🔗 Share this article The Reason This Major Sumo Event is Being Held in London This Prestigious Sumo Competition Location: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Dates: October 15th through 19th Understanding Japan's National Sport Sumo represents Japan's iconic national sport, combining tradition, rigorous training and Shinto religious rituals dating back over a millennium. This combat sport features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – battling inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) across. Traditional ceremonies take place both preceding and following every match, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects of the sport. Customarily before a match, an opening is created at the center of the ring and filled with symbolic offerings through Shinto ceremonies. The hole is closed, enshrining inside a spirit. Sumo wrestlers subsequently execute a ceremonial stomp and clap to drive off bad spirits. Elite sumo operates under a rigid ranking system, with competitors involved dedicate their entire lives to it – residing and practicing communally. Why London? This Major Sumo Event is taking place internationally only the second occasion, with the competition occurring in London beginning October 15th until Sunday, 19 October. The British capital and The Royal Albert Hall also hosted the 1991 tournament – the first time a tournament took place beyond Japan in the sport's history. Explaining the reasoning behind going overseas, sumo leadership stated he wanted to share to the people of London the appeal of Sumo – an ancient traditional Japanese culture". Sumo has experienced a significant rise in popularity among international fans recently, with overseas events could further boost the appeal of Japanese culture abroad. Sumo Bout Mechanics The fundamental regulations in sumo wrestling are straightforward. The match is decided once a wrestler gets pushed of the dohyo or touches the floor with anything other than their foot soles. Matches might end almost instantly or last several minutes. Sumo features two primary techniques. Pusher-thrusters typically shove their opponents from the arena by force, while belt-fighters prefer to grapple their opponent employing throwing techniques. Elite wrestlers frequently excel in multiple combat styles adjusting to their opponents. Sumo includes dozens of victory moves, including dramatic throws to clever side-steps. The variety of techniques and strategies maintains fan interest, so surprises and upsets may happen in any bout. Weight classes do not exist in sumo, making it normal to see rikishi with significant size differences. Sumo rankings determine matchups rather than body measurements. While women do compete in amateur sumo worldwide, they cannot enter professional tournaments or the main arenas. Rikishi Lifestyle Sumo wrestlers live and train together in training stables called heya, led by a head trainer. The daily routine of a rikishi focuses entirely around the sport. Early mornings for intense practice, then consuming a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a high-protein dish aimed at building mass – and an afternoon nap. The average wrestler eats approximately multiple servings each sitting – thousands of calories – with notable instances of massive eating are documented. Wrestlers intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage during matches. Despite their size, they possess surprising agility, quick movements with strong bursts. Nearly all elements of rikishi life get controlled by their stable and governing body – making a distinctive existence in professional sports. Competitive standing determines earnings, living arrangements and even personal assistants. Junior less established wrestlers perform duties around the heya, while higher ranked competitors receive preferred treatment. Competitive standings are established through performance in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records advance, unsuccessful ones descend the rankings. Prior to events, a new banzuke are released – a ceremonial list showing everyone's status in professional sumo. At the summit features the title of Grand Champion – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna represent the spirit of sumo – beyond mere competition. Sumo Wrestlers Demographics There are approximately 600 rikishi competing professionally, primarily from Japan. Foreign wrestlers have participated significantly for decades, with Mongolian athletes achieving dominance currently. Top champions feature global participants, with competitors multiple countries achieving high ranks. Recently, young international aspirants have journeyed to Japan pursuing wrestling careers.