🔗 Share this article Why the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in the UK Capital This Prestigious Sumo Competition Venue: The Royal Albert Hall, London. Dates: October 15th through 19th Understanding Japan's National Sport Sumo embodies Japan's iconic national sport, blending custom, rigorous training and Shinto religious rituals dating back over a millennium. This physical contest involves two competitors – called rikishi – competing inside a raised circular ring – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter. Various rituals are performed before and after every match, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects of the sport. Customarily before a match, an opening is created at the center of the ring then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies. This opening gets sealed, containing within a spirit. The rikishi then perform a ceremonial stomp with hand clapping to scare away negative energies. Elite sumo is governed a strict hierarchy, with competitors who participate dedicate their entire lives to the sport – living and training in group settings. Why London? The Grand Sumo Tournament is taking place outside of Japan only the second occasion, with the competition occurring 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 was staged outside Japan in the sport's history. Clarifying the decision for the international competition, the Japan Sumo Association chair expressed he wanted to share to the people of London the appeal of Sumo – an ancient traditional Japanese culture". The sport has seen substantial growth in popularity globally recently, with overseas events could further boost the appeal of Japanese culture internationally. How Sumo Matches Work The basic rules of sumo are quite simple. The bout concludes when a rikishi is forced out from the ring or touches the floor with anything other than their foot soles. Bouts can conclude in a fraction of a second or last several minutes. There exist two main fighting styles. Aggressive pushers generally push their opponents from the arena by force, while belt-fighters prefer to grapple their opponent employing throwing techniques. Elite wrestlers often master various techniques adjusting against different styles. There are dozens of victory moves, ranging from dramatic throws to clever side-steps. This diversity of techniques and strategies maintains fan interest, meaning unexpected results may happen during any match. Weight classes do not exist in sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers of varying dimensions. Sumo rankings decides opponents rather than physical attributes. While women do compete in amateur sumo globally, they cannot enter professional tournaments including major venues. Rikishi Lifestyle Sumo wrestlers reside and practice in communal facilities called heya, under a stable master. The daily routine for wrestlers focuses entirely on sumo. Early mornings dedicated to training, followed by a large meal of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation aimed at building mass – and an afternoon nap. The average wrestler eats approximately six to 10 bowls each sitting – thousands of calories – although legendary stories of massive eating exist in sumo history. Wrestlers purposely increase mass to enhance leverage during matches. Although large, they demonstrate 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 in professional sports. A wrestler's ranking affects their payment, living arrangements and even support staff. Younger less established wrestlers perform duties in the stable, whereas senior ones enjoy special privileges. Competitive standings are established by results during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records move up, while those losing drop down the rankings. Prior to events, updated rankings are released – a ceremonial list displaying all wrestlers' positions within the sport. At the summit features the title of Yokozuna – the pinnacle position. Yokozuna embody the essence of the sport – transcending winning. Who Becomes a Rikishi There are approximately several hundred wrestlers in professional sumo, with most from Japan. Foreign wrestlers have been involved significantly over years, including Mongolian wrestlers reaching top levels currently. Top champions feature international representatives, with competitors multiple countries reaching elite status. Recently, foreign prospects have journeyed to the homeland seeking professional sumo careers.