Why This Major Sumo Event is Being Held in London
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Location: This Historic London Venue, the British Capital. Schedule: 15-19 October
Exploring Japan's National Sport
Sumo embodies the traditional sport of Japan, blending custom, rigorous training and ancient spiritual practices with origins over a millennium.
This physical contest involves two competitors – called rikishi – competing within a circular arena – a dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) in diameter.
Various rituals take place before and after each bout, emphasizing the traditional nature of the sport.
Traditionally before a match, a hole is created in the center of the dohyo and filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.
This opening gets sealed, containing within a spirit. Sumo wrestlers then perform a ritual stamp with hand clapping to drive off negative energies.
Professional sumo operates under a rigid ranking system, with competitors involved dedicate their entire lives to it – living and training communally.
The London Location
This Major Sumo Event is taking place 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 tournament – marking the initial occasion a tournament was staged outside Japan in the sport's history.
Clarifying the decision for the international competition, sumo leadership stated he wanted to "convey to the people of London the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition".
Sumo has experienced a significant rise in popularity globally recently, with overseas events potentially enhancing the popularity of traditional Japan internationally.
How Sumo Matches Work
The fundamental regulations of sumo are straightforward. The bout concludes once a wrestler gets pushed from the ring or touches the floor 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. Aggressive pushers generally push competitors from the arena by force, whereas grapplers prefer to grapple the other rikishi and use judo-like throws.
High-ranking rikishi often master various techniques and can adapt against different styles.
There are 82 winning techniques, ranging from dramatic throws strategic evasions. This diversity in moves and tactics keeps audiences engaged, so surprises and upsets can occur in any bout.
Size categories are not used in sumo, so it's common to see rikishi with significant size differences. Sumo rankings determine matchups rather than physical attributes.
While women can participate in non-professional sumo globally, they cannot enter elite competitions or the main arenas.
Rikishi Lifestyle
Sumo wrestlers reside and practice together in training stables known as heya, led by a head trainer.
Everyday life for wrestlers focuses entirely on sumo. They rise early dedicated to training, then consuming a large meal of chankonabe – a high-protein dish aimed at building mass – and an afternoon nap.
The average wrestler eats approximately six to 10 bowls per meal – approximately 10,000 calories – with notable instances of massive eating exist in sumo history.
Wrestlers purposely increase mass for competitive advantage in the ring. Although large, they possess remarkable flexibility, quick movements with strong bursts.
Nearly all elements of rikishi life get controlled by their stable and the Sumo Association – making a distinctive existence among athletic professions.
A wrestler's ranking affects earnings, living arrangements including personal assistants.
Junior or lower ranked rikishi perform duties in the stable, whereas senior ones enjoy preferred treatment.
Competitive standings get determined by results during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records advance, unsuccessful ones descend in standing.
Prior to events, updated rankings gets published – a traditional document showing all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo.
At the summit exists the rank of Grand Champion – the pinnacle position. Yokozuna embody the spirit of the sport – transcending winning.
Who Becomes a Rikishi
The sport includes several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, primarily from Japan.
Foreign wrestlers have been involved prominently for decades, including Mongolian wrestlers achieving dominance currently.
Top champions include international representatives, including wrestlers from various nations achieving high ranks.
Recently, young international aspirants have traveled to Japan seeking wrestling careers.
