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Not many athletic disciplines can captivate an audience through three-quarters of an hour of ceremony before the opening contest is even contested.

Yet the intricate traditions unfolding in a compact earthen circle - virtually unchanged for generations - succeeded in doing so.

Experience the Prestigious Rikishi Event

This multi-day tournament at the Royal Albert Hall features four dozen top-tier rikishi showcasing a sport whose first mention dates back to ancient times.

London's Victorian concert venue has been totally redesigned, complete with a massive traditional roof structure hanging above the dohyō.

Time-Honored Rituals Meet Contemporary Displays

It is here the wrestlers, known as sumo wrestlers, perform their foot stomping to drive away negative energies, and where they clap to attract the divine beings.

Above all this historical practice, a massive rotating display - which wouldn't look out of place at an American basketball game - offers the audience all the data and video they could want.

Global Fans Find Sumo

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

This was quickly followed by the discovery of dedicated YouTube channels for training facilities, where athletes reside and practice, rising before dawn to work out, followed by a protein-rich meal and then an midday rest - all in the effort toward bulking up.

Traveling from the North, Another Perspective

Different enthusiasts discovered sumo through a more traditional route: a journey to Asia six years ago.

"We considered it a very touristy activity, but we actually came to adore the sport," notes the enthusiast.

"Subsequently, we tried to find communities, information, 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 time the tournament has appeared in the capital - the first time was in the early nineties.

Even visiting the country doesn't ensure of securing tickets, with the past period seeing sold-out events.

Live Observation

For numerous spectators, the current event represents the first time they have seen live sumo - and it doesn't disappoint.

"Seeing it up close, you get a sense of the speed and the force which you don't get on TV," says Caspar Eliot. "Their size is impressive."

The Bouts

To succeed, one wrestler needs to move the other man from the dohyō or to the ground using physical force.

The most use one of two styles to succeed in this, often in moments - shoving, or clenching.

Either way, the noise of the two wrestlers meeting in the first moment of the match echoes around the auditorium.

Front Row Positions

The positions right next to the competition area are of course highly prized - but also, potentially hazardous.

During one recent bout, a large wrestler fell into the audience - perhaps making those in slightly cheaper seats feel relieved.

Internal Challenges

Of course, the stature of the wrestlers is one of the primary elements most people consider when they think of sumo.

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 popular tournaments - is not without its troubles behind the scenes.

Coming Obstacles

Perhaps the rigorous lifestyle of a sumo wrestler doesn't look as attractive as it once might have.

Its appeal among young Japanese is also being threatened by other sports, while Japan's declining population will not help.

Global Community

Not that any of this has concerned enthusiasts in London.

"Seeing all this ritual and ceremony that accompanies sumo is quite special," one enthusiast notes. "Currently, observing it in person, you sense that you are more part of it."

For other enthusiastic fans, the excitement "made it so incredible" - as did interacting with the fellow enthusiasts.

"Emerging from a particularly focused online community and being able to observe numerous sumo fans directly and being able to chat with other people who are just as into this as we are - it was worth every penny."