🔗 Share this article Why This Major Sumo Event is Being Held in the UK Capital This Prestigious Sumo Competition Venue: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Dates: October 15th through 19th Understanding Japan's National Sport Sumo embodies the traditional sport of Japan, combining tradition, rigorous training and Shinto religious rituals with origins more than 1,000 years. This physical contest involves two competitors – called rikishi – competing within a circular arena – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across. Traditional ceremonies are performed before and after each bout, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects in sumo. Customarily before a match, a hole is made in the center of the dohyo and filled with symbolic offerings by Shinto priests. This opening is closed, enshrining inside a spirit. Sumo wrestlers then perform a ceremonial stomp and clap to scare away negative energies. Elite sumo operates under a rigid ranking system, with competitors who participate dedicate their entire lives to the sport – living and training in group settings. The London Location This Major Sumo Event is taking place outside of Japan for just the second time, as the tournament taking place in London beginning October 15th through October 19th. London with this iconic venue also hosted the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion such an event was staged outside Japan in the sport's history. Clarifying the decision for the international competition, sumo leadership expressed he wanted to share with London audiences the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition". The sport has seen substantial growth in international interest among international fans recently, and a rare international tournament potentially enhancing the popularity of Japanese culture abroad. Sumo Bout Mechanics The fundamental regulations in sumo wrestling are quite simple. The bout concludes when a rikishi gets pushed from the ring or makes contact with anything other than their foot soles. Bouts can conclude in a fraction of a second or last over two minutes. Sumo features two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers typically shove their opponents out of the ring through strength, whereas grapplers prefer to grapple the other rikishi and use throwing techniques. Elite wrestlers frequently excel in multiple combat styles and can adapt to their opponents. Sumo includes 82 winning techniques, ranging from audacious throws to clever side-steps. This diversity of techniques and strategies maintains fan interest, so surprises and upsets may happen during any match. Size categories are not used within sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers with significant size differences. The ranking system determine matchups instead of physical attributes. Although female athletes can participate in non-professional sumo worldwide, they're excluded from elite competitions or the main arenas. Life as a Sumo Wrestler Professional rikishi live and train in communal facilities called heya, led by a stable master. Everyday life of a rikishi centers completely on sumo. Early mornings dedicated to training, then consuming a substantial lunch the traditional stew – a high-protein dish aimed at building mass – with rest periods. The average wrestler consumes between multiple servings each sitting – thousands of calories – although legendary stories of extreme consumption are documented. Rikishi purposely increase mass for competitive advantage during matches. Although large, they demonstrate remarkable flexibility, rapid reflexes with strong bursts. Nearly all elements of wrestlers' existence are regulated by their stable and governing body – creating a unique lifestyle in professional sports. Competitive standing determines their payment, accommodation options including personal assistants. Younger less established wrestlers handle chores around the heya, whereas senior competitors receive special privileges. Competitive standings are established through performance during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records move up, unsuccessful ones drop down the rankings. Before each tournament, updated rankings are released – a ceremonial list showing all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo. At the summit features the title of Grand Champion – the pinnacle position. Yokozuna embody the essence of the sport – beyond mere competition. Who Becomes a Rikishi The sport includes several hundred wrestlers in professional sumo, with most being Japanese. International competitors have participated significantly over years, with Mongolian athletes reaching top levels currently. Top champions include international representatives, including wrestlers from various nations reaching elite status. In recent news, foreign prospects have traveled to Japan seeking professional sumo careers.