🔗 Share this article

Only a handful of competitions can keep viewers enthralled through three-quarters of an hour of ceremony before the opening contest is even contested.

Yet the intricate traditions unfolding in a small clay ring - virtually unchanged for hundreds of years - accomplished exactly that.

Welcome to the Grand Sumo Tournament

This multi-day tournament at the iconic London venue features numerous elite rikishi showcasing a sport whose initial documentation dates back to ancient times.

London's Victorian concert venue has been utterly transformed, complete with a six-tonne Japanese temple roof hanging above the dohyō.

Ancient Traditions Meet Contemporary Displays

It is here the athletes, known as sumo wrestlers, perform their shiko exercises to drive away negative energies, and where they applaud to summon the deities.

Above all this historical practice, a massive rotating display - which wouldn't look out of place at an professional sports event - offers the audience all the stats and replays they could want.

International Enthusiasts Discover Sumo

For an enthusiastic follower, it was a "random video" that first drew her interest a couple of years ago.

This was quickly followed by the discovery of specialized online content for training facilities, where athletes reside and practice, waking up early to work out, followed by a protein-rich meal and then an afternoon nap - all in the pursuit of bulking up.

From Edinburgh, Alternative View

Different enthusiasts discovered sumo through a established path: a trip to Japan six years ago.

"We approached it as a typical visitor experience, but we actually developed passion for the sport," notes the enthusiast.

"Subsequently, we tried to find communities, resources, just to learn more about it," her partner continues.

Rare Opportunity

Going to Japan is almost the only way to see a major championship.

This current tournament marks only the second time the tournament has appeared in the capital - the initial occasion was in 1991.

Even visiting the country isn't a guarantee of getting a seat, with the past period seeing completely booked tournaments.

In-Person Viewing

For many attendees, the current event represents the first time they have watched sumo in person - and it doesn't disappoint.

"Watching nearby, you get a feeling of velocity and the strength which you don't get on TV," says Caspar Eliot. "Their size is impressive."

The Bouts

To win the match, one wrestler needs to move the other man out of the ring or to the ground using brute strength.

The majority use one of two styles to succeed in this, often in moments - shoving, or wrestling.

Either way, the impact of the two athletes crashing together in the initial contact of the match reverberates around the auditorium.

Front Row Positions

The cushions right next to the competition area are of course highly prized - but also, a bit risky.

During one recent bout, a large wrestler tumbled into the spectators - perhaps making those in less expensive positions feel relieved.

Internal Challenges

Of course, the dimensions of the athletes is one of the primary elements most people imagine when they think of sumo.

The facility's operators revealed they "had to source and buy new chairs which can withstand 200kg in weight."

But sumo - for all its successful competitions - is not without its troubles behind the scenes.

Future Challenges

Perhaps the demanding existence of a professional athlete doesn't look as appealing as it once might have.

Its popularity among young Japanese is also being competed with by alternative competitions, while Japan's declining population will not help.

Global Community

Not that any of this has concerned enthusiasts in London.

"Experiencing the ritual and ceremony that goes with sumo is quite special," an attendee explains. "Today, watching it in person, you experience being you are more involved."

For other committed supporters, the excitement "produced unforgettable moments" - as did encountering the fellow enthusiasts.

"Getting out of a particularly focused online community and being able to see all these sumo fans in person and being able to speak to other people who are just as into this as we are - it was worth every penny."