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The Grand Sumo Tournament

Venue: This Historic London Venue, the British Capital. Schedule: 15-19 October

Exploring Sumo Wrestling

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

This combat sport involves two competitors – known as rikishi – competing inside a raised circular ring – a dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) across.

Traditional ceremonies are performed before and after every match, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects in sumo.

Traditionally prior to competition, a hole is created at the center of the dohyo and filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies.

The hole gets sealed, enshrining inside divine presence. The rikishi subsequently execute a ritual stamp and clap to scare away negative energies.

Professional sumo is governed a rigid ranking system, with competitors who participate commit completely to it – residing and practicing in group settings.

Why London?

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

The British capital and The Royal Albert Hall also hosted the 1991 edition – the first time a tournament took place beyond Japan in the sport's history.

Explaining the reasoning for the international competition, the Japan Sumo Association chair expressed the intention to "convey with London audiences the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition".

Sumo has seen substantial growth in international interest among international fans recently, and a rare international tournament potentially enhancing the appeal of Japanese culture internationally.

Sumo Bout Mechanics

The basic rules of sumo are straightforward. The match concludes once a wrestler gets pushed of the dohyo or makes contact using anything besides the sole of his feet.

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

Sumo features two primary techniques. Pusher-thrusters generally push their opponents out of the ring through strength, whereas grapplers choose to grip their opponent and use judo-like throws.

Elite wrestlers often master various techniques and can adapt to their opponents.

Sumo includes dozens of victory moves, ranging from dramatic throws to clever side-steps. The variety in moves and tactics keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results may happen in any bout.

Weight classes do not exist within sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers of varying dimensions. Sumo rankings decides opponents instead of physical attributes.

Although female athletes can participate in amateur sumo globally, they're excluded from professional tournaments including major venues.

Life as a Sumo Wrestler

Sumo wrestlers reside and practice together in training stables known as heya, led by a stable master.

Everyday life for wrestlers centers completely around the sport. They rise early for intense practice, then consuming a substantial lunch the traditional stew – a protein-rich preparation designed for weight gain – and an afternoon nap.

Typical rikishi eats approximately six to 10 bowls per meal – thousands of calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption exist in sumo history.

Rikishi purposely increase mass to enhance leverage during matches. Although large, they demonstrate remarkable flexibility, rapid reflexes and explosive power.

Nearly all elements of wrestlers' existence get controlled by their stable and the Sumo Association – creating a unique lifestyle in professional sports.

A wrestler's ranking affects their payment, living arrangements including personal assistants.

Younger or lower ranked rikishi perform duties in the stable, while higher ranked competitors receive preferred treatment.

Competitive standings are established by results during yearly events. Successful competitors move up, while those losing drop down the rankings.

Before each tournament, updated rankings are released – a traditional document displaying everyone's status in professional sumo.

The highest level features the title of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna represent the essence of the sport – beyond mere competition.

Sumo Wrestlers Demographics

There are approximately several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, primarily from Japan.

International competitors have participated significantly for decades, with Mongolian athletes reaching top levels in recent times.

Top champions include international representatives, including wrestlers from various nations achieving high ranks.

Recently, young international aspirants have journeyed to the homeland seeking professional sumo careers.