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Few sports can captivate an audience through 45 minutes of ceremony before the opening contest is even decided.

Yet the detailed ceremonies unfolding in a small clay ring - virtually unchanged for hundreds of years - accomplished exactly that.

Welcome to the Grand Sumo Tournament

This five-day event at the iconic London venue features numerous elite rikishi showcasing a sport whose earliest records dates back to ancient times.

London's historic performance space has been utterly transformed, complete with a massive traditional roof structure hanging above the competition area.

Historical Ceremonies Meet Current Innovations

It is here the athletes, known as sumo wrestlers, perform their leg stomps to drive away dark forces, and where they strike their hands to get the attention of the deities.

Above all this traditional ritual, a enormous circular monitor - which wouldn't look out of place at an professional sports event - offers the crowd all the stats and replays they could want.

Global Fans Find Sumo

For an enthusiastic follower, it was a "unexpected footage" that first caught her attention a couple of years ago.

This was soon supplemented with the discovery of focused video platforms for rikishi houses, where athletes reside and practice, rising before dawn to train, followed by a protein-rich meal and then an daytime sleep - all in the pursuit of gaining weight.

Traveling from the North, Different Experience

Another couple discovered sumo through a more traditional route: a journey to Asia six years ago.

"We approached it as a typical visitor experience, but we actually came to adore the sport," explains the fan.

"Subsequently, we tried to locate groups, information, just to expand our knowledge about it," her partner continues.

Rare Opportunity

Visiting the homeland is generally the primary approach to see a top-flight sumo tournament.

This London competition marks only the second instance the tournament has visited the city - the previous visit was in over three decades ago.

Even going to Japan isn't a guarantee of getting a seat, with current times seeing completely booked tournaments.

First-Hand Experience

For many attendees, the current event represents the initial opportunity they have experienced the sport directly - and it doesn't disappoint.

"Observing directly, you get a feeling of velocity and the force which you don't get on TV," notes one fan. "Their size is impressive."

The Bouts

To win the match, one wrestler needs to push another out of the ring or to the ground using physical force.

The majority use one of dual approaches to achieve this, often in instantaneous actions - thrusting, or clenching.

Either way, the sound of the two rikishi meeting in the initial contact of the match resounds around the auditorium.

Premium Seating

The seats right next to the competition area are of course extremely sought-after - but also, a bit risky.

During one specific contest, a tall wrestler went plummeting into the spectators - perhaps making those in more affordable locations feel relieved.

Behind the Scenes

Of course, the size of the athletes is one of the first things most people consider when they think of sumo.

The venue's management revealed they "needed to find and buy new chairs which can support 200kg in weight."

But sumo - for all its successful competitions - is not without its challenges behind the scenes.

Coming Obstacles

Perhaps the strict life of a rikishi doesn't look as desirable as it once might have.

Its following among youth in Japan is also being competed with by different athletic pursuits, while Japan's falling birthrate will create further complications.

Global Community

Not that any of this has concerned enthusiasts in London.

"Experiencing the ritual and ceremony that goes with sumo is especially significant," fan Sian says. "Now, seeing it in person, you experience being you are more engaged."

For other dedicated followers, the excitement "created amazing experiences" - as did meeting the other fans.

"Leaving a particularly focused online community and being able to see all these sumo fans live and being able to converse with other people who are just as into this as we are - it was worth every penny."