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This Prestigious Sumo Competition

Venue: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Dates: 15-19 October

Understanding Sumo Wrestling

Sumo embodies the traditional sport of Japan, combining custom, discipline and Shinto religious rituals with origins more than 1,000 years.

This physical contest features two wrestlers – called rikishi – competing inside a raised circular ring – a dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) across.

Traditional ceremonies are performed before and after every match, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects in sumo.

Customarily prior to competition, an opening is made at the center of the ring and filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.

The hole is closed, enshrining inside divine presence. The rikishi subsequently execute a ritual stamp and clap to drive off negative energies.

Elite sumo operates under a strict hierarchy, with competitors involved dedicate their entire lives to the sport – living and training communally.

Why London?

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

London and The Royal Albert Hall previously held the 1991 edition – the first time a tournament was staged beyond Japan in sumo history.

Clarifying the decision behind going overseas, sumo leadership expressed he wanted to "convey with London audiences sumo's attraction – a historic Japanese tradition".

The sport has experienced a significant rise in international interest globally recently, with overseas events could further boost the appeal of Japanese culture abroad.

How Sumo Matches Work

The fundamental regulations of sumo are straightforward. The bout concludes once a wrestler gets pushed of the dohyo or makes contact with anything other than the sole of his feet.

Bouts can conclude almost instantly or continue over two minutes.

There exist two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers typically shove competitors out of the ring by force, whereas grapplers choose to grip their opponent employing throwing techniques.

Elite wrestlers often master multiple combat styles adjusting against different styles.

Sumo includes dozens of victory moves, ranging from audacious throws strategic evasions. The variety of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, so surprises and upsets may happen in any bout.

Size categories are not used in sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers with significant size differences. The ranking system determine matchups rather than physical attributes.

Although female athletes can participate in amateur sumo globally, they're excluded from professional tournaments including major venues.

Rikishi Lifestyle

Professional rikishi live and train together in training stables called heya, under a stable master.

Everyday life of a rikishi focuses entirely around the sport. They rise early for intense practice, followed by a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a high-protein dish designed for weight gain – with rest periods.

The average wrestler eats approximately six to 10 bowls per meal – thousands of calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption are documented.

Wrestlers intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage in the ring. Despite their size, they possess surprising agility, rapid reflexes with strong bursts.

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

A wrestler's ranking determines their payment, accommodation options and even personal assistants.

Junior less established rikishi perform duties in the stable, while higher ranked competitors receive preferred treatment.

Sumo rankings are established through performance in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records advance, while those losing drop down the rankings.

Prior to events, a new banzuke gets published – a traditional document showing everyone's status in professional sumo.

At the summit exists the rank of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. These champions represent the spirit of sumo – transcending winning.

Sumo Wrestlers Demographics

The sport includes 600 rikishi competing professionally, with most being Japanese.

International competitors have participated significantly over years, including Mongolian wrestlers reaching top levels currently.

Top champions include global participants, including wrestlers from various nations reaching elite status.

Recently, foreign prospects have journeyed to Japan seeking wrestling careers.