The Reason This Major Sumo Event is Being Held in the UK Capital
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Location: This Historic London Venue, London. Schedule: October 15th through 19th
Understanding Sumo Wrestling
Sumo represents the traditional sport of Japan, blending custom, rigorous training and ancient spiritual practices with origins more than 1,000 years.
This physical contest features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – battling inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) across.
Traditional ceremonies take place both preceding and following every match, emphasizing the traditional nature of the sport.
Customarily before a match, a hole is made at the center of the dohyo and filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.
This opening gets sealed, containing within divine presence. The rikishi subsequently execute a ritual stamp and clap to drive off bad spirits.
Elite sumo operates under a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers who participate dedicate their entire lives to the sport – residing and practicing communally.
Why London?
The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held internationally for just the second time, with the competition taking place in London beginning October 15th through October 19th.
London with this iconic venue previously held the 1991 tournament – the first time such an event took place outside Japan in sumo history.
Explaining the reasoning for the international competition, sumo leadership stated he wanted to "convey to the people of London sumo's attraction – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".
Sumo has seen a significant rise in international interest among international fans recently, and a rare international tournament could further boost the popularity of Japanese culture internationally.
How Sumo Matches Work
The fundamental regulations in sumo wrestling are straightforward. The match is decided once a wrestler gets pushed of the dohyo or touches the floor with anything other than the sole of his feet.
Matches can conclude almost instantly or last over two minutes.
There exist two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters typically shove their opponents out of the ring through strength, whereas grapplers prefer to grapple their opponent and use throwing techniques.
High-ranking rikishi often master various techniques and can adapt to their opponents.
There are dozens of victory moves, ranging from audacious throws to clever side-steps. The variety in moves and tactics keeps audiences engaged, so surprises and upsets can occur in any bout.
Weight classes do not exist within sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers with significant size differences. The ranking system determine matchups rather than body measurements.
Although female athletes can participate in non-professional sumo globally, they cannot enter elite competitions or the main arenas.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Professional rikishi reside and practice together in training stables called heya, under a stable master.
The daily routine for wrestlers centers completely around the sport. They rise early dedicated to training, then consuming a large meal of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – with rest periods.
Typical rikishi eats approximately multiple servings per meal – approximately 10,000 calories – with notable instances of massive eating are documented.
Wrestlers purposely increase mass to enhance leverage during matches. Despite their size, they demonstrate remarkable flexibility, rapid reflexes and explosive power.
Nearly all elements of rikishi life get controlled through their training house and the Sumo Association – making a unique lifestyle among athletic professions.
A wrestler's ranking affects earnings, accommodation options and even support staff.
Younger less established rikishi perform duties around the heya, while higher ranked ones enjoy preferred treatment.
Competitive standings are established by results in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records move up, while those losing drop down in standing.
Prior to events, a new banzuke gets published – a ceremonial list showing all wrestlers' positions within the sport.
The highest level features the title of Grand Champion – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna embody the essence of sumo – transcending winning.
Who Becomes a Rikishi
There are approximately several hundred wrestlers in professional sumo, primarily being Japanese.
Foreign wrestlers have participated significantly for decades, with Mongolian athletes achieving dominance in recent times.
Top champions feature global participants, with competitors multiple countries achieving high ranks.
In recent news, foreign prospects have traveled to the homeland pursuing wrestling careers.
