🔗 Share this article Why the Grand Sumo Tournament is Being Held in London This Prestigious Sumo Competition Venue: This Historic London Venue, London. Dates: October 15th through 19th Understanding Sumo Wrestling Sumo embodies Japan's iconic national sport, blending tradition, discipline and Shinto religious rituals with origins over a millennium. This physical contest involves two competitors – known as rikishi – competing inside a raised circular ring – the dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) in diameter. Various rituals take place both preceding and following each bout, emphasizing the ceremonial aspects of the sport. Customarily prior to competition, a hole is made at the center of the ring then filled with nuts, squid, seaweed and sake through Shinto ceremonies. The hole gets sealed, containing within a spirit. The rikishi then perform a ritual stamp with hand clapping to scare away bad spirits. Elite sumo is governed a rigid ranking system, with competitors who participate dedicate their entire lives to it – living and training in group settings. The London Location This Major Sumo Event is taking place outside of Japan for just the second time, with the competition taking place in London beginning October 15th until Sunday, 19 October. London with this iconic venue also hosted the 1991 edition – marking the initial occasion such an event took place outside Japan in the sport's history. Explaining the reasoning for the international competition, the Japan Sumo Association chair expressed the intention to share to the people of London sumo's attraction – an ancient traditional Japanese culture". Sumo has experienced a significant rise in popularity among international fans recently, and a rare international tournament could further boost the popularity of Japanese culture internationally. How Sumo Matches Work The basic rules in sumo wrestling are straightforward. The match concludes when a rikishi gets pushed from the ring or touches the floor using anything besides the sole of his feet. Matches might end almost instantly or continue several minutes. There exist two primary techniques. Aggressive pushers typically shove competitors out of the ring by force, while belt-fighters prefer to grapple the other rikishi employing throwing techniques. High-ranking rikishi often master various techniques and can adapt against different styles. There are 82 winning techniques, including audacious throws strategic evasions. The variety of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results may happen during any match. Weight classes do not exist within sumo, so it's common to observe wrestlers with significant size differences. The ranking system determine matchups instead of physical attributes. Although female athletes can participate in amateur sumo worldwide, they're excluded from elite competitions or the main arenas. Rikishi Lifestyle Sumo wrestlers reside and practice in communal facilities called heya, under a head trainer. Everyday life for wrestlers centers completely on sumo. They rise early for intense practice, followed by a large meal the traditional stew – a high-protein dish aimed at building mass – and an afternoon nap. Typical rikishi consumes between multiple servings each sitting – approximately 10,000 calories – with notable instances of extreme consumption exist in sumo history. Rikishi purposely increase mass for competitive advantage in the ring. Although large, they possess surprising agility, rapid reflexes and explosive power. Nearly all elements of rikishi life get controlled by their stable and governing body – making a distinctive existence among athletic professions. Competitive standing affects their payment, living arrangements and even personal assistants. Junior less established rikishi perform duties around the heya, whereas senior competitors receive special privileges. Competitive standings are established by results during yearly events. Successful competitors advance, unsuccessful ones drop down in standing. Before each tournament, a new banzuke gets published – a ceremonial list showing everyone's status in professional sumo. The highest level exists the rank of Yokozuna – the pinnacle position. These champions embody the spirit of the sport – beyond mere competition. Who Becomes a Rikishi There are approximately several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, primarily from Japan. International competitors have been involved prominently over years, with Mongolian athletes achieving dominance currently. Current Yokozuna feature international representatives, with competitors multiple countries achieving high ranks. In recent news, young international aspirants have journeyed to the homeland seeking wrestling careers.