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This Prestigious Sumo Competition

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

Exploring Japan's National Sport

Sumo embodies Japan's iconic national sport, combining custom, rigorous training and ancient spiritual practices dating back over a millennium.

This physical contest features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – battling inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across.

Traditional ceremonies take place before and after every match, emphasizing the traditional nature in sumo.

Customarily 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 gets sealed, enshrining inside divine presence. Sumo wrestlers subsequently execute a ceremonial stomp with hand clapping to scare away bad spirits.

Professional sumo is governed a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers involved commit completely to it – living and training in group settings.

Why London?

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

London with this iconic venue previously held the 1991 edition – marking the initial occasion a tournament took place outside Japan in sumo history.

Clarifying the decision behind going overseas, sumo leadership stated the intention to share to the people of London the appeal of Sumo – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".

Sumo has experienced substantial growth in international interest among international fans in recent years, and a rare international tournament could further boost the appeal of traditional Japan abroad.

Sumo Bout Mechanics

The fundamental regulations in sumo wrestling are quite simple. The match concludes when a rikishi is forced out of the dohyo or touches the floor using anything besides their foot soles.

Bouts can conclude in a fraction of a second or continue several minutes.

There exist two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers generally push their opponents from the arena through strength, while belt-fighters choose to grip their opponent employing throwing techniques.

Elite wrestlers often master various techniques adjusting to their opponents.

Sumo includes 82 winning techniques, ranging from audacious throws to clever side-steps. The variety of techniques and strategies maintains fan interest, meaning unexpected results can occur in any bout.

Weight classes are not used in sumo, making it normal to see rikishi of varying dimensions. Sumo rankings determine matchups rather than physical attributes.

Although female athletes can participate in amateur sumo worldwide, they cannot enter professional tournaments or the main arenas.

Life as a Sumo Wrestler

Professional rikishi live and train together in training stables known as heya, under a head trainer.

Everyday life for wrestlers centers completely around the sport. They rise early for intense practice, then consuming a substantial lunch the traditional stew – a protein-rich preparation aimed at building mass – with rest periods.

Typical rikishi eats approximately multiple servings each sitting – thousands of calories – although legendary stories of extreme consumption are documented.

Rikishi intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage during matches. Although large, they possess remarkable flexibility, quick movements with strong bursts.

Virtually every aspect of rikishi life get controlled by their stable and governing body – making a distinctive existence in professional sports.

A wrestler's ranking affects their payment, accommodation options including personal assistants.

Junior less established rikishi handle chores around the heya, while higher ranked competitors receive special privileges.

Competitive standings get determined by results during yearly events. Successful competitors advance, unsuccessful ones drop down the rankings.

Before each tournament, a new banzuke are released – a ceremonial list showing all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo.

The highest level exists the rank of Grand Champion – the pinnacle position. These champions embody the spirit of the sport – transcending winning.

Sumo Wrestlers Demographics

There are approximately 600 rikishi in professional sumo, primarily being Japanese.

Foreign wrestlers have been involved significantly for decades, with Mongolian athletes reaching top levels currently.

Current Yokozuna feature international representatives, including wrestlers multiple countries achieving high ranks.

In recent news, foreign prospects have journeyed to the homeland pursuing wrestling careers.