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This Prestigious Sumo Competition

Venue: The Royal Albert Hall, London. Schedule: October 15th through 19th

Exploring Sumo Wrestling

Sumo embodies Japan's iconic national sport, blending custom, discipline and Shinto religious rituals dating back over a millennium.

This combat sport involves two competitors – called rikishi – battling inside a raised circular ring – a dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) across.

Various rituals take place both preceding and following every match, highlighting the traditional nature of the sport.

Traditionally before a match, a hole is made in the center of the ring and filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.

The hole gets sealed, containing within a spirit. The rikishi then perform a ritual stamp and clap to scare away bad spirits.

Professional sumo is governed a rigid ranking system, and the wrestlers who participate commit completely to it – living and training in group settings.

Why London?

The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held internationally for just the second time, with the competition taking place in London from Wednesday, 15 October until Sunday, 19 October.

The British capital with this iconic venue previously held the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion a tournament was staged outside Japan in sumo history.

Explaining the reasoning behind going overseas, the Japan Sumo Association chair stated he wanted to share with London audiences sumo's attraction – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".

The sport has seen substantial growth in international interest among international fans recently, with overseas events potentially enhancing the appeal of Japanese culture abroad.

Sumo Bout Mechanics

The fundamental regulations in sumo wrestling are straightforward. The bout is decided when a rikishi gets pushed of the dohyo or touches the floor using anything besides their foot soles.

Bouts might end almost instantly or continue several minutes.

Sumo features two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters typically shove competitors out of the ring through strength, whereas grapplers choose to grip their opponent employing judo-like throws.

High-ranking rikishi often master multiple combat styles adjusting to their opponents.

Sumo includes 82 winning techniques, ranging from dramatic throws strategic evasions. This diversity in moves and tactics keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results can occur during any match.

Size categories are not used in sumo, making it normal to observe wrestlers with significant size differences. Sumo rankings determine matchups rather than physical attributes.

Although female athletes do compete in amateur sumo globally, they cannot enter professional tournaments including major venues.

Rikishi Lifestyle

Sumo wrestlers live and train in communal facilities called heya, led by a stable master.

The daily routine for wrestlers centers completely on sumo. Early mornings dedicated to training, followed by a large meal the traditional stew – a high-protein dish designed for weight gain – and an afternoon nap.

Typical rikishi consumes between multiple servings per meal – approximately 10,000 calories – although legendary stories of extreme consumption are documented.

Rikishi purposely increase mass for competitive advantage in the ring. Despite their size, they possess surprising agility, quick movements with strong bursts.

Virtually every aspect of wrestlers' existence get controlled through their training house and governing body – creating a unique lifestyle among athletic professions.

Competitive standing affects earnings, accommodation options including support staff.

Junior less established rikishi perform duties around the heya, while higher ranked ones enjoy special privileges.

Sumo rankings get determined by results in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records move up, unsuccessful ones drop down the rankings.

Prior to events, a new banzuke gets published – a traditional document displaying all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo.

At the summit exists the rank of Grand Champion – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna represent the spirit of the sport – transcending winning.

Sumo Wrestlers Demographics

The sport includes several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, primarily being Japanese.

International competitors have participated prominently over years, with Mongolian athletes achieving dominance in recent times.

Current Yokozuna feature global participants, including wrestlers multiple countries achieving high ranks.

Recently, foreign prospects have journeyed to the homeland seeking wrestling careers.