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The Grand Sumo Tournament

Venue: The Royal Albert Hall, London. Dates: October 15th through 19th

Exploring Sumo Wrestling

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

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

Traditional ceremonies take place both preceding and following every match, emphasizing the traditional nature in sumo.

Customarily before a match, a hole is created at the center of the ring and filled with symbolic offerings through Shinto ceremonies.

The hole gets sealed, enshrining inside divine presence. Sumo wrestlers then perform a ritual stamp and clap to scare away negative energies.

Professional sumo is governed a rigid ranking system, and the wrestlers who participate commit completely to the sport – residing and practicing in group settings.

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.

The British capital and The Royal Albert Hall previously held the 1991 edition – marking the initial occasion a tournament took place beyond Japan in sumo history.

Clarifying the decision for the international competition, sumo leadership stated he wanted to "convey with London audiences the appeal of Sumo – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".

Sumo has seen substantial growth in international interest globally in recent years, and a rare international tournament could further boost the popularity of Japanese culture abroad.

Sumo Bout Mechanics

The fundamental regulations of sumo are quite simple. The bout concludes once a wrestler gets pushed of the dohyo or touches the floor with anything other than their foot soles.

Bouts can conclude in a fraction of a second or last several minutes.

There exist two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers generally push their opponents from the arena through strength, whereas grapplers choose to grip the other rikishi employing throwing techniques.

High-ranking rikishi often master multiple combat styles and can adapt against different styles.

Sumo includes dozens of victory moves, ranging from audacious throws strategic evasions. The variety in moves and tactics maintains fan interest, so surprises and upsets can occur during any match.

Size categories are not used in sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers with significant size differences. The ranking system determine matchups instead of body measurements.

While women do compete in amateur sumo globally, they cannot enter elite competitions including major venues.

Life as a Sumo Wrestler

Professional rikishi reside and practice together in training stables called heya, under a head trainer.

Everyday life of a rikishi centers completely on sumo. They rise early for intense practice, then consuming a large meal of chankonabe – a high-protein dish aimed at building mass – 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.

Rikishi purposely increase mass to enhance leverage in the ring. Although large, they possess surprising agility, quick movements with strong bursts.

Nearly all elements of rikishi life are regulated by their stable and the Sumo Association – creating a distinctive existence in professional sports.

Competitive standing determines earnings, accommodation options including support staff.

Junior or lower ranked rikishi perform duties in the stable, while higher ranked ones enjoy special privileges.

Sumo rankings get determined by results in six annual tournaments. Successful competitors move up, while those losing descend the rankings.

Prior to events, updated rankings gets published – a traditional document showing all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo.

At the summit exists the rank of Grand Champion – the pinnacle position. Yokozuna represent the spirit of sumo – transcending winning.

Who Becomes a Rikishi

There are approximately several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, with most being Japanese.

International competitors have participated significantly over years, including Mongolian wrestlers achieving dominance in recent times.

Top champions feature international representatives, with competitors multiple countries reaching elite status.

Recently, foreign prospects have journeyed to Japan pursuing professional sumo careers.