The Reason the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in London
This Prestigious Sumo Competition
Location: The Royal Albert Hall, London. Schedule: 15-19 October
Understanding Sumo Wrestling
Sumo represents the traditional sport of Japan, blending custom, rigorous training and Shinto religious rituals dating back over a millennium.
This combat sport involves two competitors – known as rikishi – battling inside a raised circular ring – a dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) in diameter.
Various rituals are performed before and after every match, emphasizing the traditional nature of the sport.
Customarily prior to competition, an opening is created at the center of the dohyo then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.
This opening is closed, containing within divine presence. Sumo wrestlers subsequently execute a ceremonial stomp with hand clapping to scare away negative energies.
Professional sumo is governed a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers who participate commit completely to it – living and training communally.
Why London?
This Major Sumo Event is being held outside of Japan only the second occasion, as the tournament occurring in London from Wednesday, 15 October until Sunday, 19 October.
The British capital with this iconic venue previously held the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion a tournament was staged beyond Japan in the sport's history.
Clarifying the decision behind going overseas, the Japan Sumo Association chair stated the intention to share with London audiences the appeal of Sumo – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".
Sumo has seen a significant rise in popularity globally recently, and a rare international tournament potentially enhancing the popularity of traditional Japan internationally.
Sumo Bout Mechanics
The fundamental regulations in sumo wrestling are quite simple. The match is decided once a wrestler gets pushed from the ring or touches the floor with anything other than the sole of his feet.
Matches can conclude in a fraction of a second or continue over two minutes.
There exist two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters generally push their opponents from the arena through strength, while belt-fighters prefer to grapple the other rikishi and use throwing techniques.
Elite wrestlers often master multiple combat styles and can adapt against different styles.
Sumo includes 82 winning techniques, ranging from audacious throws strategic evasions. The variety of techniques and strategies maintains fan interest, meaning unexpected results may happen in any bout.
Size categories are not used in sumo, making it normal to observe wrestlers with significant size differences. The ranking system determine matchups instead of physical attributes.
While women can participate in non-professional sumo globally, they're excluded from professional tournaments or the main arenas.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Professional rikishi reside and practice together in training stables called heya, under a head trainer.
The daily routine of a rikishi focuses entirely on sumo. Early mornings dedicated to training, followed by a large meal the traditional stew – a high-protein dish designed for weight gain – with rest periods.
Typical rikishi eats approximately multiple servings per meal – approximately 10,000 calories – with notable instances of massive eating exist in sumo history.
Wrestlers intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage in the ring. Despite their size, they possess surprising agility, rapid reflexes and explosive power.
Virtually every aspect of rikishi life get controlled by their stable and governing body – creating a distinctive existence among athletic professions.
Competitive standing affects earnings, living arrangements and even personal assistants.
Younger less established wrestlers perform duties around the heya, whereas senior ones enjoy special privileges.
Competitive standings get determined by results in six annual tournaments. Successful competitors advance, while those losing descend the rankings.
Before each tournament, updated rankings are released – a ceremonial list showing all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo.
The highest level features the title of Yokozuna – the pinnacle position. These champions embody the essence of sumo – beyond mere competition.
Sumo Wrestlers Demographics
There are approximately several hundred wrestlers in professional sumo, primarily being Japanese.
Foreign wrestlers have participated significantly over years, with Mongolian athletes achieving dominance in recent times.
Top champions feature global participants, with competitors from various nations reaching elite status.
Recently, foreign prospects have journeyed to the homeland seeking professional sumo careers.
