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This Prestigious Sumo Competition

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

Understanding Japan's National Sport

Sumo embodies Japan's iconic national sport, combining custom, rigorous training and ancient spiritual practices with origins more than 1,000 years.

This physical contest features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – competing within a circular arena – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across.

Various rituals take place before and after every match, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects of the sport.

Customarily before a match, an opening is made at the center of the dohyo then filled with symbolic offerings through Shinto ceremonies.

This opening is closed, enshrining inside divine presence. The rikishi then perform a ceremonial stomp and clap to scare away negative energies.

Professional sumo operates under a rigid ranking system, and the wrestlers involved dedicate their entire lives to it – residing and practicing in group settings.

The London Location

The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held internationally only the second occasion, as the tournament taking place in London from Wednesday, 15 October until Sunday, 19 October.

London with this iconic venue previously held the 1991 edition – the first time a tournament was staged beyond Japan in the sport's history.

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

Sumo has experienced a significant rise in international interest globally in recent years, and a rare international tournament could further boost the popularity of traditional Japan internationally.

Sumo Bout Mechanics

The basic rules of sumo are straightforward. The bout is decided when a rikishi is forced out from the ring 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 primary techniques. Pusher-thrusters generally push their opponents out of the ring by force, while belt-fighters choose to grip their opponent employing judo-like throws.

Elite wrestlers frequently excel in various techniques adjusting against different styles.

Sumo includes dozens of victory moves, ranging from dramatic throws to clever side-steps. The variety in moves and tactics keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results can occur in any bout.

Size categories are not used within sumo, so it's common to see rikishi with significant size differences. The ranking system determine matchups instead of physical attributes.

Although female athletes do compete in non-professional sumo globally, they're excluded from professional tournaments or the main arenas.

Rikishi Lifestyle

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

The daily routine for wrestlers focuses entirely on sumo. Early mornings dedicated to training, followed by a large meal the traditional stew – a protein-rich preparation aimed at building mass – with rest periods.

The average wrestler eats approximately multiple servings per meal – thousands of calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption are documented.

Wrestlers intentionally gain weight to enhance leverage in the ring. Despite their size, they possess remarkable flexibility, quick movements and explosive power.

Nearly all elements of rikishi life are regulated through their training house and governing body – creating a distinctive existence among athletic professions.

Competitive standing determines their payment, accommodation options and even personal assistants.

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

Sumo rankings get determined by results during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records move up, unsuccessful ones drop down the rankings.

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

At the summit exists the rank of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna embody the spirit of the sport – transcending winning.

Sumo Wrestlers Demographics

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

International competitors have been involved significantly over years, with Mongolian athletes achieving dominance currently.

Current Yokozuna include international representatives, including wrestlers from various nations reaching elite status.

In recent news, young international aspirants have journeyed to the homeland seeking wrestling careers.