Why the Grand Sumo Tournament Takes Place in London
The Grand Sumo Tournament
Location: This Historic London Venue, London. Schedule: October 15th through 19th
Understanding Sumo Wrestling
Sumo embodies the traditional sport of Japan, combining tradition, discipline and Shinto religious rituals with origins more than 1,000 years.
This physical contest involves two competitors – known as rikishi – battling within a circular arena – the dohyo – spanning 4.55 meters across.
Traditional ceremonies are performed before and after every match, highlighting the ceremonial aspects in sumo.
Customarily before a match, an opening is created in the center of the dohyo then filled with symbolic offerings through Shinto ceremonies.
The hole gets sealed, enshrining inside divine presence. Sumo wrestlers then perform a ceremonial stomp and clap to scare away negative energies.
Elite sumo is governed a rigid ranking system, with competitors involved commit completely to it – residing and practicing in group settings.
Why London?
The Grand Sumo Tournament is taking place outside of Japan only the second occasion, with the competition taking place in London beginning October 15th through October 19th.
London with this iconic venue previously held the 1991 edition – marking the initial occasion such an event took place beyond Japan in the sport's history.
Explaining the reasoning for the international competition, sumo leadership stated he wanted to "convey to the people of London the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition".
Sumo has seen a significant rise in international interest globally in recent years, with overseas events could further boost the popularity of traditional Japan abroad.
How Sumo Matches Work
The basic rules of sumo are quite simple. The bout concludes when a rikishi gets pushed from the ring or touches the floor using anything besides the sole of his feet.
Bouts might end in a fraction of a second or last over two minutes.
There exist two primary techniques. Pusher-thrusters typically shove competitors from the arena by force, whereas grapplers prefer to grapple their opponent employing judo-like throws.
Elite wrestlers frequently excel in various techniques adjusting to their opponents.
Sumo includes 82 winning techniques, ranging from dramatic throws to clever side-steps. The variety in moves and tactics maintains fan interest, so surprises and upsets can occur in any bout.
Size categories do not exist within sumo, making it normal to observe wrestlers of varying dimensions. Sumo rankings determine matchups instead of body measurements.
While women do compete in non-professional sumo worldwide, they cannot enter elite competitions or the main arenas.
Life as a Sumo Wrestler
Sumo wrestlers reside and practice in communal facilities called heya, led by a head trainer.
The daily routine of a rikishi focuses entirely around the sport. They rise early for intense practice, then consuming a substantial lunch of chankonabe – a high-protein dish designed for weight gain – and an afternoon nap.
The average wrestler consumes between multiple servings per meal – thousands of calories – with notable instances of massive eating are documented.
Wrestlers purposely increase mass for competitive advantage in the ring. Although large, they demonstrate surprising agility, rapid reflexes and explosive power.
Virtually every aspect of rikishi life get controlled by their stable and the Sumo Association – making a distinctive existence in professional sports.
Competitive standing affects their payment, accommodation options and even support staff.
Younger less established rikishi perform duties in the stable, while higher ranked competitors receive preferred treatment.
Sumo rankings get determined through performance in six annual tournaments. Wrestlers with winning records move up, while those losing descend in standing.
Prior to events, updated rankings gets published – a traditional document displaying everyone's status within the sport.
At the summit features the title of Yokozuna – the ultimate achievement. These champions embody the essence of sumo – transcending winning.
Sumo Wrestlers Demographics
There are approximately 600 rikishi competing professionally, with most from Japan.
International competitors have been involved prominently for decades, including Mongolian wrestlers achieving dominance in recent times.
Current Yokozuna feature global participants, including wrestlers multiple countries achieving high ranks.
Recently, foreign prospects have journeyed to Japan pursuing professional sumo careers.
