Why the Grand Sumo Tournament Takes Place in London
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Location: The Royal Albert Hall, London. Schedule: October 15th through 19th
Understanding Japan's National Sport
Sumo embodies the traditional sport of Japan, blending custom, rigorous training and ancient spiritual practices dating back over a millennium.
This physical contest features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – battling inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.
Traditional ceremonies are performed before and after each bout, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects in sumo.
Customarily before a match, a hole is made in the center of the dohyo then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.
The hole gets sealed, enshrining inside a spirit. The rikishi subsequently execute a ritual stamp with hand clapping to drive off bad spirits.
Elite sumo is governed a rigid ranking system, and the wrestlers who participate commit completely to the sport – residing and practicing in group settings.
Why London?
This Major Sumo Event is taking place outside of Japan for just the second time, with the competition occurring in London from Wednesday, 15 October through October 19th.
London with this iconic venue previously held the 1991 tournament – the first time a tournament was staged outside Japan in the sport's history.
Explaining the reasoning for the international competition, sumo leadership expressed he wanted to "convey with London audiences sumo's attraction – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".
Sumo has seen a significant rise in international interest among international fans in recent years, and a rare international tournament potentially enhancing the popularity of Japanese culture internationally.
Sumo Bout Mechanics
The fundamental regulations in sumo wrestling are straightforward. The match concludes once a wrestler is forced out of the dohyo or makes contact using anything besides the sole of his feet.
Matches might end in a fraction of a second or last several minutes.
Sumo features two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers generally push their opponents from the arena by force, whereas grapplers prefer to grapple the other rikishi employing throwing techniques.
Elite wrestlers often master multiple combat styles and can adapt to their opponents.
Sumo includes dozens of victory moves, ranging from dramatic throws to clever side-steps. This diversity in moves and tactics maintains fan interest, meaning unexpected results can occur in any bout.
Size categories do not exist within sumo, making it normal to observe wrestlers of varying dimensions. Sumo rankings determine matchups instead of body measurements.
Although female athletes can participate in non-professional sumo worldwide, they're excluded from professional tournaments including major venues.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Professional rikishi live and train together in training stables called heya, under a stable master.
Everyday life for wrestlers focuses entirely around the sport. They rise early dedicated to training, then consuming a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation aimed at building mass – and an afternoon nap.
The average wrestler consumes between six to 10 bowls each sitting – approximately 10,000 calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption exist in sumo history.
Rikishi purposely increase mass for competitive advantage in the ring. Despite their size, they possess surprising agility, rapid reflexes with strong bursts.
Nearly all elements of wrestlers' existence get controlled by their stable and governing body – creating a distinctive existence in professional sports.
Competitive standing determines earnings, living arrangements and even support staff.
Junior or lower ranked wrestlers perform duties around the heya, whereas senior ones enjoy preferred treatment.
Competitive standings get determined through performance during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records advance, while those losing descend the rankings.
Before each tournament, a new banzuke gets published – a ceremonial list displaying all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo.
At the summit exists the rank of Yokozuna – the pinnacle position. These champions represent the essence of sumo – beyond mere competition.
Sumo Wrestlers Demographics
There are approximately several hundred wrestlers in professional sumo, primarily being Japanese.
International competitors have participated prominently for decades, including Mongolian wrestlers achieving dominance in recent times.
Top champions feature international representatives, with competitors multiple countries achieving high ranks.
In recent news, young international aspirants have journeyed to Japan pursuing professional sumo careers.
