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Few sports can hold spectators spellbound through 45 minutes of tradition before the initial score is even determined.

Yet the intricate traditions unfolding in a small clay ring - largely unaltered for centuries - accomplished exactly that.

Discover the Prestigious Rikishi Event

This week-long competition at the historic concert hall features 40 of the very best sumo wrestlers showcasing a sport whose earliest records dates back to ancient times.

London's renowned auditorium has been completely reimagined, complete with a six-tonne Japanese temple roof hanging above the dohyō.

Historical Ceremonies Meet Current Innovations

It is here the wrestlers, known as rikishi, perform their leg stomps to drive away dark forces, and where they clap to attract the deities.

Above all this ancient ceremony, a giant, revolving LED screen - which wouldn't look out of place at an American basketball game - offers the crowd all the statistics and footage they could want.

Global Fans Embrace Sumo

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

This was soon supplemented with the discovery of dedicated YouTube channels for sumo stables, where athletes reside and practice, rising before dawn to practice, followed by a high protein stew and then an afternoon nap - all in the pursuit of bulking up.

Hailing from Scotland, Different Experience

Different enthusiasts discovered sumo through a established path: a trip to Japan six years ago.

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

"Subsequently, we tried to locate groups, information, just to deepen our understanding about it," the other fan explains.

Rare Opportunity

Going to Japan is generally the primary approach to see a major championship.

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

Even visiting the country isn't certain of obtaining admission, with recent years seeing completely booked tournaments.

In-Person Viewing

For many attendees, the UK competition represents the initial opportunity they have experienced the sport directly - and it exceeds expectations.

"Seeing it up close, you get a understanding of quickness and the power which you can't experience on TV," notes one fan. "Their stature is remarkable."

The Matches

To succeed, one wrestler needs to move the other man out of the ring or to the floor using raw power.

The majority use one of dual approaches to achieve this, often in moments - shoving, or clenching.

Either way, the noise of the two athletes meeting in the first moment of the match reverberates around the auditorium.

Prime Locations

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

During one particular match, a tall wrestler went plummeting into the audience - perhaps making those in more affordable locations breathe a sigh of relief.

Behind the Scenes

Of course, the size of the wrestlers is one of the first things 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 successful competitions - is not without its troubles behind the scenes.

Potential Issues

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

Its popularity among the younger generation is also being competed with by alternative competitions, while Japan's declining population will present additional challenges.

Global Community

Not that any of this has troubled spectators in London.

"Experiencing the ritual and ceremony that goes with sumo is especially significant," fan Sian says. "Today, watching it live, you feel like you are more engaged."

For other dedicated followers, the drama "made it so incredible" - as did meeting the fellow enthusiasts.

"Emerging from a very niche online community and being able to witness multiple sumo fans directly and being able to speak to other people who are similarly enthusiastic as we are - it was absolutely worthwhile."