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This Prestigious Sumo Competition

Location: The Royal Albert Hall, London. Schedule: 15-19 October

Exploring Sumo Wrestling

Sumo represents Japan's iconic national sport, blending tradition, rigorous training and Shinto religious rituals with origins over a millennium.

This combat sport features two wrestlers – called rikishi – battling within a circular arena – the dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) in diameter.

Traditional ceremonies take place before and after every match, highlighting the ceremonial aspects of the sport.

Traditionally before a match, an opening is made in the center of the ring then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.

The hole gets sealed, enshrining inside divine presence. The rikishi then perform a ceremonial stomp with hand clapping to drive off negative energies.

Professional sumo operates under a rigid ranking system, and the wrestlers who participate dedicate their entire lives to it – living and training in group settings.

The London Location

This Major Sumo Event is taking place internationally only the second occasion, with the competition taking place in London beginning October 15th through October 19th.

The British capital and The Royal Albert Hall previously held the 1991 edition – the first time such an event took place beyond Japan in the sport's history.

Clarifying the decision behind going overseas, the Japan Sumo Association chair expressed he wanted to share to the people of London the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition".

The sport has experienced substantial growth in international interest globally in recent years, with overseas events potentially enhancing the appeal of Japanese culture internationally.

Sumo Bout Mechanics

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.

Bouts can conclude almost instantly or last over two minutes.

Sumo features two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters typically shove their opponents from the arena by force, whereas grapplers choose to grip their opponent and use throwing techniques.

Elite wrestlers frequently excel in various techniques adjusting 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 in any bout.

Weight classes are not used in sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers of varying dimensions. The ranking system determine matchups instead of physical attributes.

Although female athletes do compete in amateur sumo worldwide, they cannot enter elite competitions including major venues.

Life as a Sumo Wrestler

Professional rikishi live and train in communal facilities called heya, under a stable master.

The daily routine of a rikishi focuses entirely around the sport. Early mornings for intense practice, followed by a substantial lunch the traditional stew – a protein-rich preparation aimed at building mass – with rest periods.

The average wrestler eats approximately multiple servings per meal – thousands of calories – although legendary stories of extreme consumption are documented.

Wrestlers intentionally gain weight for competitive advantage in the ring. Despite their size, they demonstrate surprising agility, rapid reflexes and explosive power.

Virtually every aspect of wrestlers' existence get controlled through their training house and governing body – creating a unique lifestyle among athletic professions.

Competitive standing determines their payment, accommodation options including personal assistants.

Younger or lower ranked wrestlers perform duties around the heya, while higher ranked competitors receive preferred treatment.

Sumo rankings get determined by results in six annual tournaments. Successful competitors move up, unsuccessful ones drop down the rankings.

Before each tournament, a new banzuke gets published – a ceremonial list displaying everyone's status within the sport.

At the summit features the title of Grand Champion – the pinnacle position. These champions represent the spirit of the sport – transcending winning.

Who Becomes a Rikishi

The sport includes 600 rikishi competing professionally, with most from Japan.

Foreign wrestlers have been involved significantly for decades, with Mongolian athletes reaching top levels in recent times.

Current Yokozuna include international representatives, including wrestlers multiple countries reaching elite status.

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