The Reason This Major Sumo Event is Being Held in the UK Capital

This Prestigious Sumo Competition

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

Exploring Japan's National Sport

Sumo represents the traditional sport of Japan, combining tradition, rigorous training and Shinto religious rituals with origins over a millennium.

This physical contest features two wrestlers – called rikishi – competing inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.

Traditional ceremonies are performed both preceding and following every match, highlighting the ceremonial aspects of the sport.

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

The hole gets sealed, containing within divine presence. Sumo wrestlers subsequently execute a ceremonial stomp and clap to drive off bad spirits.

Professional sumo operates under a strict hierarchy, with competitors who participate dedicate their entire lives to it – living and training in group settings.

Why London?

The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held outside of Japan only the second occasion, as the tournament taking place in London from Wednesday, 15 October through October 19th.

The British capital with this iconic venue also hosted the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion such an event was staged outside Japan in the sport's history.

Clarifying the decision for the international competition, the Japan Sumo Association chair expressed the intention to "convey with London audiences the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition".

Sumo has experienced substantial growth in popularity among international fans in recent years, and a rare international tournament could further boost the popularity of Japanese culture abroad.

Sumo Bout Mechanics

The fundamental regulations in sumo wrestling are straightforward. The bout concludes once a wrestler gets pushed of the dohyo or touches the floor with anything other than the sole of his feet.

Bouts can conclude almost instantly or last over two minutes.

There exist two main fighting styles. Aggressive pushers generally push their opponents out of the ring through strength, while belt-fighters choose to grip their opponent and use judo-like throws.

Elite wrestlers often master various techniques and can adapt against different styles.

Sumo includes dozens of victory moves, ranging from dramatic throws strategic evasions. The variety of techniques and strategies maintains fan interest, so surprises and upsets can occur during any match.

Size categories are not used in sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers of varying dimensions. The ranking system determine matchups instead of physical attributes.

Although female athletes can participate in amateur sumo worldwide, they cannot enter elite competitions including major venues.

Life as a Sumo Wrestler

Sumo wrestlers reside and practice together in training stables known as heya, led by a head trainer.

Everyday life of a rikishi centers completely on sumo. Early mornings for intense practice, followed by a large meal of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – with rest periods.

Typical rikishi consumes between multiple servings per meal – approximately 10,000 calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption are documented.

Rikishi intentionally gain weight to enhance leverage in the ring. Despite their size, they possess remarkable flexibility, rapid reflexes with strong bursts.

Virtually every aspect of wrestlers' existence get controlled by their stable and the Sumo Association – creating a unique lifestyle among athletic professions.

Competitive standing determines earnings, accommodation options and even support staff.

Younger less established rikishi perform duties around the heya, whereas senior competitors receive preferred treatment.

Sumo rankings are established through performance in six annual tournaments. Successful competitors advance, while those losing drop down in standing.

Before each tournament, a new banzuke gets published – a ceremonial list showing everyone's status in professional sumo.

At the summit exists the rank of Grand Champion – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna represent the essence of the sport – transcending winning.

Who Becomes a Rikishi

There are approximately several hundred wrestlers in professional sumo, with most from Japan.

International competitors have been involved significantly over years, including Mongolian wrestlers achieving dominance currently.

Top champions feature international representatives, with competitors from various nations reaching elite status.

Recently, young international aspirants have traveled to Japan seeking professional sumo careers.