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This Prestigious Sumo Competition

Venue: This Historic London Venue, the British Capital. Dates: 15-19 October

Understanding Sumo Wrestling

Sumo embodies the traditional sport of Japan, blending custom, rigorous training and Shinto religious rituals with origins over a millennium.

This combat sport features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – competing inside a raised circular ring – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.

Various rituals are performed both preceding and following every match, highlighting the traditional nature of the sport.

Customarily before a match, an opening is made in the center of the ring and filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.

The hole is closed, enshrining inside a spirit. The rikishi subsequently execute a ceremonial stomp and clap to drive off bad spirits.

Elite sumo is governed a rigid ranking system, with competitors involved commit completely to the sport – residing and practicing in group settings.

The London Location

The Grand Sumo Tournament is taking place outside of Japan for just the second time, with the competition occurring in London beginning October 15th until Sunday, 19 October.

London and The Royal Albert Hall also hosted the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion a tournament was staged outside Japan in the sport's history.

Clarifying the decision behind going overseas, sumo leadership expressed he wanted to share with London audiences sumo's attraction – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".

Sumo has experienced substantial growth in international interest globally in recent years, and a rare international tournament could further boost the appeal of Japanese culture abroad.

Sumo Bout Mechanics

The fundamental regulations in sumo wrestling are quite simple. The match concludes when a rikishi is forced out of the dohyo or makes contact using anything besides their foot soles.

Matches might end almost instantly or last several minutes.

There exist two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters typically shove competitors out of the ring through strength, whereas grapplers prefer to grapple their opponent employing judo-like throws.

High-ranking rikishi frequently excel in various techniques adjusting against different styles.

Sumo includes dozens of victory moves, ranging from audacious throws to clever side-steps. The variety of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results may happen during any match.

Size categories do not exist in sumo, making it normal to see rikishi with significant size differences. The ranking system decides opponents instead of 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 known as heya, under a stable master.

The daily routine of a rikishi focuses entirely around the sport. Early mornings for intense practice, followed by a large meal the traditional stew – a high-protein dish aimed at building mass – with rest periods.

The average wrestler eats approximately six to 10 bowls each sitting – approximately 10,000 calories – with notable instances of massive eating exist in sumo history.

Wrestlers intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage during matches. Although large, they possess surprising agility, rapid reflexes with strong bursts.

Nearly all elements of rikishi life get controlled by their stable and governing body – making a distinctive existence in professional sports.

Competitive standing affects their payment, accommodation options including personal assistants.

Junior or lower ranked rikishi handle chores around the heya, whereas senior ones enjoy special privileges.

Competitive standings are established by results in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records advance, unsuccessful ones drop down the rankings.

Prior to events, a new banzuke are released – a ceremonial list displaying everyone's status within the sport.

At the summit features the title of Grand Champion – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna represent the spirit of the sport – beyond mere competition.

Sumo Wrestlers Demographics

The sport includes 600 rikishi in professional sumo, primarily being Japanese.

Foreign wrestlers have participated significantly for decades, including Mongolian wrestlers reaching top levels in recent times.

Top champions include international representatives, with competitors multiple countries reaching elite status.

Recently, foreign prospects have journeyed to Japan seeking professional sumo careers.