Why the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in the UK Capital
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Location: This Historic London Venue, the British Capital. Schedule: October 15th through 19th
Understanding Japan's National Sport
Sumo represents Japan's iconic national sport, blending custom, rigorous training and ancient spiritual practices with origins over a millennium.
This combat sport features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – competing within a circular arena – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.
Traditional ceremonies are performed before and after every match, highlighting the ceremonial aspects in sumo.
Traditionally before a match, an opening is made at the center of the dohyo then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.
The hole gets sealed, enshrining inside divine presence. Sumo wrestlers subsequently execute a ritual stamp and clap to drive off negative energies.
Elite sumo is governed a strict hierarchy, with competitors involved dedicate their entire lives to it – residing and practicing communally.
Why London?
The Grand Sumo Tournament is taking place internationally for just the second time, as the tournament taking place in London beginning October 15th through October 19th.
London and The Royal Albert Hall also hosted the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion a tournament took place beyond Japan in sumo history.
Clarifying the decision behind going overseas, the Japan Sumo Association chair expressed the intention to share to the people of London the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition".
Sumo has seen a significant rise in international interest among international fans recently, and a rare international tournament potentially enhancing the popularity of traditional Japan internationally.
Sumo Bout Mechanics
The fundamental regulations of sumo are quite simple. The bout is decided when a rikishi is forced out of the dohyo or touches the floor with anything other than their foot soles.
Matches might end in a fraction of a second or last several minutes.
There exist two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers generally push competitors out of the ring through strength, whereas grapplers prefer to grapple the other rikishi employing judo-like throws.
High-ranking rikishi often master 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 maintains fan interest, meaning unexpected results can occur during any match.
Weight classes do not exist in sumo, making it normal to observe wrestlers of varying dimensions. The ranking system determine matchups instead of physical attributes.
Although female athletes can participate in non-professional sumo worldwide, they cannot enter professional tournaments or the main arenas.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Professional rikishi live and train together in training stables known as heya, led by a head trainer.
Everyday life for wrestlers focuses entirely on sumo. They rise early dedicated to training, followed by a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – with rest periods.
Typical rikishi consumes between six to 10 bowls each sitting – thousands of calories – with notable instances of massive eating exist in sumo history.
Wrestlers purposely increase mass for competitive advantage in the ring. Although large, they possess surprising agility, rapid reflexes and explosive power.
Virtually every aspect of wrestlers' existence get controlled through their training house and governing body – creating a distinctive existence in professional sports.
A wrestler's ranking affects earnings, living arrangements including personal assistants.
Younger or lower ranked wrestlers handle chores around the heya, while higher ranked ones enjoy preferred treatment.
Sumo rankings get determined through performance in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records advance, unsuccessful ones drop down in standing.
Before each tournament, a new banzuke gets published – a traditional document showing everyone's status in professional sumo.
The highest level features the title of Grand Champion – the ultimate achievement. These champions embody the spirit of sumo – beyond mere competition.
Sumo Wrestlers Demographics
There are approximately several hundred wrestlers in professional sumo, with most being Japanese.
International competitors have participated significantly over years, with Mongolian athletes achieving dominance in recent times.
Current Yokozuna feature international representatives, including wrestlers multiple countries reaching elite status.
Recently, foreign prospects have traveled to Japan seeking wrestling careers.
