The Reason This Major Sumo Event is Being Held in London
This Prestigious Sumo Competition
Location: The Royal Albert Hall, London. Schedule: October 15th through 19th
Understanding Japan's National Sport
Sumo embodies Japan's iconic national sport, blending tradition, discipline and Shinto religious rituals with origins more than 1,000 years.
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.
Traditional ceremonies are performed both preceding and following every match, emphasizing the traditional nature in sumo.
Customarily before a match, a hole is created at the center of the dohyo then filled with symbolic offerings by Shinto priests.
The hole gets sealed, containing within divine presence. Sumo wrestlers subsequently execute a ceremonial stomp with hand clapping to drive off bad spirits.
Elite sumo is governed a strict hierarchy, with competitors involved commit completely to the sport – living and training communally.
The London Location
This Major Sumo Event is being held outside of Japan for just the second time, with the competition occurring in London from Wednesday, 15 October through October 19th.
The British capital and The Royal Albert Hall previously held 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 expressed he wanted to "convey to the people of London the appeal of Sumo – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".
The sport has seen a significant rise in popularity among international fans recently, and a rare international tournament could further boost the popularity of traditional Japan abroad.
Sumo Bout Mechanics
The fundamental regulations in sumo wrestling are straightforward. The match is decided once a wrestler is forced out of the dohyo or makes contact with anything other than the sole of his feet.
Matches might end in a fraction of a second or continue over two minutes.
There exist two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters typically shove their opponents from the arena through strength, whereas grapplers prefer to grapple their opponent employing throwing techniques.
High-ranking rikishi frequently excel in multiple combat styles and can adapt against different styles.
There are dozens of victory moves, including audacious throws strategic evasions. This diversity of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results can occur during any match.
Weight classes do not exist within sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers with significant size differences. The ranking system determine matchups instead of body measurements.
Although female athletes do compete in non-professional sumo worldwide, they're excluded from elite competitions or the main arenas.
Rikishi Lifestyle
Professional rikishi live and train in communal facilities called heya, under a stable master.
Everyday life of a rikishi focuses entirely around the sport. Early mornings dedicated to training, followed by a large meal the traditional stew – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – and an afternoon nap.
The average wrestler consumes between six to 10 bowls per meal – approximately 10,000 calories – although legendary stories of massive eating exist in sumo history.
Rikishi intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage during matches. Although large, they possess surprising agility, quick movements with strong bursts.
Nearly all elements of rikishi life get controlled by their stable and governing body – creating a distinctive existence in professional sports.
Competitive standing affects earnings, accommodation options and even personal assistants.
Younger or lower ranked wrestlers perform duties in the stable, while higher ranked competitors receive special privileges.
Competitive standings are established through performance during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records move up, unsuccessful ones descend the rankings.
Before each tournament, a new banzuke gets published – a ceremonial list showing everyone's status within the sport.
At the summit features the title of Yokozuna – the pinnacle position. These champions embody the spirit of sumo – beyond mere competition.
Sumo Wrestlers Demographics
The sport includes several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, primarily being Japanese.
International competitors have participated significantly over years, with Mongolian athletes achieving dominance currently.
Current Yokozuna feature global participants, including wrestlers from various nations reaching elite status.
In recent news, young international aspirants have traveled to Japan seeking wrestling careers.
