The Reason This Major Sumo Event is Being Held in the UK Capital
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Venue: This Historic London Venue, London. Dates: October 15th through 19th
Understanding Japan's National Sport
Sumo represents Japan's iconic national sport, blending custom, rigorous training and ancient spiritual practices dating back over a millennium.
This combat sport involves two competitors – called rikishi – battling within a circular arena – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.
Traditional ceremonies are performed both preceding and following every match, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects of the sport.
Customarily prior to competition, an opening is made at the center of the ring then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.
This opening is closed, enshrining inside a spirit. Sumo wrestlers then perform a ritual stamp with hand clapping to scare away negative energies.
Elite sumo operates under a rigid ranking system, and the wrestlers involved commit completely to the sport – residing and practicing in group settings.
Why London?
The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held outside of Japan for just the second time, with the competition occurring in London from Wednesday, 15 October through October 19th.
The British capital with this iconic venue previously held the 1991 edition – the first time a tournament took place outside Japan in sumo history.
Clarifying the decision for the international competition, sumo leadership stated he wanted to share with London audiences the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition".
Sumo 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 fundamental regulations in sumo wrestling are straightforward. The match concludes once a wrestler is forced out from the ring or makes contact with anything other than their foot soles.
Bouts might end in a fraction of a second or last several minutes.
Sumo features two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers generally push competitors from the arena by force, while belt-fighters prefer to grapple the other rikishi and use judo-like throws.
Elite wrestlers frequently excel in multiple combat styles and can adapt against different styles.
Sumo includes dozens of victory moves, including audacious throws strategic evasions. The variety in moves and tactics keeps audiences engaged, so surprises and upsets can occur 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.
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 reside and practice in communal facilities known as heya, under a head trainer.
Everyday life for wrestlers focuses entirely around the sport. They rise early dedicated to training, followed by a large meal of chankonabe – a high-protein dish aimed at building mass – and an afternoon nap.
Typical rikishi eats approximately six to 10 bowls per meal – thousands of calories – although legendary stories of extreme consumption exist in sumo history.
Rikishi intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage in the ring. Despite their size, they possess surprising agility, quick movements with strong bursts.
Virtually every aspect of wrestlers' existence get controlled by their stable and governing body – making a distinctive existence in professional sports.
A wrestler's ranking affects earnings, living arrangements including support staff.
Junior less established rikishi perform duties in the stable, while higher ranked competitors receive preferred treatment.
Competitive standings are established by results during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records move up, while those losing drop down in standing.
Before each tournament, a new banzuke are released – a ceremonial list showing everyone's status in professional sumo.
At the summit exists the rank of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. These champions embody the spirit of sumo – transcending winning.
Sumo Wrestlers Demographics
There are approximately several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, primarily from Japan.
Foreign wrestlers have been involved significantly over years, including Mongolian wrestlers reaching top levels in recent times.
Top champions feature international representatives, including wrestlers from various nations reaching elite status.
Recently, foreign prospects have journeyed to Japan pursuing wrestling careers.
