The Reason the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in the UK Capital
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Venue: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Schedule: 15-19 October
Understanding Sumo Wrestling
Sumo embodies the traditional sport of Japan, blending tradition, discipline and Shinto religious rituals with origins more than 1,000 years.
This physical contest involves two competitors – known as rikishi – battling within a circular arena – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.
Traditional ceremonies take place before and after each bout, highlighting the traditional nature in sumo.
Traditionally before a match, a hole is created in the center of the ring then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.
The hole is closed, containing within divine presence. Sumo wrestlers then perform a ritual stamp and clap to drive off bad spirits.
Professional sumo operates under a rigid ranking system, with competitors involved commit completely to it – residing and practicing in group settings.
Why London?
The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held internationally for just the second time, with the competition occurring in London from Wednesday, 15 October through October 19th.
London with this iconic venue also hosted the 1991 edition – the first time a tournament was staged outside Japan in sumo history.
Clarifying the decision behind going overseas, sumo leadership expressed the intention to "convey to the people of London the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition".
The sport has seen substantial growth in popularity globally in recent years, and a rare international tournament potentially enhancing the popularity of Japanese culture internationally.
Sumo Bout Mechanics
The basic rules of sumo are straightforward. The bout concludes when a rikishi is forced out from the ring or touches the floor using anything besides the sole of his feet.
Matches can conclude in a fraction of a second or last over two minutes.
Sumo features two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters typically shove their opponents from the arena by force, while belt-fighters choose to grip their opponent employing throwing techniques.
High-ranking rikishi frequently excel in multiple combat styles and can adapt to their opponents.
There are dozens of victory moves, ranging from audacious throws strategic evasions. The variety of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, so surprises and upsets may happen in any bout.
Weight classes are not used within sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers of varying dimensions. The ranking system decides opponents instead of physical attributes.
While women do compete in non-professional sumo worldwide, they cannot enter professional tournaments including major venues.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Professional rikishi live and train in communal facilities known as 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 high-protein dish designed for weight gain – with rest periods.
The average wrestler consumes between multiple servings per meal – thousands of calories – with notable instances of massive eating exist in sumo history.
Wrestlers purposely increase mass to enhance leverage during matches. Despite their size, they possess surprising agility, quick movements and explosive power.
Virtually every aspect of wrestlers' existence are regulated through their training house and governing body – creating a distinctive existence among athletic professions.
A wrestler's ranking affects earnings, living arrangements including personal assistants.
Junior or lower ranked rikishi perform duties around the heya, whereas senior competitors receive preferred treatment.
Sumo rankings get determined by results during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records advance, unsuccessful ones drop down in standing.
Prior to events, updated rankings gets published – a traditional document displaying everyone's status in professional sumo.
The highest level features the title of Yokozuna – the pinnacle position. These champions represent the spirit of the sport – transcending winning.
Sumo Wrestlers Demographics
The sport includes several hundred wrestlers in professional sumo, primarily being Japanese.
Foreign wrestlers have been involved significantly for decades, with Mongolian athletes reaching top levels currently.
Top champions include international representatives, including wrestlers from various nations achieving high ranks.
Recently, foreign prospects have journeyed to the homeland seeking wrestling careers.
