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Only a handful of competitions can captivate an audience through 45 minutes of tradition before the initial score is even determined.

Yet the complex rituals unfolding in a small clay ring - virtually unchanged for hundreds of years - succeeded in doing so.

Discover the Major Sumo Competition

This week-long competition at the iconic London venue features 40 of the very best sumo athletes showcasing a sport whose first mention dates back to the first century BC.

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

Ancient Traditions Meet Modern Technology

It is here the competitors, known as sumo wrestlers, perform their leg stomps to expel evil spirits, and where they strike their hands to summon the deities.

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.

Global Fans Discover Sumo

For an enthusiastic follower, it was a "chance online clip" that first drew her interest a couple of years ago.

This was soon supplemented with the discovery of dedicated YouTube channels for sumo stables, where wrestlers live and train, rising before dawn to work out, followed by a protein-rich meal and then an afternoon nap - all in the pursuit of increasing mass.

Traveling from the North, Another Perspective

Julia and her partner Cezar discovered sumo through a more traditional route: a journey to Asia six years ago.

"We saw it as a very touristy activity, but we actually came to adore the sport," explains the fan.

"After that, we tried to discover networks, resources, just to deepen our understanding about it," the other fan explains.

Unique Chance

Going to Japan is almost the only way to see a top-flight sumo tournament.

This week's event marks only the second occasion the tournament has appeared in the capital - the first time was in 1991.

Even traveling to Asia isn't a guarantee of getting a seat, with the past period seeing sold-out events.

First-Hand Experience

For many attendees, the London tournament represents the first time they have seen live sumo - and it lives up to the hype.

"Watching nearby, you get a feeling of velocity and the force which you don't get on TV," says Caspar Eliot. "They are so big."

The Competition

To achieve victory, one rikishi needs to push another from the dohyō or to the floor using physical force.

The primary group use one of pair of techniques to accomplish this, often in moments - thrusting, or grappling.

Either way, the noise of the two athletes crashing together in the first moment of the match resounds around the hall.

Front Row Positions

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 spectators - perhaps making those in slightly cheaper seats experience comfort.

Organizational Issues

Of course, the dimensions of the rikishi is one of the first things most people think of when they consider the sport.

The venue's management revealed they "had to source and buy new chairs 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 rigorous lifestyle of a professional athlete doesn't look as appealing as it once might have.

Its appeal among the younger generation is also being competed with by other sports, while Japan's declining population will not help.

Global Community

Not that any of this has concerned enthusiasts in London.

"Experiencing the tradition and practice that goes with sumo is particularly meaningful," an attendee explains. "Now, seeing it directly, you sense that you are more engaged."

For other dedicated followers, the excitement "created amazing experiences" - as did encountering the fellow enthusiasts.

"Getting out of a very niche online community and being able to witness multiple sumo fans in person and being able to speak to other people who are similarly enthusiastic as we are - it was worth every penny."