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This Prestigious Sumo Competition

Location: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Dates: October 15th through 19th

Exploring Sumo Wrestling

Sumo represents the traditional sport of Japan, combining tradition, discipline and ancient spiritual practices with origins over a millennium.

This combat sport features two wrestlers – called rikishi – battling within a circular arena – a dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) across.

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

Customarily before a match, an opening is created in the center of the ring and filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.

The hole is closed, enshrining inside divine presence. Sumo wrestlers then perform a ritual stamp and clap to scare away negative energies.

Elite sumo is governed a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers involved commit completely to it – living and training in group settings.

Why London?

The Grand Sumo Tournament is taking place outside of Japan 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 previously held the 1991 edition – marking the initial occasion such an event took place outside Japan in the sport's history.

Clarifying the decision behind going overseas, the Japan Sumo Association chair stated he wanted to share to the people of London the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition".

Sumo has experienced substantial growth in international interest globally in recent years, and a rare international tournament could further boost the appeal of Japanese culture internationally.

How Sumo Matches Work

The basic rules of sumo are straightforward. The match concludes when a rikishi gets pushed from the ring or touches the floor with anything other than the sole of his feet.

Bouts might end almost instantly or last several minutes.

There exist two main fighting styles. Aggressive pushers generally push their opponents out of the ring by force, whereas grapplers choose to grip their opponent and use judo-like throws.

High-ranking rikishi frequently excel in various techniques and can adapt against different styles.

There are 82 winning techniques, ranging from dramatic throws to clever side-steps. The variety of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results may happen in any bout.

Weight classes do not exist in sumo, making it normal to observe wrestlers with significant size differences. Sumo rankings determine matchups rather than body measurements.

While women do compete in amateur sumo globally, they cannot enter elite competitions including major venues.

Rikishi Lifestyle

Professional rikishi live and train in communal facilities called heya, under a stable master.

The daily routine of a rikishi centers completely around the sport. Early mornings dedicated to training, followed by a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – and an afternoon nap.

The average wrestler consumes between six to 10 bowls per meal – approximately 10,000 calories – although legendary stories of massive eating are documented.

Wrestlers intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage in the ring. Although large, they demonstrate surprising agility, quick movements with strong bursts.

Nearly all elements of wrestlers' existence are regulated by their stable and governing body – creating a unique lifestyle among athletic professions.

A wrestler's ranking determines earnings, accommodation options including support staff.

Junior or lower ranked wrestlers handle chores around the heya, whereas senior ones enjoy preferred treatment.

Competitive standings are established through performance in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records advance, while those losing drop down the rankings.

Before each tournament, updated rankings gets published – a traditional document displaying all wrestlers' positions within the sport.

At the summit features the title of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna represent the spirit of sumo – transcending winning.

Sumo Wrestlers Demographics

The sport includes several hundred wrestlers in professional sumo, primarily being Japanese.

Foreign wrestlers have been involved significantly over years, including Mongolian wrestlers achieving dominance in recent times.

Current Yokozuna feature global participants, including wrestlers multiple countries achieving high ranks.

Recently, young international aspirants have traveled to the homeland pursuing wrestling careers.