Why the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in London
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Location: This Historic London Venue, the British Capital. Schedule: 15-19 October
Exploring Sumo Wrestling
Sumo embodies Japan's iconic national sport, blending tradition, discipline and Shinto religious rituals with origins over a millennium.
This physical contest features two wrestlers – called rikishi – battling inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.
Traditional ceremonies are performed before and after every match, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects in sumo.
Customarily prior to competition, a hole is made in the center of the dohyo then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.
The hole gets sealed, containing within a spirit. Sumo wrestlers then perform a ritual stamp and clap to scare away bad spirits.
Professional sumo operates under a strict hierarchy, with competitors who participate dedicate their entire lives to it – residing and practicing in group settings.
Why London?
This Major Sumo Event is being held outside of Japan for just the second time, with the competition taking place in London from Wednesday, 15 October until Sunday, 19 October.
The British capital and The Royal Albert Hall previously held the 1991 edition – the first time such an event took place beyond Japan in sumo history.
Clarifying the decision for the international competition, sumo leadership stated he wanted to share with London audiences sumo's attraction – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".
The sport has experienced substantial growth in international interest globally in recent years, and a rare international tournament could further boost the appeal of Japanese culture abroad.
Sumo Bout Mechanics
The basic rules of sumo are straightforward. The match concludes when a rikishi is forced out of the dohyo or makes contact with anything other than their foot soles.
Bouts can conclude in a fraction of a second or continue several minutes.
There exist two primary techniques. Pusher-thrusters generally push competitors from the arena by force, while belt-fighters prefer to grapple the other rikishi employing throwing techniques.
Elite wrestlers frequently excel in multiple combat styles and can adapt against different styles.
Sumo includes 82 winning techniques, including dramatic throws strategic evasions. The variety 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 observe wrestlers with significant size differences. The ranking system decides opponents instead of physical attributes.
Although female athletes can participate in amateur sumo globally, they're excluded from elite competitions or the main arenas.
Rikishi Lifestyle
Professional rikishi live and train in communal facilities called heya, under a head trainer.
The daily routine for wrestlers centers completely on sumo. Early mornings dedicated to training, then consuming a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – and an afternoon nap.
Typical rikishi consumes between six to 10 bowls per meal – thousands of calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption exist in sumo history.
Rikishi intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage in the ring. Although large, they demonstrate surprising agility, rapid reflexes and explosive power.
Nearly all elements of rikishi life are regulated through their training house and the Sumo Association – making a distinctive existence among athletic professions.
A wrestler's ranking affects their payment, accommodation options including personal assistants.
Junior or lower ranked rikishi handle chores in the stable, while higher ranked ones enjoy special privileges.
Competitive standings are established by results during yearly events. Successful competitors move up, unsuccessful ones drop down the rankings.
Prior to events, updated rankings gets published – a traditional document showing all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo.
At the summit exists the rank of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna represent the essence of sumo – transcending winning.
Sumo Wrestlers Demographics
There are approximately 600 rikishi in professional sumo, primarily being Japanese.
Foreign wrestlers have been involved significantly for decades, including Mongolian wrestlers achieving dominance in recent times.
Current Yokozuna feature global participants, with competitors multiple countries achieving high ranks.
In recent news, young international aspirants have traveled to Japan seeking wrestling careers.
