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The Grand Sumo Tournament

Location: The Royal Albert Hall, London. Schedule: 15-19 October

Exploring Sumo Wrestling

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

This combat sport involves two competitors – known as rikishi – competing inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across.

Various rituals are performed before and after every match, emphasizing the traditional nature of the sport.

Traditionally before a match, an opening is created in the center of the dohyo then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.

The hole gets sealed, enshrining inside a spirit. Sumo wrestlers then perform a ceremonial stomp with hand clapping to scare away negative energies.

Professional sumo is governed a rigid ranking system, with competitors involved commit completely to the sport – residing and practicing communally.

The London Location

The Grand Sumo Tournament is taking place internationally for just the second time, as the tournament taking place in London beginning October 15th until Sunday, 19 October.

London with this iconic venue previously held the 1991 edition – the first time such an event was staged outside Japan in sumo history.

Explaining the reasoning behind going overseas, the Japan Sumo Association chair expressed he wanted to share with London audiences sumo's attraction – a historic Japanese tradition".

The sport has seen a significant rise in popularity among international fans recently, and a rare international tournament potentially enhancing the popularity of traditional Japan abroad.

How Sumo Matches Work

The basic rules in sumo wrestling are quite simple. The match is decided once a wrestler gets pushed of the dohyo or touches the floor using anything besides the sole of his feet.

Matches might end in a fraction of a second or last several minutes.

There exist two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters generally push competitors out of the ring through strength, while belt-fighters choose to grip their opponent employing throwing techniques.

High-ranking rikishi frequently excel in various techniques adjusting to their opponents.

There are 82 winning techniques, ranging from dramatic throws to clever side-steps. This diversity of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results can occur in any bout.

Weight classes do not exist within sumo, so it's common to see rikishi with significant size differences. Sumo rankings determine matchups instead of body measurements.

While women can participate in non-professional sumo globally, they're excluded from professional tournaments or the main arenas.

Rikishi Lifestyle

Sumo wrestlers live and train in communal facilities called heya, under a head trainer.

Everyday life of a rikishi centers completely around the sport. They rise early dedicated to training, then consuming a substantial lunch the traditional stew – a high-protein dish designed for weight gain – and an afternoon nap.

Typical rikishi eats approximately six to 10 bowls per meal – thousands of calories – although legendary stories of massive eating exist in sumo history.

Wrestlers intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage during matches. Despite their size, they possess remarkable flexibility, quick movements and explosive power.

Virtually every aspect of rikishi life get controlled by their stable and the Sumo Association – creating a distinctive existence in professional sports.

Competitive standing affects earnings, living arrangements and even personal assistants.

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

Competitive standings are established by results during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records advance, unsuccessful ones descend in standing.

Prior to events, updated rankings gets published – a ceremonial list displaying all wrestlers' positions within the sport.

The highest level exists the rank of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. These champions embody the essence of the sport – beyond mere competition.

Sumo Wrestlers Demographics

The sport includes several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, primarily from Japan.

International competitors have participated prominently for decades, with Mongolian athletes achieving dominance in recent times.

Top champions include global participants, including wrestlers multiple countries reaching elite status.

In recent news, foreign prospects have journeyed to the homeland pursuing wrestling careers.