🔗 Share this article

Few sports can hold spectators spellbound through an extended period of tradition before the opening contest is even decided.

Yet the complex rituals unfolding in a traditional dohyō - virtually unchanged for hundreds of years - managed to do just that.

Welcome to the Grand Sumo Tournament

This week-long competition at the iconic London venue features 40 of the very best rikishi showcasing a sport whose first mention dates back to the first century BC.

London's Victorian concert venue has been utterly transformed, complete with a elaborate suspended canopy hanging above the ring.

Ancient Traditions Meet Contemporary Displays

It is here the competitors, known as sumo professionals, perform their foot stomping to banish dark forces, and where they clap to summon the gods.

Above all this ancient ceremony, a massive rotating display - that would fit perfectly at an NBA match - offers the spectators all the data and video they could want.

Global Fans Find Sumo

For Sian Spencer, 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 competitors stay and exercise, rising before dawn to train, followed by a protein-rich meal and then an daytime sleep - all in the service of bulking up.

From Edinburgh, Alternative View

Another couple discovered sumo through a established path: a trip to Japan six years ago.

"We approached it as a very touristy activity, but we actually ended up loving the sport," notes the enthusiast.

"From there on, we tried to find communities, materials, just to expand our knowledge about it," her partner continues.

Unique Chance

Traveling to Asia is almost the only way to see a major championship.

This week's event marks only the second time the tournament has visited the city - the initial occasion was in over three decades ago.

Even traveling to Asia isn't a guarantee of obtaining admission, with current times seeing sold-out events.

First-Hand Experience

For multiple fans, the current event represents the premier chance they have experienced the sport directly - and it exceeds expectations.

"Observing directly, you get a sense of the speed and the power which you can't experience on TV," says Caspar Eliot. "They are so big."

The Matches

To win the match, one competitor needs to push another out of the ring or to the floor using physical force.

The primary group use one of dual approaches to succeed in this, often in instantaneous actions - pushing, or clenching.

Either way, the impact of the two rikishi crashing together in the first moment of the match echoes around the auditorium.

Premium Seating

The positions right next to the dohyō are of course extremely sought-after - but also, potentially hazardous.

During one particular match, a tall wrestler went plummeting into the spectators - perhaps making those in more affordable locations experience comfort.

Behind the Scenes

Of course, the size of the wrestlers is one of the first things most people imagine when they contemplate wrestling.

The hall's organizers revealed they "had to source and purchase additional seating which can take up to 200kg in weight."

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

Potential Issues

Perhaps the strict life of a sumo wrestler doesn't look as desirable as it once might have.

Its appeal among youth in Japan is also being challenged by different athletic pursuits, while Japan's falling birthrate will present additional challenges.

International Network

Not that any of this has concerned enthusiasts in London.

"Witnessing these custom and formality that accompanies sumo is quite special," fan Sian says. "Today, watching it live, you sense that you are more involved."

For other dedicated followers, the intensity "produced unforgettable moments" - as did interacting with the like-minded individuals.

"Getting out of a particularly focused online community and being able to see all these sumo fans directly and being able to speak to other people who are similarly enthusiastic as we are - it was completely valuable."