Why the Grand Sumo Tournament Takes Place in London
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Location: The Royal Albert Hall, London. Dates: October 15th through 19th
Exploring Japan's National Sport
Sumo embodies Japan's iconic national sport, combining custom, discipline and Shinto religious rituals with origins more than 1,000 years.
This physical contest features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – competing inside a raised circular ring – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.
Various rituals take place before and after each bout, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects in sumo.
Customarily prior to competition, an opening is made in the center of the dohyo then filled with symbolic offerings through Shinto ceremonies.
The hole gets sealed, enshrining inside a spirit. Sumo wrestlers subsequently execute a ritual stamp with hand clapping to drive off negative energies.
Professional sumo operates under a rigid ranking system, and the wrestlers who participate dedicate their entire lives to the sport – living and training in group settings.
Why London?
The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held outside of Japan for just the second time, as the tournament occurring in London beginning October 15th through October 19th.
London and The Royal Albert Hall also hosted the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion a tournament was staged beyond Japan in sumo history.
Explaining the reasoning behind going overseas, sumo leadership stated he wanted to share to the people of London the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition".
Sumo 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 fundamental regulations of sumo are quite simple. The bout is decided once a wrestler gets pushed of the dohyo or touches the floor using anything besides their foot soles.
Bouts might end almost instantly or last several minutes.
There exist two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters generally push their opponents from the arena by force, while belt-fighters prefer to grapple the other rikishi and use throwing techniques.
Elite wrestlers frequently excel in multiple combat styles adjusting to their opponents.
Sumo includes dozens of victory moves, ranging from dramatic throws strategic evasions. This diversity of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results can occur in any bout.
Size categories are not used in sumo, so it's common to see rikishi of varying dimensions. Sumo rankings determine matchups instead of physical attributes.
Although female athletes do compete in amateur sumo globally, they're excluded from professional tournaments including major venues.
Rikishi Lifestyle
Professional rikishi reside and practice together in training stables called heya, under a head trainer.
Everyday life of a rikishi focuses entirely around the sport. Early mornings for intense practice, followed by a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a high-protein dish aimed at building mass – and an afternoon nap.
Typical rikishi eats approximately multiple servings each sitting – approximately 10,000 calories – with notable instances of massive eating exist in sumo history.
Wrestlers purposely increase mass for competitive advantage in the ring. Despite their size, they possess surprising agility, quick movements and explosive power.
Nearly all elements of wrestlers' existence get controlled through their training house and the Sumo Association – making a distinctive existence among athletic professions.
A wrestler's ranking affects earnings, living arrangements and even support staff.
Junior or lower ranked wrestlers perform duties in the stable, whereas senior competitors receive special privileges.
Competitive standings get determined through performance in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records move up, while those losing drop down the rankings.
Prior to events, a new banzuke gets published – a ceremonial list displaying all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo.
The highest level features the title of Grand Champion – the pinnacle position. These champions embody the essence of the sport – beyond mere competition.
Who Becomes a Rikishi
The sport includes 600 rikishi competing professionally, primarily from Japan.
Foreign wrestlers have participated prominently over years, with Mongolian athletes reaching top levels currently.
Top champions include international representatives, including wrestlers from various nations achieving high ranks.
Recently, foreign prospects have traveled to the homeland seeking professional sumo careers.
