The Reason This Major Sumo Event is Being Held in the UK Capital
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Venue: This Historic London Venue, London. Schedule: 15-19 October
Understanding Sumo Wrestling
Sumo represents Japan's iconic national sport, blending custom, discipline and Shinto religious rituals with origins over a millennium.
This combat sport involves two competitors – known as rikishi – competing within a circular arena – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.
Various rituals are performed both preceding and following each bout, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects in sumo.
Customarily before a match, a hole is made in the center of the ring then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.
This opening gets sealed, containing within divine presence. The rikishi subsequently execute a ceremonial stomp with hand clapping to scare away bad spirits.
Professional sumo operates under a rigid ranking system, with competitors who participate dedicate their entire lives to the sport – residing and practicing in group settings.
The London Location
The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held outside of Japan only the second occasion, with the competition occurring in London from Wednesday, 15 October until Sunday, 19 October.
The British capital with this iconic venue also hosted the 1991 edition – the first time such an event took place beyond Japan in the sport's history.
Explaining the reasoning behind going overseas, the Japan Sumo Association chair stated he wanted to share with London audiences the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition".
Sumo has seen a significant rise in popularity globally in recent years, and a rare international tournament potentially enhancing the popularity of traditional Japan internationally.
Sumo Bout Mechanics
The basic rules of sumo are straightforward. The bout concludes when a rikishi is forced out from the ring or makes contact using anything besides the sole of his feet.
Bouts can conclude in a fraction of a second or last over two minutes.
Sumo features two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters typically shove their opponents out of the ring by force, whereas grapplers prefer to grapple the other rikishi and use judo-like throws.
High-ranking rikishi frequently excel in various techniques and can adapt to their opponents.
There are 82 winning techniques, including dramatic throws to clever side-steps. The variety of techniques and strategies maintains fan interest, meaning unexpected results may happen during any match.
Weight classes are not used in sumo, making it normal to see rikishi with significant size differences. Sumo rankings decides opponents rather than body measurements.
While women can participate in non-professional sumo globally, they're excluded from professional tournaments including major venues.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Professional rikishi live and train in communal facilities known as heya, led by a stable master.
Everyday life for wrestlers centers completely on sumo. They rise early dedicated to training, then consuming a large meal the traditional stew – a protein-rich preparation aimed at building mass – with rest periods.
The average wrestler consumes between six to 10 bowls per meal – approximately 10,000 calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption exist in sumo history.
Rikishi purposely increase mass to enhance leverage in the ring. Despite their size, they demonstrate remarkable flexibility, quick movements and explosive power.
Nearly all elements of rikishi life get controlled by their stable and governing body – creating a distinctive existence among athletic professions.
Competitive standing determines their payment, accommodation options including support staff.
Junior or lower ranked rikishi handle chores in the stable, whereas senior ones enjoy preferred treatment.
Competitive standings get determined through performance during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records move up, while those losing descend the rankings.
Prior to events, a new banzuke are released – a traditional document displaying all wrestlers' positions within the sport.
The highest level features the title of Yokozuna – the pinnacle position. These champions embody the spirit of sumo – beyond mere competition.
Sumo Wrestlers Demographics
The sport includes several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, primarily being Japanese.
Foreign wrestlers have been involved significantly for decades, including Mongolian wrestlers reaching top levels currently.
Current Yokozuna include international representatives, including wrestlers from various nations reaching elite status.
Recently, foreign prospects have journeyed to the homeland seeking professional sumo careers.
