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Few sports can hold spectators spellbound through 45 minutes of ceremony before the first point is even determined.

Yet the detailed ceremonies unfolding in a compact earthen circle - largely unaltered for centuries - succeeded in doing so.

Discover the Grand Sumo Tournament

This five-day event at the iconic London venue features numerous elite sumo athletes showcasing a sport whose earliest records 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 competition area.

Ancient Traditions Meet Contemporary Displays

It is here the wrestlers, known as sumo wrestlers, perform their foot stomping to banish dark forces, and where they strike their hands to attract the divine beings.

Above all this ancient ceremony, a massive rotating display - that appears natural at an NBA match - offers the spectators all the statistics and footage they could want.

International Enthusiasts Embrace Sumo

For Sian Spencer, it was a "unexpected footage" that first captivated her a couple of years ago.

This was rapidly enhanced by the discovery of specialized online content for training facilities, where athletes reside and practice, starting their day early to work out, followed by a high protein stew and then an afternoon nap - all in the pursuit of gaining weight.

Hailing from Scotland, Another Perspective

Julia and her partner Cezar discovered sumo through a established path: a visit to the country six years ago.

"We saw it as a common sightseeing event, but we actually ended up loving the sport," says Julia.

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

Special Event

Visiting the homeland is typically the sole method to see a elite competition.

This current tournament marks only the second time the tournament has appeared in the capital - the previous visit was in over three decades ago.

Even visiting the country doesn't ensure of getting a seat, with the past period seeing fully attended competitions.

First-Hand Experience

For numerous spectators, the current event represents the initial opportunity they have seen live sumo - and it lives up to the hype.

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

The Matches

To succeed, one rikishi needs to force his opponent off the clay or to the ground using raw power.

The majority use one of two styles to succeed in this, often in instantaneous actions - pushing, or grappling.

Either way, the noise of the two wrestlers crashing together in the opening second of the match reverberates around the auditorium.

Front Row Positions

The cushions right next to the ring are of course greatly valued - but also, a bit risky.

During one particular match, a tall wrestler tumbled into the audience - perhaps making those in slightly cheaper seats feel relieved.

Internal Challenges

Of course, the dimensions of the rikishi is one of the initial aspects most people imagine when they consider the sport.

The facility's operators revealed they "were required to locate and purchase additional seating which can support 200kg in weight."

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

Potential Issues

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

Its following among youth in Japan is also being competed with by different athletic pursuits, while Japan's declining population will not help.

International Network

Not that any of this has troubled spectators in London.

"Seeing all this ritual and ceremony that is part of sumo is especially significant," one enthusiast notes. "Today, watching it directly, you experience being you are more involved."

For other dedicated followers, the intensity "made it so incredible" - as did interacting with 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 converse with other people who are similarly enthusiastic as we are - it was worth every penny."