The Reason the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in London
This Prestigious Sumo Competition
Location: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Schedule: October 15th through 19th
Understanding Japan's National Sport
Sumo embodies Japan's iconic national sport, combining tradition, discipline and ancient spiritual practices with origins over a millennium.
This physical contest involves two competitors – called rikishi – competing inside a raised circular ring – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.
Various rituals are performed before and after each bout, highlighting the ceremonial aspects in sumo.
Traditionally before a match, an opening is made in the center of the ring then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.
This opening gets sealed, enshrining inside a spirit. Sumo wrestlers then perform a ritual stamp with hand clapping to scare away negative energies.
Elite sumo is governed a rigid ranking system, and the wrestlers involved commit completely to the sport – residing and practicing in group settings.
The London Location
This Major Sumo Event is taking place internationally only the second occasion, 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 tournament – the first time such an event took place outside Japan in the sport's history.
Explaining the reasoning for the international competition, sumo leadership stated he wanted to share with London audiences sumo's attraction – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".
The sport has seen substantial growth in popularity globally in recent years, with overseas events potentially enhancing the appeal of traditional Japan abroad.
How Sumo Matches Work
The basic rules in sumo wrestling are quite simple. The bout is decided when a rikishi gets pushed from the ring or touches the floor with anything other than their foot soles.
Matches might end in a fraction of a second or last several minutes.
There exist two primary techniques. Pusher-thrusters typically shove competitors out of the ring by force, whereas grapplers choose to grip their opponent and use judo-like throws.
Elite wrestlers frequently excel in various techniques and can adapt against different styles.
There are 82 winning techniques, including dramatic throws to clever side-steps. The variety of techniques and strategies maintains fan interest, meaning unexpected results can occur in any bout.
Weight classes do not exist in sumo, making it normal to observe wrestlers with significant size differences. The ranking system decides opponents instead of body measurements.
Although female athletes can participate in amateur sumo worldwide, they cannot enter elite competitions including major venues.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Professional rikishi live and train together in training stables called heya, under a head trainer.
Everyday life for wrestlers focuses entirely on sumo. Early mornings for intense practice, followed by a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a high-protein dish aimed at building mass – with rest periods.
Typical rikishi consumes between six to 10 bowls each sitting – approximately 10,000 calories – although legendary stories of massive eating are documented.
Wrestlers purposely increase mass to enhance leverage during matches. Despite their size, they possess surprising agility, rapid reflexes with strong bursts.
Virtually every aspect of wrestlers' existence get controlled through their training house and governing body – creating a distinctive existence among athletic professions.
A wrestler's ranking affects their payment, accommodation options and even personal assistants.
Junior or lower ranked rikishi handle chores in the stable, while higher ranked competitors receive special privileges.
Competitive standings are established through performance during yearly events. Successful competitors move up, while those losing descend in standing.
Prior to events, updated rankings are released – a ceremonial list displaying everyone's status in professional sumo.
At the summit exists the rank of Grand Champion – the pinnacle position. These champions embody the spirit of the sport – transcending winning.
Sumo Wrestlers Demographics
There are approximately several hundred wrestlers in professional sumo, with most from Japan.
International competitors have been involved significantly over years, including Mongolian wrestlers reaching top levels currently.
Top champions include international representatives, with competitors from various nations achieving high ranks.
In recent news, young international aspirants have traveled to Japan pursuing professional sumo careers.
