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This Prestigious Sumo Competition

Venue: The Royal Albert Hall, the British Capital. Schedule: October 15th through 19th

Exploring Sumo Wrestling

Sumo represents Japan's iconic national sport, blending tradition, rigorous training and Shinto religious rituals with origins more than 1,000 years.

This combat sport features two wrestlers – called rikishi – competing within a circular arena – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across.

Various rituals are performed both preceding and following each bout, emphasizing the traditional nature of the sport.

Customarily prior to competition, an opening is made in the center of the dohyo then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake by Shinto priests.

This opening gets sealed, enshrining inside divine presence. Sumo wrestlers subsequently execute a ceremonial stomp with hand clapping to drive off negative energies.

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

Why London?

The Grand Sumo Tournament is taking place internationally only the second occasion, as the tournament taking place in London beginning October 15th through October 19th.

London with this iconic venue also hosted the 1991 tournament – the first time such an event took place outside Japan in the sport's history.

Clarifying the decision for the international competition, sumo leadership stated the intention to share with London audiences the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition".

The sport has experienced a significant rise in popularity globally recently, with overseas events could further boost the appeal of Japanese culture abroad.

Sumo Bout Mechanics

The fundamental regulations in sumo wrestling are straightforward. The match concludes once a wrestler gets pushed from the ring or touches the floor with anything other than the sole of his feet.

Bouts can conclude almost instantly or last over two minutes.

Sumo features two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers typically shove their opponents out of the ring through strength, while belt-fighters prefer to grapple the other rikishi employing judo-like throws.

Elite wrestlers often master multiple combat styles adjusting to their opponents.

Sumo includes 82 winning techniques, including dramatic throws to clever side-steps. The variety of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results may happen in any bout.

Weight classes are not used within sumo, making it normal to observe wrestlers with significant size differences. Sumo rankings determine matchups instead of physical attributes.

While women do compete in amateur sumo worldwide, they cannot enter professional tournaments or the main arenas.

Rikishi Lifestyle

Professional rikishi reside and practice in communal facilities known as heya, under a head trainer.

Everyday life of a rikishi focuses entirely on sumo. Early mornings for intense practice, followed by a substantial lunch the traditional stew – a high-protein dish designed for weight gain – with rest periods.

Typical rikishi eats approximately multiple servings each sitting – approximately 10,000 calories – although legendary stories of extreme consumption are documented.

Rikishi purposely increase mass for competitive advantage in the ring. Although large, they demonstrate surprising agility, quick movements and explosive power.

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

Competitive standing affects earnings, accommodation options including personal assistants.

Younger less established wrestlers perform duties around the heya, whereas senior ones enjoy preferred treatment.

Competitive standings are established through performance in six annual tournaments. Successful competitors advance, unsuccessful ones drop down in standing.

Prior to events, a new banzuke gets published – a ceremonial list displaying everyone's status within the sport.

At the summit exists the rank of Grand Champion – the ultimate achievement. These champions embody the spirit of the sport – beyond mere competition.

Sumo Wrestlers Demographics

The sport includes several hundred wrestlers in professional sumo, with most from Japan.

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

Top champions feature international representatives, with competitors from various nations reaching elite status.

In recent news, young international aspirants have journeyed to Japan pursuing wrestling careers.