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The Grand Sumo Tournament

Venue: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Schedule: 15-19 October

Understanding Japan's National Sport

Sumo represents Japan's iconic national sport, blending tradition, discipline and ancient spiritual practices with origins over a millennium.

This combat sport involves two competitors – known as rikishi – competing inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.

Traditional ceremonies take place both preceding and following every match, emphasizing the traditional nature of the sport.

Traditionally before a match, an opening is created in the center of the dohyo then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.

The hole is closed, enshrining inside divine presence. Sumo wrestlers then perform a ritual stamp and clap to drive off bad spirits.

Professional sumo operates under a rigid ranking system, with competitors who participate dedicate their entire lives to the sport – living and training in group settings.

Why London?

This Major Sumo Event is taking place outside of Japan only the second occasion, as the tournament taking place in London from Wednesday, 15 October until Sunday, 19 October.

London and The Royal Albert Hall also hosted the 1991 tournament – the first time a tournament was staged beyond Japan in the sport's 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 – a historic Japanese tradition".

Sumo has seen substantial growth in popularity among international fans recently, and a rare international tournament potentially enhancing the appeal of traditional Japan abroad.

Sumo Bout Mechanics

The basic rules in sumo wrestling are straightforward. The bout concludes once a wrestler gets pushed of the dohyo or touches the floor with anything other than their foot soles.

Bouts can conclude in a fraction of a second or last over two minutes.

There exist two main fighting styles. Aggressive pushers typically shove competitors from the arena through strength, whereas grapplers choose to grip the other rikishi and use throwing techniques.

Elite wrestlers often master multiple combat styles and can adapt against different styles.

Sumo includes dozens of victory moves, including audacious throws strategic evasions. The variety of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, so surprises and upsets may happen in any bout.

Size categories are not used in 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 non-professional sumo worldwide, they're excluded from elite competitions including major venues.

Rikishi Lifestyle

Professional rikishi live and train in communal facilities called heya, under a stable master.

The daily routine for wrestlers centers completely around the sport. They rise early dedicated to training, followed by a large meal of chankonabe – a high-protein dish designed for weight gain – and an afternoon nap.

The average wrestler eats approximately six to 10 bowls each sitting – thousands of calories – with notable instances of massive eating are documented.

Rikishi purposely increase mass for competitive advantage in the ring. Despite their size, they possess remarkable flexibility, quick movements and explosive power.

Virtually every aspect of rikishi life get controlled by their stable and governing body – making a distinctive existence among athletic professions.

Competitive standing affects earnings, living arrangements and even support staff.

Junior or lower ranked wrestlers handle chores in the stable, whereas senior ones enjoy preferred treatment.

Competitive standings get determined through performance in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records move up, while those losing drop down the rankings.

Before each tournament, updated rankings gets published – a ceremonial list displaying all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo.

At the summit features the title of Yokozuna – the pinnacle position. These champions embody the spirit of the sport – transcending winning.

Sumo Wrestlers Demographics

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

Foreign wrestlers have participated prominently for decades, with Mongolian athletes achieving dominance currently.

Top champions include global participants, including wrestlers multiple countries reaching elite status.

Recently, foreign prospects have journeyed to the homeland pursuing professional sumo careers.