The Reason the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in the UK Capital
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Location: This Historic London Venue, the British Capital. Dates: 15-19 October
Understanding Japan's National Sport
Sumo embodies the traditional sport of Japan, combining tradition, rigorous training and Shinto religious rituals with origins over a millennium.
This combat sport involves two competitors – called rikishi – competing within a circular arena – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.
Traditional ceremonies are performed before and after every match, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects in sumo.
Customarily before a match, a hole is created at the center of the ring and filled with symbolic offerings by Shinto priests.
The hole gets sealed, containing within divine presence. The rikishi then perform a ritual stamp with hand clapping to drive off bad spirits.
Professional sumo is governed a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers involved commit completely to the sport – residing and practicing in group settings.
Why London?
This Major Sumo Event is being held internationally for just the second time, with the competition occurring in London from Wednesday, 15 October until Sunday, 19 October.
The British capital and The Royal Albert Hall previously held the 1991 edition – the first time a tournament was staged beyond Japan in sumo history.
Clarifying the decision for the international competition, sumo leadership stated the intention to share to the people of London sumo's attraction – a historic Japanese tradition".
The sport has experienced a significant rise in popularity among international fans recently, with overseas events potentially enhancing the appeal of Japanese culture abroad.
How Sumo Matches Work
The basic rules of sumo are straightforward. The match is decided when a rikishi gets pushed from the ring or makes contact with anything other than their foot soles.
Bouts might end almost instantly or last several minutes.
Sumo features two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers typically shove their opponents out of the ring by force, whereas grapplers choose to grip their opponent employing throwing techniques.
Elite wrestlers often master various techniques adjusting against different styles.
There are 82 winning techniques, including audacious throws to clever side-steps. The variety of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, so surprises and upsets can occur in any bout.
Size categories do not exist in sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers with significant size differences. The ranking system determine matchups rather than body measurements.
While women do compete in non-professional sumo worldwide, they cannot enter professional tournaments or the main arenas.
Rikishi Lifestyle
Professional rikishi live and train in communal facilities known as heya, under a stable master.
Everyday life of a rikishi centers completely around the sport. Early mornings for intense practice, then consuming a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation aimed at building mass – and an afternoon nap.
The average wrestler eats approximately six to 10 bowls per meal – thousands of calories – with notable instances of massive eating are documented.
Wrestlers purposely increase mass to enhance leverage in the ring. Despite their size, they demonstrate remarkable flexibility, rapid reflexes with strong bursts.
Nearly all elements of wrestlers' existence get controlled through their training house and governing body – making a unique lifestyle among athletic professions.
A wrestler's ranking affects earnings, accommodation options including support staff.
Junior less established wrestlers handle chores around the heya, while higher ranked competitors receive special privileges.
Sumo rankings get determined through performance during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records move up, unsuccessful ones descend 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 Grand Champion – the pinnacle position. These champions embody the spirit of the sport – beyond mere competition.
Sumo Wrestlers Demographics
The sport includes 600 rikishi in professional sumo, with most being Japanese.
International competitors have been involved prominently over years, with Mongolian athletes reaching top levels currently.
Top champions feature international representatives, with competitors from various nations achieving high ranks.
In recent news, foreign prospects have journeyed to Japan seeking wrestling careers.
