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The Grand Sumo Tournament

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

Exploring Sumo Wrestling

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

This combat sport involves two competitors – known as rikishi – competing within a circular arena – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters in diameter.

Various rituals are performed before and after each bout, highlighting the traditional nature of the sport.

Customarily prior to competition, a hole is made at the center of the dohyo then filled with symbolic offerings by Shinto priests.

The hole gets sealed, enshrining inside a spirit. The rikishi 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 dedicate their entire lives to it – living and training in group settings.

The London Location

The Grand Sumo Tournament is being held internationally for just the second time, with the competition occurring in London beginning October 15th until Sunday, 19 October.

London with this iconic venue also hosted the 1991 tournament – the first time such an event took place beyond Japan in sumo history.

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

Sumo has seen substantial growth in popularity globally in recent years, and a rare international tournament potentially enhancing the popularity of Japanese culture abroad.

How Sumo Matches Work

The fundamental regulations of sumo are straightforward. The bout concludes when a rikishi is forced out of the dohyo or touches the floor with anything other than their foot soles.

Matches can conclude almost instantly or continue several minutes.

There exist two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters typically shove their opponents out of the ring by force, whereas grapplers prefer to grapple their opponent employing throwing techniques.

High-ranking rikishi often master multiple combat styles adjusting to their opponents.

There are dozens of victory moves, including dramatic throws strategic evasions. This diversity of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results can occur in any bout.

Size categories do not exist in sumo, so it's common to see rikishi of varying dimensions. Sumo rankings determine matchups instead of physical attributes.

Although female athletes can participate in non-professional sumo globally, they cannot enter elite competitions including major venues.

Life as a Sumo Wrestler

Sumo wrestlers live and train in communal facilities known as heya, led by a head trainer.

The daily routine for wrestlers focuses entirely around the sport. Early mornings dedicated to training, followed by a large meal the traditional stew – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – with rest periods.

The average wrestler consumes between multiple servings each sitting – thousands of calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption exist in sumo history.

Wrestlers intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage in the ring. Despite their size, they possess surprising agility, quick movements and explosive power.

Nearly all elements of rikishi life get controlled through their training house and the Sumo Association – creating a distinctive existence in professional sports.

Competitive standing affects their payment, accommodation options and even personal assistants.

Junior or lower ranked rikishi handle chores around the heya, whereas senior competitors receive preferred treatment.

Competitive standings are established through performance during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records move up, while those losing descend the rankings.

Prior to events, a new banzuke gets published – a ceremonial list showing everyone's status within the sport.

At the summit exists the rank of Grand Champion – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna embody the essence of sumo – transcending winning.

Sumo Wrestlers Demographics

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

International competitors have participated significantly for decades, including Mongolian wrestlers reaching top levels currently.

Current Yokozuna feature global participants, with competitors multiple countries reaching elite status.

In recent news, young international aspirants have journeyed to Japan pursuing professional sumo careers.