Why This Major Sumo Event is Being Held in London
This Prestigious Sumo Competition
Venue: This Historic London Venue, the British Capital. Schedule: 15-19 October
Understanding Japan's National Sport
Sumo embodies Japan's iconic national sport, combining tradition, discipline and ancient spiritual practices with origins over a millennium.
This combat sport involves two competitors – known as rikishi – competing within a circular arena – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across.
Traditional ceremonies take place before and after every match, highlighting the traditional nature in sumo.
Traditionally before a match, an opening is created at the center of the ring then filled with symbolic offerings by Shinto priests.
This opening gets sealed, containing within divine presence. Sumo wrestlers then perform a ceremonial stomp and clap to drive off negative energies.
Professional sumo operates under a rigid ranking system, and the wrestlers who participate dedicate their entire lives to the sport – residing and practicing communally.
Why London?
This Major Sumo Event is being held internationally for just the second time, with the competition occurring in London beginning October 15th until Sunday, 19 October.
The British capital and The Royal Albert Hall also hosted the 1991 tournament – the first time a tournament took place beyond Japan in sumo history.
Clarifying the decision for the international competition, the Japan Sumo Association chair stated he wanted to share to the people of London the appeal of Sumo – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".
Sumo has experienced substantial growth in popularity globally in recent years, and a rare international tournament could further boost the appeal of Japanese culture internationally.
How Sumo Matches Work
The basic rules of sumo are quite simple. The match is decided once a wrestler gets pushed from the ring or makes contact with anything other than their foot soles.
Matches can conclude almost instantly or last several minutes.
There exist two main fighting styles. Aggressive pushers generally push their opponents out of the ring by force, whereas grapplers prefer to grapple the other rikishi employing throwing techniques.
High-ranking rikishi frequently excel in various techniques and can adapt to their opponents.
There are 82 winning techniques, including dramatic throws strategic evasions. The variety in moves and tactics maintains fan interest, so surprises and upsets may happen during any match.
Size categories do not exist in sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers with significant size differences. The ranking system determine matchups instead of physical attributes.
While women do compete in non-professional sumo worldwide, they cannot enter elite competitions including major venues.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Professional rikishi reside and practice in communal facilities known as heya, under a head trainer.
Everyday life for wrestlers centers completely on sumo. Early mornings dedicated to training, then consuming a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation aimed at building mass – and an afternoon nap.
Typical rikishi consumes between multiple servings per meal – thousands of calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption are documented.
Wrestlers intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage in the ring. Although large, they demonstrate remarkable flexibility, rapid reflexes with strong bursts.
Nearly all elements of rikishi life are regulated by their stable and governing body – creating a distinctive existence among athletic professions.
Competitive standing affects earnings, accommodation options and even support staff.
Junior less established rikishi handle chores in the stable, whereas senior competitors receive preferred treatment.
Competitive standings get determined through performance in six annual tournaments. Successful competitors move up, while those losing descend the rankings.
Prior to events, a new banzuke are released – a traditional document showing everyone's status in professional sumo.
The highest level exists the rank of Grand Champion – the ultimate achievement. These champions embody the essence of the sport – beyond mere competition.
Sumo Wrestlers Demographics
There are approximately 600 rikishi in professional sumo, primarily from Japan.
Foreign wrestlers have participated significantly over years, with Mongolian athletes reaching top levels currently.
Top champions include international representatives, including wrestlers from various nations achieving high ranks.
In recent news, foreign prospects have traveled to the homeland pursuing wrestling careers.
