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This Prestigious Sumo Competition

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

Exploring Japan's National Sport

Sumo represents Japan's iconic national sport, blending custom, rigorous training and ancient spiritual practices with origins more than 1,000 years.

This combat sport features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – competing within a circular arena – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across.

Traditional ceremonies are performed both preceding and following every match, highlighting the ceremonial aspects in sumo.

Customarily before a match, a hole is created at the center of the dohyo and filled with symbolic offerings through Shinto ceremonies.

This opening is closed, containing within a spirit. Sumo wrestlers subsequently execute a ritual stamp and clap to drive off bad spirits.

Professional sumo operates under a strict hierarchy, with competitors who participate dedicate their entire lives to the sport – living and training in group settings.

The London Location

The Grand Sumo Tournament is taking place outside of Japan for just the second time, as the tournament taking place in London beginning October 15th through October 19th.

London and The Royal Albert Hall previously held 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 "convey with London audiences sumo's attraction – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".

The sport has seen a significant rise in popularity among international fans recently, and a rare international tournament could further boost the appeal of Japanese culture abroad.

Sumo Bout Mechanics

The basic rules of sumo are quite simple. The bout concludes when a rikishi is forced out of the dohyo or touches the floor with anything other than their foot soles.

Bouts can conclude in a fraction of a second or continue over two minutes.

Sumo features two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters generally push their opponents from the arena by force, whereas grapplers choose to grip the other rikishi and use judo-like throws.

High-ranking rikishi often master various techniques and can adapt to their opponents.

Sumo includes 82 winning techniques, including audacious throws to clever side-steps. The variety in moves and tactics keeps audiences engaged, so surprises and upsets may happen in any bout.

Weight classes are not used in sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers with significant size differences. Sumo rankings determine matchups instead of body measurements.

Although female athletes do compete in amateur sumo worldwide, they cannot enter professional tournaments including major venues.

Life as a Sumo Wrestler

Professional rikishi live and train in communal facilities called heya, under a head trainer.

Everyday life of a rikishi focuses entirely on sumo. They rise early dedicated to training, then consuming a large meal the traditional stew – a high-protein dish aimed at building mass – and an afternoon nap.

The average wrestler consumes between multiple servings each sitting – approximately 10,000 calories – although legendary stories of massive eating exist in sumo history.

Wrestlers purposely increase mass for competitive advantage during matches. Despite their size, they demonstrate remarkable flexibility, quick movements with strong bursts.

Nearly all elements of rikishi life are regulated by their stable and the Sumo Association – creating a distinctive existence among athletic professions.

Competitive standing affects earnings, living arrangements including support staff.

Junior or lower ranked wrestlers perform duties around the heya, while higher ranked ones enjoy preferred treatment.

Sumo rankings get determined by results during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records advance, unsuccessful ones drop down the rankings.

Before each tournament, updated rankings are released – a ceremonial list displaying all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo.

At the summit exists the rank of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna embody the spirit of the sport – transcending winning.

Who Becomes a Rikishi

There are approximately 600 rikishi in professional sumo, with most from Japan.

International competitors have participated prominently over years, including Mongolian wrestlers reaching top levels currently.

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

Recently, young international aspirants have traveled to Japan seeking professional sumo careers.