Why the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in London
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Location: This Historic London Venue, London. Schedule: October 15th through 19th
Exploring Japan's National Sport
Sumo embodies the traditional sport of Japan, combining tradition, discipline and ancient spiritual practices dating back more than 1,000 years.
This physical contest involves two competitors – called rikishi – competing within a circular arena – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.
Traditional ceremonies are performed both preceding and following every match, emphasizing the traditional nature in sumo.
Customarily before a match, a hole is made at the center of the dohyo then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.
This opening gets sealed, enshrining inside divine presence. Sumo wrestlers then perform a ceremonial stomp and clap to scare away 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 in group settings.
Why London?
The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held outside of Japan only the second occasion, with the competition taking place in London beginning October 15th until Sunday, 19 October.
London with this iconic venue also hosted the 1991 edition – marking the initial occasion such an event took place beyond Japan in the sport's history.
Clarifying the decision behind going overseas, sumo leadership expressed he wanted to "convey to the people of London sumo's attraction – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".
Sumo has experienced a significant rise in international interest among international fans recently, with overseas events potentially enhancing the appeal of traditional Japan abroad.
Sumo Bout Mechanics
The fundamental regulations in sumo wrestling are quite simple. The bout is decided when a rikishi gets pushed from the ring or makes contact using anything besides the sole of his feet.
Matches can conclude almost instantly or continue several minutes.
There exist two main fighting styles. Aggressive pushers generally push competitors out of the ring through strength, while belt-fighters choose to grip their opponent and use throwing techniques.
Elite wrestlers frequently excel in various techniques and can adapt against different styles.
There are dozens of victory moves, including dramatic throws strategic evasions. The variety of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, so surprises and upsets can occur in any bout.
Size categories are not used in sumo, so it's common to see rikishi with significant size differences. Sumo rankings decides opponents rather than physical attributes.
Although female athletes do compete in non-professional sumo globally, they're excluded from professional tournaments including major venues.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Professional rikishi live and train in communal facilities called heya, led by a head trainer.
Everyday life of a rikishi focuses entirely around the sport. They rise early for intense practice, followed by a large meal of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation aimed at building mass – with rest periods.
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 during matches. Despite their size, they possess remarkable flexibility, rapid reflexes and explosive power.
Nearly all elements of wrestlers' existence are regulated by their stable and the Sumo Association – making a unique lifestyle in professional sports.
Competitive standing affects their payment, living arrangements including personal assistants.
Younger less established rikishi handle chores in the stable, whereas senior ones enjoy preferred treatment.
Sumo rankings get determined through performance during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records move up, unsuccessful ones drop down the rankings.
Prior to events, a new banzuke gets published – a ceremonial list showing everyone's status in professional sumo.
At the summit features the title of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. These champions represent the essence of sumo – transcending winning.
Sumo Wrestlers Demographics
The sport includes several hundred wrestlers in professional sumo, with most from Japan.
International competitors have participated significantly over years, with Mongolian athletes reaching top levels currently.
Current Yokozuna feature global participants, with competitors multiple countries achieving high ranks.
In recent news, young international aspirants have journeyed to the homeland seeking professional sumo careers.
