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The Grand Sumo Tournament

Location: This Historic London Venue, London. Dates: 15-19 October

Exploring Sumo Wrestling

Sumo represents the traditional sport of Japan, blending tradition, rigorous training and Shinto religious rituals dating back more than 1,000 years.

This combat sport features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – battling within a circular arena – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across.

Traditional ceremonies take place before and after every match, highlighting the traditional nature of the sport.

Customarily before a match, a hole is created in the center of the ring and filled with symbolic offerings by Shinto priests.

The hole gets sealed, enshrining inside a spirit. Sumo wrestlers then perform a ritual stamp with hand clapping to scare away bad spirits.

Elite sumo is governed a rigid ranking system, with competitors who participate commit completely to it – living and training in group settings.

The London Location

This Major Sumo Event is being held internationally for just the second time, with the competition occurring in London beginning October 15th until Sunday, 19 October.

London and The Royal Albert Hall previously held the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion such an event took place outside Japan in the sport's history.

Explaining the reasoning behind going overseas, sumo leadership expressed he wanted to share with London audiences the appeal of Sumo – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".

Sumo has experienced substantial growth in international interest globally recently, and a rare international tournament could further boost the popularity of Japanese culture internationally.

How Sumo Matches Work

The basic rules in sumo wrestling are quite simple. The bout concludes when a rikishi gets pushed of the dohyo or touches the floor with anything other than the sole of his feet.

Matches can conclude in a fraction of a second or last several minutes.

Sumo features two main fighting styles. Aggressive pushers typically shove competitors from the arena by force, while belt-fighters choose to grip their opponent employing judo-like throws.

High-ranking rikishi often master multiple combat styles adjusting against different styles.

There are 82 winning techniques, including audacious throws to clever side-steps. This diversity in moves and tactics keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results may happen in any bout.

Size categories are not used in sumo, making it normal to see rikishi of varying dimensions. Sumo rankings determine matchups rather than body measurements.

Although female athletes do compete in non-professional sumo worldwide, they cannot enter elite competitions including major venues.

Life as a Sumo Wrestler

Sumo wrestlers reside and practice together in training stables called heya, under a stable master.

The daily routine for wrestlers focuses entirely around the sport. Early mornings dedicated to training, then consuming a large meal of chankonabe – a high-protein dish designed for weight gain – with rest periods.

Typical rikishi eats approximately multiple servings each sitting – approximately 10,000 calories – with notable instances of massive eating are documented.

Wrestlers intentionally gain weight to enhance leverage in the ring. Although large, they possess surprising agility, quick movements and explosive power.

Nearly all elements of wrestlers' existence get controlled by their stable and the Sumo Association – making a distinctive existence in professional sports.

A wrestler's ranking affects their payment, living arrangements and even personal assistants.

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

Sumo rankings are established through performance during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records advance, while those losing descend the rankings.

Before each tournament, updated rankings gets published – a traditional document displaying everyone's status in professional sumo.

The highest level exists the rank of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. These champions embody the spirit of sumo – beyond mere competition.

Who Becomes a Rikishi

There are approximately several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, with most from Japan.

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

Top champions include international representatives, including wrestlers multiple countries reaching elite status.

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