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This Prestigious Sumo Competition

Venue: This Historic London Venue, London. Dates: 15-19 October

Understanding Sumo Wrestling

Sumo embodies Japan's iconic national sport, blending tradition, rigorous training and Shinto religious rituals dating back over a millennium.

This physical contest features two wrestlers – called rikishi – competing within a circular arena – a dohyo – measuring 4.55m (14.9 ft) in diameter.

Various rituals take place both preceding and following every match, highlighting the ceremonial aspects in sumo.

Traditionally prior to competition, a hole is made in the center of the dohyo and filled with symbolic offerings through Shinto ceremonies.

This opening is closed, enshrining inside divine presence. The rikishi subsequently execute a ritual stamp and clap to scare away negative energies.

Elite sumo is governed a strict hierarchy, and the wrestlers who participate commit completely to it – residing and practicing in group settings.

The London Location

This Major Sumo Event is being held outside of Japan only the second occasion, with the competition taking place in London from Wednesday, 15 October through October 19th.

London and The Royal Albert Hall also hosted the 1991 tournament – the first time such an event was staged beyond Japan in the sport's history.

Clarifying the decision behind going overseas, sumo leadership expressed he wanted to share to the people of London the appeal of Sumo – a historic Japanese tradition".

Sumo has experienced substantial growth in popularity globally in recent years, 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 is decided once a wrestler gets pushed from the ring or touches the floor using anything besides the sole of his feet.

Matches might end in a fraction of a second or last several minutes.

There exist two main fighting styles. Pusher-thrusters generally push competitors from the arena through strength, whereas grapplers prefer to grapple their opponent employing judo-like throws.

Elite wrestlers often master multiple combat styles and can adapt against different styles.

There are dozens of victory moves, ranging from dramatic throws to clever side-steps. The variety of techniques and strategies keeps audiences engaged, meaning unexpected results can occur in any bout.

Size categories do not exist in sumo, making it normal to see rikishi with significant size differences. The ranking system decides opponents instead of body measurements.

While women do compete in amateur sumo worldwide, they're excluded from elite competitions or the main arenas.

Life as a Sumo Wrestler

Sumo wrestlers live and train together in training stables called heya, under a head trainer.

The daily routine for wrestlers centers completely on sumo. Early mornings dedicated to training, then consuming a large meal of chankonabe – a high-protein dish aimed at building mass – with rest periods.

The average wrestler eats approximately six to 10 bowls each sitting – thousands of calories – although legendary stories of massive eating are documented.

Wrestlers purposely increase mass to enhance leverage in the ring. Despite their size, they possess surprising agility, rapid reflexes and explosive power.

Nearly all elements of rikishi life get controlled through their training house and governing body – creating a distinctive existence among athletic professions.

A wrestler's ranking affects their payment, accommodation options including personal assistants.

Younger less established rikishi handle chores in the stable, while higher ranked ones enjoy special privileges.

Sumo rankings get determined through performance during yearly events. Wrestlers with winning records advance, while those losing descend in standing.

Before each tournament, updated rankings are released – a traditional document displaying all wrestlers' positions in professional sumo.

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

Sumo Wrestlers Demographics

There are approximately several hundred wrestlers competing professionally, primarily being Japanese.

International competitors have participated significantly over years, with Mongolian athletes achieving dominance in recent times.

Top champions feature global participants, including wrestlers multiple countries reaching elite status.

Recently, foreign prospects have traveled to Japan seeking professional sumo careers.