo wrestlers live and train in communal facilities called heya, under a stable master.
The daily routine of a rikishi focuses entirely around the sport. Early mornings for intense practice, then consuming a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – with rest periods.
Typical rikishi eats approximately multiple servings each sitting – approximately 10,000 calories – although legendary stories of extreme consumption are documented.
Wrestlers intentionally gain weight to enhance leverage in the ring. Although large, they possess surprising agility, quick movements with strong bursts.
Nearly all elements of wrestlers' existence get controlled through their training house and the Sumo Association – making a unique lifestyle among athletic professions.
Competitive standing determines their payment, accommodation options and even personal assistants.
Junior less established rikishi handle chores in the stable, whereas senior ones enjoy special privileges.
Competitive standings are established by results during yearly events. Successful competitors move up, unsuccessful ones drop down the rankings.
Before each tournament, updated rankings gets published – a ceremonial list showing all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo.
The highest level exists the rank of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. These champions embody the spirit of sumo – transcending winning.
Sumo Wrestlers Demographics
The sport includes several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, with most from Japan.
International competitors have participated significantly over years, with Mongolian athletes achieving dominance currently.
Current Yokozuna include global participants, including wrestlers multiple countries reaching elite status.
In recent news, young international aspirants have journeyed to Japan seeking professional sumo careers.
