Why the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in London

The Grand Sumo Tournament

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

Exploring Japan's National Sport

Sumo embodies Japan's iconic national sport, combining tradition, rigorous training and ancient spiritual practices with origins over a millennium.

This physical contest involves two competitors – known as rikishi – competing within a circular arena – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across.

Various rituals take place both preceding and following every match, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects of the sport.

Customarily prior to competition, a hole is created in the center of the ring then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.

The hole is closed, enshrining inside a spirit. Sumo wrestlers subsequently execute a ritual stamp with hand clapping to scare away bad spirits.

Professional sumo operates under a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers who participate dedicate their entire lives to it – living and training communally.

The London Location

This Major Sumo Event is being held internationally for just the second time, as the tournament taking place in London from Wednesday, 15 October through October 19th.

The British capital with this iconic venue previously held the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion a tournament was staged outside Japan in sumo history.

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

The sport has experienced a significant rise in international interest among international fans in recent years, and a rare international tournament could further boost the popularity of traditional Japan abroad.

How Sumo Matches Work

The fundamental regulations of sumo are quite simple. The match is decided when a rikishi is forced out of the dohyo or makes contact using anything besides their foot soles.

Bouts can conclude almost instantly or last over two minutes.

Sumo features two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers generally push competitors from the arena through strength, while belt-fighters choose to grip the other rikishi employing throwing techniques.

Elite wrestlers frequently excel in multiple combat styles and can adapt against different styles.

There are dozens of victory moves, including audacious throws to clever side-steps. This diversity of techniques and strategies maintains fan interest, so surprises and upsets can occur during any match.

Size categories do not exist in sumo, so it's common to see rikishi with significant size differences. The ranking system determine matchups instead of body measurements.

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 in communal facilities called heya, under a stable master.

Everyday life of a rikishi centers completely on sumo. They rise early for intense practice, followed by a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation aimed at building mass – with rest periods.

Typical rikishi eats approximately six to 10 bowls each sitting – approximately 10,000 calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption exist in sumo history.

Rikishi purposely increase mass for competitive advantage during matches. Despite their size, they possess remarkable flexibility, quick movements with strong bursts.

Virtually every aspect of wrestlers' existence get controlled by their stable and the Sumo Association – making a unique lifestyle in professional sports.

Competitive standing affects their payment, accommodation options and even support staff.

Junior less established rikishi handle chores around the heya, while higher ranked ones enjoy preferred treatment.

Sumo rankings get determined through performance during yearly events. Successful competitors move up, while those losing drop down the rankings.

Before each tournament, a new banzuke are released – a traditional document showing all wrestlers' positions within the sport.

The highest level features the title of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. These champions embody the essence of the sport – beyond mere competition.

Who Becomes a Rikishi

The sport includes several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, primarily from Japan.

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

Current Yokozuna feature global participants, including wrestlers from various nations achieving high ranks.

Recently, foreign prospects have traveled to Japan seeking professional sumo careers.