The Reason the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in London
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Venue: This Historic London Venue, the British Capital. Dates: October 15th through 19th
Understanding Sumo Wrestling
Sumo embodies the traditional sport of Japan, combining tradition, rigorous training and Shinto religious rituals dating back over a millennium.
This physical contest features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – competing inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) in diameter.
Traditional ceremonies take place both preceding and following each bout, highlighting the ceremonial aspects of the sport.
Customarily before a match, an opening is made in the center of the dohyo and filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.
The hole gets sealed, enshrining inside divine presence. Sumo wrestlers then perform a ceremonial stomp and clap to drive off bad spirits.
Professional sumo operates under a rigid ranking system, with competitors involved dedicate their entire lives to the sport – living and training communally.
Why London?
The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held internationally only the second occasion, with the competition taking place in London from Wednesday, 15 October until Sunday, 19 October.
The British capital with this iconic venue previously held the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion such an event was staged outside Japan in sumo history.
Explaining the reasoning for the international competition, sumo leadership expressed he wanted to "convey with London audiences the appeal of Sumo – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".
The sport has experienced substantial growth in popularity globally recently, and a rare international tournament potentially enhancing the appeal of Japanese culture abroad.
Sumo Bout Mechanics
The basic rules of sumo 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.
Bouts can conclude in a fraction of a second or continue over two minutes.
There exist two primary techniques. Pusher-thrusters generally push competitors from the arena by force, whereas grapplers prefer to grapple their opponent and use judo-like throws.
High-ranking rikishi frequently excel in various techniques and can adapt to their opponents.
There are 82 winning techniques, including dramatic throws to clever side-steps. This diversity in moves and tactics maintains fan interest, meaning unexpected results may happen in any bout.
Weight classes are not used in sumo, making it normal to see rikishi of varying dimensions. Sumo rankings determine matchups instead of body measurements.
While women can participate in amateur sumo globally, they're excluded from elite competitions or the main arenas.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Sumo wrestlers live and train together in training stables called heya, under a stable master.
Everyday life for wrestlers centers completely on sumo. They rise early dedicated to training, then consuming a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a high-protein dish aimed at building mass – and an afternoon nap.
The average wrestler eats approximately multiple servings each sitting – thousands of calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption are documented.
Rikishi purposely increase mass for competitive advantage in the ring. Although large, they possess remarkable flexibility, rapid reflexes with strong bursts.
Nearly all elements of wrestlers' existence are regulated through their training house and the Sumo Association – making a distinctive existence among athletic professions.
A wrestler's ranking affects earnings, accommodation options including personal assistants.
Junior less established wrestlers perform duties around the heya, while higher ranked ones enjoy preferred treatment.
Sumo rankings are established through performance in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records advance, unsuccessful ones descend in standing.
Before each tournament, a new banzuke are released – a ceremonial list showing all wrestlers' positions within the sport.
At the summit exists the rank of Yokozuna – the pinnacle position. Yokozuna represent the spirit of the sport – transcending winning.
Who Becomes a Rikishi
There are approximately several hundred wrestlers in professional sumo, primarily being Japanese.
Foreign wrestlers have been involved prominently over years, with Mongolian athletes achieving dominance currently.
Current Yokozuna feature global participants, including wrestlers from various nations reaching elite status.
Recently, foreign prospects have traveled to Japan seeking professional sumo careers.
