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

Yet the complex rituals unfolding in a compact earthen circle - virtually unchanged for generations - accomplished exactly that.

Welcome to the Prestigious Rikishi Event

This multi-day tournament at the Royal Albert Hall features numerous elite sumo wrestlers showcasing a sport whose earliest records dates back to ancient times.

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

Time-Honored Rituals Meet Contemporary Displays

It is here the wrestlers, known as rikishi, perform their shiko exercises to expel evil spirits, and where they strike their hands to summon the gods.

Above all this traditional ritual, a enormous circular monitor - that appears natural at an American basketball game - offers the spectators all the stats and replays they could want.

Worldwide Followers Embrace Sumo

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

This was soon supplemented with the discovery of specialized online content for rikishi houses, where competitors stay and exercise, rising before dawn to train, followed by a nutritious chankonabe and then an afternoon nap - all in the pursuit of gaining weight.

Traveling from the North, Different Experience

Different enthusiasts discovered sumo through a conventional method: a journey to Asia six years ago.

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

"After that, we tried to discover networks, materials, just to learn more about it," adds Cezar.

Unique Chance

Traveling to Asia is typically the sole method to see a major championship.

This London competition marks only the second occasion the tournament has come to London - the first time was in over three decades ago.

Even going to Japan doesn't ensure of getting a seat, with current times seeing fully attended competitions.

First-Hand Experience

For many attendees, the UK competition represents the first time they have watched sumo in person - and it lives up to the hype.

"Seeing it up close, you get a feeling of velocity and the strength which you won't feel on TV," explains an attendee. "They are so big."

The Matches

To achieve victory, one competitor needs to force his opponent off the clay or to the surface using brute strength.

The majority use one of two styles to accomplish this, often in split seconds - shoving, or grappling.

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

Front Row Positions

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

During one recent bout, a 191cm wrestler went plummeting into the spectators - perhaps making those in slightly cheaper seats breathe a sigh of relief.

Behind the Scenes

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

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

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

Future Challenges

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

Its appeal among the younger generation is also being challenged by alternative competitions, while Japan's declining population will not help.

Global Community

Not that any of this has worried fans in London.

"Experiencing the custom and formality that accompanies sumo is especially significant," one enthusiast notes. "Now, seeing it directly, you sense that you are more part of it."

For other enthusiastic fans, the intensity "produced unforgettable moments" - as did encountering the fellow enthusiasts.

"Getting out of a very niche online community and being able to observe numerous sumo fans in person and being able to chat with other people who are similarly enthusiastic as we are - it was absolutely worthwhile."