Nothing Compares to Feeling the Historic London Venue Vibrate When Sumo Athletes Clash

Only a handful of competitions can hold spectators spellbound through 45 minutes of ceremony before the initial score is even determined.

Yet the complex rituals unfolding in a traditional dohyō - virtually unchanged for hundreds of years - succeeded in doing so.

Experience the Major Sumo Competition

This week-long competition at the historic concert hall features numerous elite sumo athletes showcasing a sport whose first mention dates back to the first century BC.

London's Victorian concert venue has been totally redesigned, complete with a massive traditional roof structure hanging above the ring.

Historical Ceremonies Meet Current Innovations

It is here the athletes, known as sumo professionals, perform their shiko exercises to banish evil spirits, and where they strike their hands to get the attention of the divine beings.

Above all this ancient ceremony, a massive rotating display - that appears natural at an American basketball game - offers the spectators all the data and video they could want.

International Enthusiasts Find Sumo

For one dedicated fan, it was a "random video" that first caught her attention a couple of years ago.

This was quickly followed by the discovery of dedicated YouTube channels for sumo stables, where wrestlers live and train, waking up early to practice, followed by a protein-rich meal and then an afternoon nap - all in the pursuit of gaining weight.

Traveling from the North, Another Perspective

Different enthusiasts discovered sumo through a conventional method: a trip to Japan six years ago.

"We considered it a common sightseeing event, but we actually developed passion for the sport," explains the fan.

"From there on, we tried to find communities, resources, just to deepen our understanding about it," the other fan explains.

Unique Chance

Visiting the homeland is generally the primary approach to see a major championship.

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

Even traveling to Asia doesn't ensure of obtaining admission, with current times seeing sold-out events.

First-Hand Experience

For numerous spectators, the London tournament represents the premier chance they have seen live sumo - and it doesn't disappoint.

"Watching nearby, you get a sense of the speed and the power which you won't feel on TV," explains an attendee. "Their size is impressive."

The Competition

To succeed, one wrestler needs to push another off the clay or to the surface using raw power.

The most use one of pair of techniques to accomplish this, often in instantaneous actions - shoving, or grappling.

Either way, the noise of the two athletes meeting in the initial contact of the match resounds around the hall.

Front Row Positions

The seats right next to the competition area are of course highly prized - but also, potentially hazardous.

During one recent bout, a large wrestler fell into the spectators - perhaps making those in slightly cheaper seats breathe a sigh of relief.

Organizational Issues

Of course, the dimensions of the rikishi is one of the initial aspects most people think of when they contemplate wrestling.

The facility's operators revealed they "had to source and acquire reinforced furniture which can take up to 200kg in weight."

But sumo - for all its popular tournaments - is not without its troubles behind the scenes.

Coming Obstacles

Perhaps the demanding existence of a sumo wrestler doesn't look as attractive as it once might have.

Its following among the younger generation is also being threatened by other sports, while Japan's declining population will create further complications.

Global Community

Not that any of this has troubled spectators in London.

"Experiencing the tradition and practice that accompanies sumo is particularly meaningful," one enthusiast notes. "Now, seeing it live, you sense that you are more engaged."

For other enthusiastic fans, the intensity "created amazing experiences" - as did interacting with the like-minded individuals.

"Emerging from a highly specialized online community and being able to witness multiple sumo fans live and being able to speak to other people who are similarly enthusiastic as we are - it was worth every penny."