The Reason This Major Sumo Event is Being Held in the UK Capital
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Location: This Historic London Venue, the British Capital. Schedule: 15-19 October
Exploring Japan's National Sport
Sumo represents Japan's iconic national sport, blending tradition, discipline and ancient spiritual practices with origins more than 1,000 years.
This combat sport features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – competing inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across.
Traditional ceremonies are performed before and after each bout, highlighting the ceremonial aspects of the sport.
Customarily before a match, an opening is created in the center of the ring then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.
The hole gets sealed, enshrining inside divine presence. The rikishi then perform a ritual stamp and clap to scare away negative energies.
Elite sumo is governed a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers involved 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 occurring in London from Wednesday, 15 October until Sunday, 19 October.
London with this iconic venue also hosted the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion a tournament took place beyond Japan in the sport's history.
Explaining the reasoning behind going overseas, the Japan Sumo Association chair expressed he wanted to share with London audiences sumo's attraction – a historic Japanese tradition".
Sumo has experienced a significant rise in international interest among international fans in recent years, and a rare international tournament potentially enhancing the popularity of Japanese culture abroad.
Sumo Bout Mechanics
The fundamental regulations of sumo are straightforward. The match is decided when a rikishi is forced out of the dohyo or touches the floor using anything besides the sole of his feet.
Matches can conclude in a fraction of a second or last over two minutes.
Sumo features two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers typically shove their opponents from the arena by force, while belt-fighters prefer to grapple the other rikishi and use judo-like throws.
Elite wrestlers often master multiple combat styles adjusting to their opponents.
There are 82 winning techniques, including dramatic throws to clever side-steps. The variety of techniques and strategies maintains fan interest, so surprises and upsets can occur during any match.
Weight classes do not exist in sumo, so it's common to see rikishi with significant size differences. The ranking system determine matchups rather than body measurements.
Although female athletes can participate in amateur sumo worldwide, they're excluded from professional tournaments including major venues.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Professional rikishi reside and practice together in training stables known as heya, led by a head trainer.
Everyday life for wrestlers centers completely around the sport. Early mornings for intense practice, then consuming a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a high-protein dish designed for weight gain – with rest periods.
Typical rikishi eats approximately multiple servings per meal – approximately 10,000 calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption exist in sumo history.
Rikishi purposely increase mass to enhance leverage during matches. Although large, they possess surprising agility, rapid reflexes and explosive power.
Virtually every aspect of rikishi life are regulated by their stable and the Sumo Association – making a distinctive existence in professional sports.
Competitive standing determines earnings, living arrangements and even support staff.
Younger less established rikishi perform duties in the stable, while higher ranked competitors receive special privileges.
Sumo rankings get determined through performance during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records advance, while those losing descend in standing.
Prior to events, a new banzuke gets published – a ceremonial list displaying everyone's status within the sport.
The highest level exists the rank of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna embody the spirit of sumo – transcending winning.
Sumo Wrestlers Demographics
The sport includes several hundred wrestlers in professional sumo, primarily being Japanese.
Foreign wrestlers have been involved prominently for decades, with Mongolian athletes reaching top levels currently.
Current Yokozuna feature global participants, including wrestlers from various nations reaching elite status.
Recently, young international aspirants have journeyed to Japan pursuing wrestling careers.
