🔗 Share this article Why the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in London This Prestigious Sumo Competition Location: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Dates: 15-19 October Exploring Japan's National Sport Sumo represents Japan's iconic national sport, combining tradition, rigorous training and ancient spiritual practices with origins over a millennium. This combat sport involves two competitors – known as rikishi – battling inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter. Traditional ceremonies take place both preceding and following each bout, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects in sumo. Traditionally prior to competition, an opening is made in the center of the dohyo then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies. This opening gets sealed, containing within a spirit. Sumo wrestlers subsequently execute a ritual stamp and clap to scare away bad spirits. Professional sumo is governed a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers who participate dedicate their entire lives to it – living and training communally. Why London? This Major Sumo Event is taking place internationally for just the second time, with the competition occurring in London beginning October 15th through October 19th. The British capital and The Royal Albert Hall also hosted the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion such an event took place beyond Japan in sumo history. Clarifying the decision behind going overseas, sumo leadership expressed he wanted to "convey with London audiences sumo's attraction – a historic Japanese tradition". Sumo has experienced substantial growth in popularity among international fans recently, with overseas events potentially enhancing the popularity of traditional Japan internationally. Sumo Bout Mechanics The basic rules of sumo are straightforward. The bout concludes when a rikishi is forced out from the ring or makes contact with anything other than the sole of his feet. Matches might end in a fraction of a second or last several minutes. There exist two main fighting styles. Aggressive pushers typically shove competitors from the arena by force, while belt-fighters choose to grip their opponent employing judo-like throws. Elite wrestlers often master various techniques adjusting to their opponents. Sumo includes 82 winning techniques, ranging from dramatic throws to clever side-steps. The variety of techniques and strategies maintains fan interest, so surprises and upsets can occur during any match. Weight classes do not exist in sumo, so it's common to see rikishi of varying dimensions. The ranking system determine matchups rather than body measurements. Although female athletes can participate in amateur sumo worldwide, they cannot enter elite competitions or the main arenas. Rikishi Lifestyle Professional rikishi reside and practice together in training stables called heya, led by a stable master. Everyday life of a rikishi focuses entirely around the sport. They rise early for intense practice, then consuming a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – and an afternoon nap. Typical rikishi consumes between multiple servings per meal – thousands of calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption exist in sumo history. Rikishi purposely increase mass to enhance leverage in the ring. Despite their size, they possess remarkable flexibility, rapid reflexes and explosive power. 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 earnings, accommodation options and even support staff. Junior or lower ranked rikishi perform duties in the stable, while higher ranked competitors receive preferred treatment. Competitive standings get determined by results in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records advance, while those losing descend the rankings. Before each tournament, updated rankings are released – a ceremonial list showing all wrestlers' positions within the sport. The highest level features the title of Grand Champion – the ultimate achievement. These champions represent the essence of the sport – transcending winning. Who Becomes a Rikishi There are approximately several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, with most being Japanese. International competitors have participated prominently for decades, with Mongolian athletes reaching top levels currently. Top champions feature international representatives, including wrestlers from various nations achieving high ranks. Recently, foreign prospects have traveled to the homeland pursuing wrestling careers.