The Reason the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in the UK Capital

The Grand Sumo Tournament

Location: This Historic London Venue, the British Capital. Schedule: October 15th through 19th

Understanding Sumo Wrestling

Sumo represents Japan's iconic national sport, blending custom, discipline and ancient spiritual practices with origins more than 1,000 years.

This combat sport involves two competitors – called rikishi – competing within a circular arena – a dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across.

Various rituals are performed before and after every match, emphasizing the traditional nature in sumo.

Customarily prior to competition, an opening is made in the center of the ring then filled with symbolic offerings through Shinto ceremonies.

The hole is closed, containing within a spirit. The rikishi subsequently execute a ritual stamp with hand clapping to drive off bad spirits.

Professional sumo is governed a rigid ranking system, and the wrestlers involved commit completely to the sport – living and training in group settings.

Why London?

The Grand Sumo Tournament is taking place outside of Japan for just the second time, with the competition occurring in London from Wednesday, 15 October through October 19th.

The British capital with this iconic venue also hosted the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion such an event took place beyond Japan in sumo history.

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

Sumo has seen a significant rise in popularity globally recently, with overseas events could further boost the popularity of Japanese culture internationally.

How Sumo Matches Work

The basic rules in sumo wrestling are straightforward. The match is decided when a rikishi gets pushed of the dohyo or touches the floor with anything other than their foot soles.

Matches might end in a fraction of a second or last over two minutes.

Sumo features two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters generally push their opponents out of the ring by force, whereas grapplers prefer to grapple the other rikishi and use judo-like throws.

Elite wrestlers frequently excel in multiple combat styles adjusting against different styles.

Sumo includes dozens of victory moves, including dramatic throws strategic evasions. The variety in moves and tactics maintains fan interest, so surprises and upsets may happen during any match.

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

While women do compete in non-professional 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.

The daily routine for wrestlers focuses entirely on sumo. They rise early dedicated to training, followed by a substantial lunch the traditional stew – a high-protein dish aimed at building mass – and an afternoon nap.

The average wrestler eats approximately six to 10 bowls each sitting – approximately 10,000 calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption are documented.

Rikishi intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage during matches. Despite their size, they possess remarkable flexibility, rapid reflexes with strong bursts.

Virtually every aspect of wrestlers' existence are regulated through their training house and the Sumo Association – creating a distinctive existence in professional sports.

Competitive standing affects earnings, accommodation options and even support staff.

Younger less established rikishi perform duties in the stable, whereas senior competitors receive special privileges.

Competitive standings get determined through performance during yearly events. Successful competitors advance, while those losing drop down the rankings.

Before each tournament, updated rankings are released – a ceremonial list showing everyone's status within the sport.

The highest level exists the rank of Yokozuna – the pinnacle position. These champions embody the spirit of sumo – beyond mere competition.

Who Becomes a Rikishi

The sport includes 600 rikishi in professional sumo, primarily being Japanese.

International competitors have been involved prominently for decades, including Mongolian wrestlers reaching top levels currently.

Current Yokozuna include international representatives, with competitors from various nations reaching elite status.

In recent news, foreign prospects have journeyed to Japan pursuing wrestling careers.