Why This Major Sumo Event is Being Held in the UK Capital
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Venue: This Historic London Venue, London. Schedule: 15-19 October
Exploring Japan's National Sport
Sumo embodies Japan's iconic national sport, blending custom, discipline and ancient spiritual practices with origins more than 1,000 years.
This combat sport features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – battling inside a raised circular ring – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across.
Various rituals are performed before and after every match, highlighting the ceremonial aspects of the sport.
Traditionally prior to competition, a hole is created at the center of the dohyo and filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.
This opening gets sealed, containing within a spirit. The rikishi subsequently execute a ceremonial stomp with hand clapping to drive off negative energies.
Professional sumo operates under a rigid ranking system, with competitors involved commit completely to the sport – residing and practicing in group settings.
Why London?
The Grand Sumo Tournament is taking place internationally for just the second time, as the tournament taking place in London from Wednesday, 15 October through October 19th.
The British capital and The Royal Albert Hall also hosted the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion a tournament was staged outside Japan in sumo history.
Clarifying the decision for the international competition, sumo leadership stated the intention to "convey to the people of London the appeal of Sumo – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".
The sport has experienced substantial growth in international interest among international fans recently, with overseas events could further boost the appeal of Japanese culture abroad.
Sumo Bout Mechanics
The basic rules in sumo wrestling are quite simple. The bout concludes once a wrestler gets pushed of the dohyo or makes contact using anything besides their foot soles.
Matches can conclude in a fraction of a second or continue over two minutes.
There exist two primary techniques. Pusher-thrusters generally push their opponents out of the ring through strength, while belt-fighters prefer to grapple their opponent employing throwing techniques.
High-ranking rikishi frequently excel in various techniques and can adapt against different styles.
There are 82 winning techniques, ranging from dramatic throws to clever side-steps. This diversity of techniques and strategies maintains fan interest, meaning unexpected results can occur in any bout.
Weight classes are not used in sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers of varying dimensions. The ranking system determine matchups rather than body measurements.
Although female athletes do compete in amateur sumo worldwide, they cannot enter elite competitions or the main arenas.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Professional rikishi live and train in communal facilities known as heya, led by a stable master.
The daily routine of a rikishi focuses entirely on sumo. Early mornings dedicated to training, then consuming a substantial lunch the traditional stew – a protein-rich preparation aimed at building mass – with rest periods.
The average wrestler consumes between multiple servings each sitting – thousands of calories – although legendary stories of massive eating are documented.
Rikishi purposely increase mass to enhance leverage in the ring. Although large, they demonstrate surprising agility, quick movements with strong bursts.
Virtually every aspect of rikishi life are regulated by their stable and governing body – creating a unique lifestyle among athletic professions.
A wrestler's ranking affects earnings, living arrangements including support staff.
Younger or lower ranked wrestlers perform duties in the stable, while higher ranked competitors receive special privileges.
Competitive standings are established through performance in six annual tournaments. Successful competitors advance, while those losing drop down the rankings.
Prior to events, a new banzuke are released – a ceremonial list displaying all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo.
At the summit features the title of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna represent the essence of the sport – transcending winning.
Who Becomes a Rikishi
The sport includes several hundred wrestlers in professional sumo, with most from Japan.
Foreign wrestlers have been involved prominently for decades, with Mongolian athletes reaching top levels currently.
Current Yokozuna feature international representatives, with competitors from various nations reaching elite status.
In recent news, young international aspirants have journeyed to the homeland seeking professional sumo careers.
