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This Prestigious Sumo Competition

Venue: The Royal Albert Hall, London. Dates: 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 features two wrestlers – known as rikishi – competing inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across.

Traditional ceremonies are performed before and after every match, highlighting the traditional nature of the sport.

Traditionally before a match, an opening is made in the center of the dohyo and filled with symbolic offerings by Shinto priests.

The hole gets sealed, enshrining inside a spirit. The rikishi subsequently execute a ceremonial stomp and clap to scare away negative energies.

Professional sumo operates under a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers involved commit completely to it – living and training communally.

Why London?

This Major Sumo Event is taking place outside of Japan only the second occasion, as the tournament taking place in London from Wednesday, 15 October until Sunday, 19 October.

London with this iconic venue also hosted the 1991 tournament – marking the initial occasion a tournament was staged outside Japan in the sport's history.

Explaining the reasoning behind going overseas, the Japan Sumo Association chair stated he wanted to "convey to the people of London sumo's attraction – an ancient traditional Japanese culture".

The sport has seen substantial growth in popularity among international fans recently, with overseas events potentially enhancing the appeal of Japanese culture abroad.

How Sumo Matches Work

The fundamental regulations in sumo wrestling are quite simple. The match concludes when a rikishi is forced out of the dohyo or makes contact using anything besides the sole of his feet.

Bouts might end almost instantly or last several minutes.

There exist two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters generally push their opponents out of the ring by force, while belt-fighters prefer to grapple the other rikishi and use judo-like throws.

High-ranking rikishi frequently excel in various techniques adjusting against different styles.

There are dozens of victory moves, ranging from audacious throws to clever side-steps. The variety of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, so surprises and upsets can occur during any match.

Size categories are not used within sumo, so it's common to see rikishi with significant size differences. The ranking system determine matchups rather than body measurements.

Although female athletes do compete in non-professional sumo globally, they cannot enter elite competitions including major venues.

Rikishi Lifestyle

Sumo wrestlers live and train together in training stables known as heya, under a stable master.

Everyday life of a rikishi centers completely on sumo. They rise early dedicated to training, followed by a large meal the traditional stew – a high-protein dish designed for weight gain – and an afternoon nap.

The average wrestler consumes between multiple servings per meal – approximately 10,000 calories – with notable instances of massive eating are documented.

Rikishi intentionally gain weight to enhance leverage in the ring. Although large, they possess remarkable flexibility, quick movements with strong bursts.

Virtually every aspect of rikishi life get controlled by their stable and the Sumo Association – creating a unique lifestyle in professional sports.

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

Younger less established wrestlers perform duties around the heya, while higher ranked competitors receive special privileges.

Competitive standings are established through performance in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records move up, while those losing drop down the rankings.

Prior to events, a new banzuke are released – a ceremonial list showing all wrestlers' positions within the sport.

At the summit exists the rank of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. Yokozuna represent the spirit of sumo – transcending winning.

Who Becomes a Rikishi

There are approximately 600 rikishi in professional sumo, with most being Japanese.

International competitors have been involved significantly over years, with Mongolian athletes reaching top levels in recent times.

Current Yokozuna include international representatives, with competitors multiple countries reaching elite status.

In recent news, young international aspirants have traveled to Japan seeking professional sumo careers.