Why the Grand Sumo Tournament Takes Place in London
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Location: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Schedule: October 15th through 19th
Understanding Sumo Wrestling
Sumo represents the traditional sport of Japan, blending tradition, discipline and ancient spiritual practices with origins more than 1,000 years.
This combat sport features two wrestlers – called rikishi – battling inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across.
Various rituals take place both preceding and following every match, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects of the sport.
Customarily before a match, an opening is made at the center of the ring and filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.
This opening is closed, enshrining inside a spirit. The rikishi subsequently execute a ritual stamp with hand clapping to scare away negative energies.
Professional sumo is governed a strict hierarchy, with competitors involved commit completely to it – living and training in group settings.
Why London?
This Major Sumo Event is taking place outside of Japan for just the second time, with the competition taking place in London beginning October 15th until Sunday, 19 October.
London and The Royal Albert Hall also hosted the 1991 edition – marking the initial occasion such an event took place outside Japan in sumo history.
Clarifying the decision for the international competition, the Japan Sumo Association chair expressed he wanted to share to the people of London sumo's attraction – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".
Sumo has experienced a significant rise in popularity globally recently, with overseas events potentially enhancing the appeal of Japanese culture internationally.
Sumo Bout Mechanics
The basic rules of sumo are straightforward. The bout concludes once a wrestler gets pushed from the ring or touches the floor using anything besides their foot soles.
Bouts might end almost instantly or last several minutes.
Sumo features two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters generally push their opponents out of the ring by force, while belt-fighters choose to grip their opponent employing throwing techniques.
High-ranking rikishi often master multiple combat styles and can adapt against different styles.
Sumo includes 82 winning techniques, including dramatic throws to clever side-steps. The variety of techniques and strategies maintains fan interest, meaning unexpected results may happen during any match.
Weight classes are not used within sumo, making it normal 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 including major venues.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Professional rikishi reside and practice in communal facilities known as heya, led by a stable master.
The daily routine for wrestlers centers completely around the sport. They rise early for intense practice, then consuming a large meal the traditional stew – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – and an afternoon nap.
The average wrestler eats approximately six to 10 bowls per meal – thousands of calories – with notable instances of massive eating exist in sumo history.
Rikishi purposely increase mass for competitive advantage during matches. Despite their size, they demonstrate remarkable flexibility, rapid reflexes with strong bursts.
Nearly all elements of wrestlers' existence get controlled by their stable and the Sumo Association – making a unique lifestyle among athletic professions.
Competitive standing affects earnings, living arrangements including support staff.
Younger or lower ranked rikishi perform duties around the heya, whereas senior ones enjoy special privileges.
Competitive standings get determined by results in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records move up, while those losing descend in standing.
Before each tournament, a new banzuke are released – a ceremonial list showing everyone's status in professional sumo.
The highest level features the title of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. These champions embody the spirit of the sport – beyond mere competition.
Sumo Wrestlers Demographics
The sport includes several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, primarily from Japan.
International competitors have participated significantly over years, including Mongolian wrestlers reaching top levels in recent times.
Top champions include global participants, with competitors multiple countries achieving high ranks.
In recent news, foreign prospects have traveled to Japan pursuing wrestling careers.
