🔗 Share this article Why the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in London This Prestigious Sumo Competition Location: This Historic London Venue, the British Capital. Dates: 15-19 October Exploring Japan's National Sport Sumo embodies the traditional sport of Japan, blending tradition, rigorous training and ancient spiritual practices dating back more than 1,000 years. This combat sport features two wrestlers – called rikishi – battling within a circular arena – a dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) in diameter. Traditional ceremonies take place both preceding and following each bout, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects in sumo. Customarily before a match, a hole is made at the center of the ring and filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies. This opening gets sealed, enshrining inside divine presence. The rikishi subsequently execute a ritual stamp with hand clapping to scare away negative energies. Elite sumo is governed a rigid ranking system, with competitors who participate commit completely to it – living and training in group settings. Why London? This Major Sumo Event is taking place outside of Japan for just the second time, as the tournament occurring in London from Wednesday, 15 October until Sunday, 19 October. London and The Royal Albert Hall also hosted the 1991 edition – the first time such an event was staged beyond Japan in sumo history. Clarifying the decision behind going overseas, sumo leadership expressed he wanted to share to the people of London the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition". The sport has seen a significant rise in popularity globally recently, and a rare international tournament potentially enhancing the popularity of Japanese culture abroad. How Sumo Matches Work The basic rules in sumo wrestling are quite simple. The match is decided when a rikishi is forced out from the ring or touches the floor with anything other than the sole of his feet. Bouts can conclude in a fraction of a second or last several minutes. Sumo features two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers typically shove their opponents from the arena through strength, while belt-fighters prefer to grapple the other rikishi employing throwing techniques. Elite wrestlers often master various techniques and can adapt against different styles. There are 82 winning techniques, ranging from dramatic throws to clever side-steps. The variety of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results may happen in any bout. Weight classes are not used in sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers of varying dimensions. The ranking system decides opponents rather than body measurements. While women do compete in amateur sumo globally, they're excluded from elite competitions or the main arenas. Life as a Sumo Wrestler Sumo wrestlers live and train together in training stables known as heya, under a stable master. Everyday life for wrestlers focuses entirely on sumo. Early mornings for intense practice, followed by a large meal of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – and an afternoon nap. The average wrestler consumes between multiple servings each sitting – thousands of calories – although legendary stories of massive eating are documented. Rikishi purposely increase mass for competitive advantage during matches. Although large, they possess surprising agility, rapid reflexes and explosive power. Nearly all elements of wrestlers' existence get controlled by their stable and governing body – making a distinctive existence in professional sports. Competitive standing determines their payment, living arrangements and even personal assistants. Younger or lower ranked wrestlers perform duties in the stable, while higher ranked ones enjoy special privileges. Sumo rankings are established through performance in six annual tournaments. Successful competitors advance, while those losing drop down in standing. Prior to events, a new banzuke are released – a traditional document displaying all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo. At the summit exists the rank of Grand Champion – the ultimate achievement. These champions represent the essence of sumo – transcending winning. Sumo Wrestlers Demographics The sport includes several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, primarily from Japan. International competitors have been involved prominently over years, with Mongolian athletes achieving dominance in recent times. Current Yokozuna feature global participants, including wrestlers from various nations reaching elite status. In recent news, young international aspirants have traveled to Japan pursuing wrestling careers.