The Reason the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in London
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Venue: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Schedule: October 15th through 19th
Exploring Japan's National Sport
Sumo embodies Japan's iconic national sport, combining tradition, rigorous training and ancient spiritual practices with origins more than 1,000 years.
This combat sport involves two competitors – known as rikishi – battling inside a raised circular ring – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across.
Traditional ceremonies take place both preceding and following every match, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects in sumo.
Traditionally prior to competition, an opening is created at the center of the ring then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.
This opening gets sealed, enshrining inside divine presence. Sumo wrestlers subsequently execute a ceremonial stomp and clap to drive off bad spirits.
Professional sumo is governed a rigid ranking system, and the wrestlers who participate dedicate their entire lives to it – living and training communally.
The London Location
The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held outside of Japan for just the second time, with the competition taking place in London beginning October 15th until Sunday, 19 October.
London and The Royal Albert Hall also hosted the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion a tournament was staged beyond Japan in the sport's history.
Explaining the reasoning behind going overseas, the Japan Sumo Association chair expressed the intention to share with London audiences the appeal of Sumo – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".
The sport has seen a significant rise in international interest globally recently, with overseas events potentially enhancing the appeal of Japanese culture internationally.
Sumo Bout Mechanics
The basic rules in sumo wrestling are quite simple. The match is decided once a wrestler gets pushed from the ring or makes contact with anything other than the sole of his feet.
Matches might end almost instantly or continue several minutes.
There exist two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers typically shove their opponents from the arena through strength, while belt-fighters prefer to grapple their opponent employing judo-like throws.
High-ranking rikishi often master multiple combat styles and can adapt against different styles.
Sumo includes dozens of victory moves, ranging from audacious throws to clever side-steps. This diversity of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results may happen during any match.
Size categories do not exist in sumo, making it normal to observe wrestlers of varying dimensions. Sumo rankings decides opponents rather than physical attributes.
Although female athletes can participate in amateur sumo globally, they're excluded from elite competitions including major venues.
Rikishi Lifestyle
Sumo wrestlers reside and practice together in training stables known as heya, under a stable master.
Everyday life for wrestlers focuses entirely around the sport. Early mornings dedicated to training, then consuming a substantial lunch the traditional stew – a high-protein dish aimed at building mass – with rest periods.
Typical rikishi eats approximately six to 10 bowls each sitting – approximately 10,000 calories – although legendary stories of massive eating exist in sumo history.
Wrestlers purposely increase mass to enhance leverage in the ring. Although large, they possess surprising agility, quick movements and explosive power.
Virtually every aspect of wrestlers' existence are regulated through their training house and governing body – creating a unique lifestyle in professional sports.
A wrestler's ranking affects earnings, accommodation options and even support staff.
Younger or lower ranked wrestlers perform duties in the stable, whereas senior ones enjoy special privileges.
Sumo rankings get determined by results during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records move up, unsuccessful ones drop down the rankings.
Prior to events, updated rankings gets published – a traditional document showing all wrestlers' positions within the sport.
The highest level exists the rank of Grand Champion – the ultimate achievement. These champions represent the essence of sumo – transcending winning.
Who Becomes a Rikishi
The sport includes several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, with most being Japanese.
Foreign wrestlers have been involved prominently over years, including Mongolian wrestlers reaching top levels in recent times.
Top champions feature global participants, including wrestlers from various nations achieving high ranks.
Recently, foreign prospects have journeyed to the homeland seeking wrestling careers.
