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Few sports can hold spectators spellbound through an extended period of ceremony before the initial score is even decided.

Yet the intricate traditions unfolding in a traditional dohyō - mostly preserved for generations - managed to do just that.

Discover the Prestigious Rikishi Event

This multi-day tournament at the historic concert hall features four dozen top-tier rikishi showcasing a sport whose earliest records dates back to 23BC.

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

Time-Honored Rituals Meet Modern Technology

It is here the wrestlers, known as sumo wrestlers, perform their leg stomps to banish negative energies, and where they applaud to get the attention of the deities.

Above all this historical practice, a giant, revolving LED screen - which wouldn't look out of place at an American basketball game - offers the crowd all the stats and replays they could want.

Global Fans Embrace Sumo

For one dedicated fan, it was a "unexpected footage" that first captivated her a couple of years ago.

This was quickly followed by the discovery of focused video platforms for training facilities, where athletes reside and practice, waking up early to train, followed by a high protein stew and then an midday rest - all in the service of bulking up.

From Edinburgh, Another Perspective

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

"We considered it a typical visitor experience, but we actually ended up loving the sport," explains the fan.

"After that, we tried to discover networks, resources, just to deepen our understanding about it," her partner continues.

Special Event

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

This current tournament marks only the second instance the tournament has come to London - the first time was in the early nineties.

Even visiting the country isn't certain of securing tickets, with recent years seeing fully attended competitions.

In-Person Viewing

For many attendees, the current event represents the premier chance they have watched sumo in person - and it exceeds expectations.

"Watching nearby, you get a understanding of quickness and the strength which you don't get on TV," explains an attendee. "Their size is impressive."

The Matches

To achieve victory, one rikishi needs to force his opponent out of the ring or to the floor using raw power.

The primary group use one of pair of techniques to achieve this, often in instantaneous actions - shoving, or wrestling.

Either way, the impact of the two wrestlers meeting in the first moment of the match reverberates around the hall.

Premium Seating

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

During one recent bout, a large wrestler went plummeting into the audience - perhaps making those in more affordable locations breathe a sigh of relief.

Internal Challenges

Of course, the stature of the wrestlers is one of the first things most people think of when they think of sumo.

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

But sumo - for all its sell-out events - is not without its difficulties behind the scenes.

Future Challenges

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

Its following among youth in Japan is also being threatened by other sports, while Japan's decreasing numbers will not help.

Worldwide Following

Not that any of this has worried fans in London.

"Seeing all this custom and formality that goes with sumo is particularly meaningful," fan Sian says. "Currently, observing it in person, you sense that you are more part of it."

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

"Leaving a particularly focused online community and being able to observe numerous sumo fans live and being able to chat with other people who are similarly enthusiastic as we are - it was absolutely worthwhile."