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The Grand Sumo Tournament

Venue: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Schedule: October 15th through 19th

Understanding Japan's National Sport

Sumo represents Japan's iconic national sport, combining tradition, rigorous training and ancient spiritual practices with origins more than 1,000 years.

This combat sport features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – battling within a circular arena – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.

Various rituals are performed both preceding and following each bout, highlighting the ceremonial aspects in sumo.

Traditionally before a match, a hole is made at the center of the ring then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.

The hole gets sealed, containing within a spirit. The rikishi subsequently execute a ritual stamp and clap to scare away bad spirits.

Professional sumo operates under a rigid ranking system, and the wrestlers involved dedicate their entire lives to the sport – residing and practicing in group settings.

Why London?

This Major Sumo Event is being held internationally 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 also hosted the 1991 edition – marking the initial occasion such an event took place beyond Japan in sumo history.

Clarifying the decision behind going overseas, the Japan Sumo Association chair expressed he wanted to "convey to the people of London sumo's attraction – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".

Sumo has seen substantial growth in international interest globally recently, and a rare international tournament potentially enhancing the popularity of traditional Japan abroad.

Sumo Bout Mechanics

The basic rules in sumo wrestling are straightforward. The match concludes when a rikishi gets pushed of the dohyo or makes contact with anything other than their foot soles.

Matches can conclude in a fraction of a second or last over two minutes.

Sumo features two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters typically shove their opponents from the arena through strength, while belt-fighters choose to grip their opponent employing throwing techniques.

Elite wrestlers frequently excel in multiple combat styles and can adapt against different styles.

Sumo includes 82 winning techniques, ranging from dramatic throws strategic evasions. This diversity in moves and tactics keeps audiences engaged, so surprises and upsets can occur during any match.

Size categories are not used within sumo, making it normal to see rikishi of varying dimensions. Sumo rankings determine matchups instead of body measurements.

While women can participate in non-professional sumo worldwide, they're excluded from elite competitions including major venues.

Life as a Sumo Wrestler

Sumo wrestlers reside and practice in communal facilities called heya, led by a stable master.

The daily routine of a rikishi centers completely on sumo. Early mornings dedicated to training, followed by a large meal of chankonabe – a high-protein dish designed for weight gain – with rest periods.

Typical rikishi consumes between multiple servings per meal – approximately 10,000 calories – although legendary stories of extreme consumption exist in sumo history.

Wrestlers intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage during matches. Although large, they demonstrate surprising agility, quick movements with strong bursts.

Virtually every aspect of rikishi life get controlled by their stable and governing body – creating a unique lifestyle among athletic professions.

Competitive standing determines earnings, living arrangements including personal assistants.

Younger or lower ranked wrestlers handle chores around the heya, whereas senior ones enjoy preferred treatment.

Competitive standings get determined by results during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records advance, while those losing descend the rankings.

Before each tournament, updated rankings are released – a ceremonial list showing all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo.

At the summit exists the rank of Yokozuna – the pinnacle position. Yokozuna represent the essence of sumo – beyond mere competition.

Who Becomes a Rikishi

There are approximately 600 rikishi in professional sumo, with most being Japanese.

International competitors have been involved prominently for decades, with Mongolian athletes reaching top levels in recent times.

Top champions include global participants, including wrestlers multiple countries reaching elite status.

Recently, foreign prospects have journeyed to the homeland pursuing professional sumo careers.