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The Grand Sumo Tournament

Venue: This Historic London Venue, the British Capital. Schedule: October 15th through 19th

Exploring Sumo Wrestling

Sumo represents the traditional sport of Japan, blending tradition, rigorous training and Shinto religious rituals dating back more than 1,000 years.

This combat sport features two wrestlers – called rikishi – competing within a circular arena – a dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) in diameter.

Various rituals take place both preceding and following each bout, highlighting the ceremonial aspects in sumo.

Customarily before a match, a hole is created at the center of the dohyo then filled with symbolic offerings by Shinto priests.

The hole is closed, containing within divine presence. The rikishi then perform a ritual stamp and clap to drive off negative energies.

Professional sumo is governed a rigid ranking system, with competitors who participate commit completely to the sport – living and training communally.

Why London?

This Major Sumo Event is being held internationally only the second occasion, with the competition taking place in London from Wednesday, 15 October through October 19th.

London and The Royal Albert Hall previously held the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion a tournament took place beyond Japan in the sport's history.

Clarifying the decision behind going overseas, sumo leadership expressed the intention to share with London audiences sumo's attraction – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".

The sport has experienced a significant rise in popularity globally recently, and a rare international tournament could further boost the appeal of traditional Japan internationally.

How Sumo Matches Work

The fundamental regulations of sumo are straightforward. The bout concludes when a rikishi is forced out of the dohyo or touches the floor using anything besides their foot soles.

Bouts might end in a fraction of a second or continue several minutes.

There exist two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers generally push their opponents out of the ring through strength, while belt-fighters choose to grip the other rikishi employing throwing techniques.

High-ranking rikishi frequently excel in various techniques and can adapt against different styles.

There are 82 winning techniques, ranging from dramatic throws to clever side-steps. This diversity of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, so surprises and upsets may happen during any match.

Weight classes are not used in sumo, so it's common to see rikishi of varying dimensions. The ranking system determine matchups rather than physical attributes.

While women do compete in amateur sumo worldwide, they cannot enter professional tournaments including major venues.

Rikishi Lifestyle

Sumo wrestlers reside and practice in communal facilities called heya, under a stable master.

Everyday life of a rikishi centers completely on sumo. Early mornings dedicated to training, followed by a large meal the traditional stew – a protein-rich preparation aimed at building mass – with rest periods.

The average wrestler consumes between multiple servings per meal – thousands of calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption are documented.

Wrestlers intentionally gain weight to enhance leverage in the ring. Despite their size, they possess remarkable flexibility, quick movements and explosive power.

Virtually every aspect of wrestlers' existence are regulated by their stable and governing body – making a distinctive existence in professional sports.

Competitive standing affects their payment, accommodation options and even personal assistants.

Junior or lower ranked rikishi perform duties around the heya, whereas senior ones enjoy special privileges.

Competitive standings get determined through performance in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records advance, while those losing drop down the rankings.

Before each tournament, a new banzuke gets published – a traditional document displaying everyone's status within the sport.

The highest level exists the rank of Yokozuna – the pinnacle position. Yokozuna embody the spirit of the sport – transcending winning.

Sumo Wrestlers Demographics

There are approximately several hundred wrestlers in professional sumo, primarily from Japan.

International competitors have been involved prominently for decades, including Mongolian wrestlers achieving dominance currently.

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

Recently, young international aspirants have traveled to Japan pursuing professional sumo careers.