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Not many athletic disciplines can captivate an audience through 45 minutes of ritual before the initial score is even contested.

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

Experience the Major Sumo Competition

This five-day event at the Royal Albert Hall features 40 of the very best sumo wrestlers showcasing a sport whose initial documentation dates back to ancient times.

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

Time-Honored Rituals Meet Contemporary Displays

It is here the athletes, known as sumo professionals, perform their foot stomping to drive away dark forces, and where they applaud to summon the divine beings.

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

International Enthusiasts Discover Sumo

For an enthusiastic follower, it was a "random video" that first drew her interest a couple of years ago.

This was quickly followed by the discovery of specialized online content for sumo stables, where wrestlers live and train, starting their day early to train, followed by a high protein stew and then an midday rest - all in the service of gaining weight.

From Edinburgh, Another Perspective

Another couple discovered sumo through a established path: a visit to the country six years ago.

"We approached it as a common sightseeing event, but we actually developed passion for the sport," notes the enthusiast.

"From there on, we tried to discover networks, resources, just to deepen our understanding about it," the other fan explains.

Rare Opportunity

Visiting the homeland is almost the only way to see a major championship.

This current tournament marks only the second time the tournament has visited the city - the initial occasion was in the early nineties.

Even traveling to Asia isn't certain of getting a seat, with the past period seeing fully attended competitions.

In-Person Viewing

For multiple fans, the UK competition represents the initial opportunity they have seen live sumo - and it doesn't disappoint.

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

The Competition

To win the match, one rikishi needs to push another from the dohyō or to the ground using physical force.

The primary group use one of two styles to accomplish this, often in instantaneous actions - shoving, or grappling.

Either way, the impact of the two rikishi meeting in the initial contact of the match echoes around the hall.

Front Row Positions

The seats right next to the dohyō are of course greatly valued - but also, potentially hazardous.

During one specific contest, a large wrestler fell into the audience - perhaps making those in slightly cheaper seats breathe a sigh of relief.

Internal Challenges

Of course, the stature of the athletes is one of the primary elements most people imagine when they consider the sport.

The venue's management revealed they "were required to locate and acquire reinforced furniture which can support 200kg in weight."

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

Potential Issues

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

Its following among young Japanese is also being threatened by different athletic pursuits, while Japan's decreasing numbers will not help.

International Network

Not that any of this has worried fans in London.

"Witnessing these ritual and ceremony that is part of sumo is especially significant," an attendee explains. "Today, watching it in person, you experience being you are more engaged."

For other dedicated followers, the intensity "produced unforgettable moments" - as did meeting the like-minded individuals.

"Emerging from a particularly focused online community and being able to witness multiple sumo fans in person and being able to chat with other people who are equally passionate as we are - it was worth every penny."