The Reason the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in London
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Location: This Historic London Venue, the British Capital. Schedule: 15-19 October
Exploring Sumo Wrestling
Sumo embodies Japan's iconic national sport, combining custom, discipline and ancient spiritual practices dating back over a millennium.
This physical contest involves two competitors – called rikishi – battling within a circular arena – a dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) across.
Various rituals take place before and after each bout, highlighting the traditional nature in sumo.
Traditionally before a match, a hole is made in the center of the ring and filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.
The hole is closed, enshrining inside a spirit. The rikishi then perform a ritual stamp and clap to drive off negative energies.
Professional sumo operates under a rigid ranking system, with competitors involved commit completely to it – living and training in group settings.
Why London?
The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held internationally for just the second time, as the tournament taking place in London beginning October 15th until Sunday, 19 October.
London and The Royal Albert Hall previously held the 1991 edition – marking the initial occasion such an event was staged beyond Japan in sumo history.
Clarifying the decision for the international competition, sumo leadership expressed he wanted to share with London audiences the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition".
Sumo has seen a significant rise in popularity among international fans in recent years, and a rare international tournament could further boost the appeal of Japanese culture internationally.
Sumo Bout Mechanics
The fundamental regulations of sumo are straightforward. The match is decided once a wrestler is forced out from the ring or makes contact with anything other than the sole of his feet.
Bouts might end almost instantly or last over two minutes.
There exist two primary techniques. Pusher-thrusters generally push competitors from the arena through strength, while belt-fighters choose to grip the other rikishi and use judo-like throws.
High-ranking rikishi often master various techniques and can adapt against different styles.
Sumo includes 82 winning techniques, including audacious throws strategic evasions. The variety in moves and tactics maintains fan interest, so surprises and upsets may happen during any match.
Weight classes are not used within sumo, making it normal to see rikishi with significant size differences. The ranking system decides opponents instead of body measurements.
While women do compete in amateur sumo globally, they cannot enter elite competitions including major venues.
Rikishi Lifestyle
Sumo wrestlers live and train together in training stables called heya, under a stable master.
Everyday life for wrestlers centers completely on sumo. Early mornings dedicated to training, then consuming a large meal of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – with rest periods.
Typical rikishi eats approximately six to 10 bowls each sitting – approximately 10,000 calories – with notable instances of massive eating exist in sumo history.
Wrestlers purposely increase mass to enhance leverage during matches. Despite their size, they demonstrate surprising agility, rapid reflexes with strong bursts.
Virtually every aspect of rikishi life are regulated by their stable and the Sumo Association – making a distinctive existence in professional sports.
Competitive standing affects earnings, accommodation options including personal assistants.
Junior or lower ranked rikishi handle chores in the stable, whereas senior ones enjoy special privileges.
Competitive standings are established by results in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records advance, unsuccessful ones drop down the rankings.
Before each tournament, updated rankings are released – a traditional document showing all wrestlers' positions within the sport.
The highest level exists the rank of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. These champions embody the spirit of the sport – transcending winning.
Who Becomes a Rikishi
The sport includes 600 rikishi competing professionally, with most being Japanese.
Foreign wrestlers have participated significantly for decades, with Mongolian athletes reaching top levels currently.
Top champions feature international representatives, with competitors multiple countries achieving high ranks.
In recent news, foreign prospects have traveled to the homeland seeking professional sumo careers.
