Why the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in the UK Capital
This Prestigious Sumo Competition
Venue: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Schedule: 15-19 October
Exploring Japan's National Sport
Sumo embodies Japan's iconic national sport, blending custom, rigorous training and Shinto religious rituals dating back over a millennium.
This combat sport involves two competitors – called rikishi – competing inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.
Traditional ceremonies are performed both preceding and following every match, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects of the sport.
Customarily before a match, an opening is made at the center of the ring then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.
The hole gets sealed, enshrining inside a spirit. The rikishi then perform a ritual stamp with hand clapping to drive off negative energies.
Professional sumo operates under a rigid ranking system, and the wrestlers involved commit completely to it – residing and practicing in group settings.
The London Location
The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held internationally only the second occasion, with the competition taking place in London from Wednesday, 15 October through October 19th.
London with this iconic venue also hosted the 1991 edition – the first time such an event was staged beyond Japan in the sport's history.
Clarifying the decision for the international competition, sumo leadership expressed he wanted to "convey with London audiences sumo's attraction – a historic Japanese tradition".
The sport has experienced substantial growth in popularity among international fans in recent years, and a rare international tournament could further boost the popularity of Japanese culture abroad.
How Sumo Matches Work
The basic rules of sumo are quite simple. The bout is decided once a wrestler gets pushed of the dohyo or touches the floor using anything besides their foot soles.
Matches might end in a fraction of a second or last over two minutes.
There exist two primary techniques. Pusher-thrusters typically shove competitors out of the ring through strength, while belt-fighters choose to grip the other rikishi and use throwing techniques.
High-ranking rikishi frequently excel in various techniques and can adapt to their opponents.
There are 82 winning techniques, ranging from dramatic throws to clever side-steps. This diversity in moves and tactics maintains fan interest, so surprises and upsets can occur during any match.
Size categories do not exist within sumo, so it's common to see rikishi of varying dimensions. Sumo rankings decides opponents rather than physical attributes.
Although female athletes can participate in non-professional sumo globally, they cannot enter elite competitions or the main arenas.
Rikishi Lifestyle
Professional rikishi live and train together in training stables known as heya, led by a head trainer.
Everyday life for wrestlers centers completely around the sport. They rise early dedicated to training, then consuming a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation aimed at building mass – with rest periods.
The average wrestler consumes between six to 10 bowls per meal – thousands of calories – although legendary stories of extreme consumption are documented.
Wrestlers purposely increase mass to enhance leverage in the ring. Despite their size, they possess surprising agility, quick movements with strong bursts.
Virtually every aspect of wrestlers' existence get controlled by their stable and the Sumo Association – creating a distinctive existence among athletic professions.
A wrestler's ranking determines their payment, living arrangements including support staff.
Junior or lower ranked rikishi handle chores in the stable, while higher ranked competitors receive special privileges.
Sumo rankings get determined through performance in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records move up, while those losing drop down in standing.
Prior to events, updated rankings gets published – a ceremonial list displaying all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo.
The highest level features the title of Grand Champion – the pinnacle position. These champions represent the essence of the sport – beyond mere competition.
Who Becomes a Rikishi
The sport includes 600 rikishi in professional sumo, with most from Japan.
Foreign wrestlers have been involved significantly for decades, with Mongolian athletes reaching top levels in recent times.
Current Yokozuna include international representatives, with competitors from various nations achieving high ranks.
In recent news, young international aspirants have traveled to the homeland pursuing wrestling careers.
