The Reason the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in London
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Location: This Historic London Venue, London. Schedule: October 15th through 19th
Exploring Sumo Wrestling
Sumo represents the traditional sport of Japan, blending tradition, rigorous training and ancient spiritual practices with origins over a millennium.
This physical contest features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – competing within a circular arena – a dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) in diameter.
Traditional ceremonies take place before and after every match, emphasizing the traditional nature in sumo.
Traditionally before a match, an opening is created in the center of the dohyo then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.
The hole is closed, enshrining inside a spirit. The rikishi subsequently execute a ritual stamp with hand clapping to drive off bad spirits.
Professional sumo is governed a strict hierarchy, with competitors who participate dedicate their entire lives to the sport – residing and practicing communally.
The London Location
This Major Sumo Event is being held outside of Japan for just the second time, as the tournament occurring in London from Wednesday, 15 October through October 19th.
London and The Royal Albert Hall previously held the 1991 tournament – the first time a tournament took place outside Japan in sumo history.
Explaining the reasoning for the international competition, sumo leadership stated he wanted to share with London audiences sumo's attraction – a historic Japanese tradition".
The sport has seen a significant rise in international interest globally recently, with overseas events potentially enhancing the appeal of traditional Japan internationally.
How Sumo Matches Work
The basic rules in sumo wrestling are straightforward. The match concludes when a rikishi is forced out of the dohyo or makes contact with anything other than the sole of his feet.
Bouts can conclude almost instantly or continue several minutes.
There exist two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters generally push their opponents from the arena by force, while belt-fighters choose to grip the other rikishi employing judo-like throws.
High-ranking rikishi often master various techniques adjusting to their opponents.
There are dozens of victory moves, including audacious throws strategic evasions. This diversity in moves and tactics keeps audiences engaged, so surprises and upsets can occur during any match.
Weight classes are not used in sumo, so it's common to see rikishi of varying dimensions. The ranking system determine matchups instead of physical attributes.
While women can participate in amateur sumo globally, they cannot enter elite competitions including major venues.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Sumo wrestlers reside and practice in communal facilities called heya, under a head trainer.
The daily routine of a rikishi centers completely on sumo. They rise early dedicated to training, then consuming a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – with rest periods.
Typical rikishi eats approximately multiple servings per meal – thousands of calories – although legendary stories of extreme consumption exist in sumo history.
Wrestlers purposely increase mass for competitive advantage in the ring. Despite their size, they demonstrate surprising agility, quick movements with strong bursts.
Virtually every aspect of wrestlers' existence are regulated through their training house and the Sumo Association – creating a unique lifestyle among athletic professions.
A wrestler's ranking affects earnings, living arrangements including personal assistants.
Junior less established wrestlers perform duties in the stable, whereas senior competitors receive special privileges.
Competitive standings are established through performance during yearly events. Successful competitors move up, unsuccessful ones descend the rankings.
Before each tournament, updated rankings gets published – a traditional document displaying all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo.
At the summit exists the rank of Yokozuna – the pinnacle position. These champions represent the essence of the sport – beyond mere competition.
Sumo Wrestlers Demographics
There are approximately 600 rikishi in professional sumo, with most being Japanese.
International competitors have been involved significantly over years, including Mongolian wrestlers achieving dominance in recent times.
Top champions feature global participants, including wrestlers from various nations reaching elite status.
In recent news, foreign prospects have traveled to the homeland seeking wrestling careers.
