Why the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in London
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Location: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Schedule: 15-19 October
Exploring Sumo Wrestling
Sumo represents the traditional sport of Japan, combining custom, rigorous training and ancient spiritual practices dating back over a millennium.
This combat sport involves two competitors – called rikishi – battling inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) in diameter.
Various rituals take place both preceding and following each bout, highlighting the traditional nature of the sport.
Customarily before a match, a hole is created in the center of the dohyo then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.
This opening gets sealed, containing within divine presence. The rikishi then perform a ritual stamp with hand clapping to scare away bad spirits.
Professional sumo operates under a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers involved commit completely to it – living and training in group settings.
The London Location
The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held internationally only the second occasion, as the tournament occurring in London beginning October 15th until Sunday, 19 October.
London with this iconic venue also hosted the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion a tournament was staged outside Japan in the sport's history.
Explaining the reasoning for the international competition, the Japan Sumo Association chair stated he wanted to "convey with London audiences the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition".
The sport has experienced a significant rise in popularity among international fans recently, with overseas events potentially enhancing the popularity of Japanese culture internationally.
How Sumo Matches Work
The fundamental regulations of sumo are quite simple. The match is decided when a rikishi gets pushed of the dohyo or touches the floor using anything besides their foot soles.
Bouts can conclude almost instantly or continue over two minutes.
There exist two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters generally push their opponents from the arena by force, whereas grapplers prefer to grapple the other rikishi and use throwing techniques.
Elite wrestlers often master various techniques and can adapt against different styles.
Sumo includes dozens of victory moves, including audacious throws strategic evasions. This diversity of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, so surprises and upsets may happen during any match.
Size categories are not used in sumo, so it's common to see rikishi with significant size differences. The ranking system decides opponents instead of physical attributes.
While women can participate in amateur sumo globally, they're excluded from professional tournaments or the main arenas.
Rikishi Lifestyle
Sumo wrestlers reside and practice together in training stables called heya, under a stable master.
The daily routine of a rikishi centers completely around the sport. They rise early for intense practice, followed by a large meal the traditional stew – a protein-rich preparation aimed at building mass – with rest periods.
The average wrestler eats approximately six to 10 bowls per meal – thousands of calories – although legendary stories of massive eating are documented.
Rikishi intentionally gain weight to enhance leverage during matches. Despite their size, they possess surprising agility, quick movements with strong bursts.
Virtually every aspect of rikishi life get controlled through their training house and the Sumo Association – creating a unique lifestyle in professional sports.
Competitive standing affects their payment, accommodation options including personal assistants.
Junior or lower ranked rikishi handle chores around the heya, whereas senior ones enjoy special privileges.
Sumo rankings are established through performance during yearly events. Successful competitors advance, unsuccessful ones drop down in standing.
Prior to events, a new banzuke gets published – a ceremonial list showing all wrestlers' positions within the sport.
The highest level features the title of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna represent the spirit of the sport – beyond mere competition.
Sumo Wrestlers Demographics
The sport includes 600 rikishi in professional sumo, primarily being Japanese.
Foreign wrestlers have been involved prominently for decades, including Mongolian wrestlers achieving dominance currently.
Current Yokozuna feature international representatives, including wrestlers multiple countries achieving high ranks.
In recent news, young international aspirants have traveled to the homeland seeking professional sumo careers.