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Not many athletic disciplines can hold spectators spellbound through an extended period of tradition before the opening contest is even contested.

Yet the intricate traditions unfolding in a compact earthen circle - largely unaltered for centuries - succeeded in doing so.

Experience the Major Sumo Competition

This five-day event at the iconic London venue features four dozen top-tier sumo athletes showcasing a sport whose earliest records dates back to ancient times.

London's renowned auditorium has been totally redesigned, complete with a elaborate suspended canopy hanging above the dohyō.

Time-Honored Rituals Meet Current Innovations

It is here the wrestlers, known as rikishi, perform their shiko exercises to expel negative energies, and where they strike their hands to get the attention of the gods.

Above all this traditional ritual, a massive rotating display - which wouldn't look out of place at an NBA match - offers the crowd all the data and video they could want.

Global Fans Find Sumo

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

This was quickly followed by the discovery of specialized online content for sumo stables, where athletes reside and practice, rising before dawn to train, followed by a nutritious chankonabe and then an midday rest - all in the service of gaining weight.

Traveling from the North, Another Perspective

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

"We approached it as a very touristy activity, but we actually developed passion for the sport," explains the fan.

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

Special Event

Visiting the homeland is typically the sole method to see a elite competition.

This London competition marks only the second instance the tournament has come to London - the initial occasion was in 1991.

Even going to Japan doesn't ensure of securing tickets, with current times seeing fully attended competitions.

First-Hand Experience

For numerous spectators, the London tournament represents the first time they have experienced the sport directly - and it doesn't disappoint.

"Seeing it up close, you get a understanding of quickness and the power which you won't feel on TV," explains an attendee. "Their stature is remarkable."

The Matches

To succeed, one competitor needs to move the other man out of the ring or to the ground using brute strength.

The majority use one of pair of techniques to achieve this, often in split seconds - pushing, or wrestling.

Either way, the sound of the two wrestlers crashing together in the initial contact of the match resounds around the auditorium.

Front Row Positions

The positions right next to the ring are of course highly prized - but also, a bit risky.

During one recent bout, a large wrestler fell into the spectators - perhaps making those in more affordable locations experience comfort.

Internal Challenges

Of course, the size of the athletes is one of the primary elements most people imagine when they think of sumo.

The facility's operators revealed they "were required to locate and purchase additional seating which can withstand 200kg in weight."

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

Coming Obstacles

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

Its following among young Japanese is also being threatened by other sports, while Japan's declining population will create further complications.

Global Community

Not that any of this has troubled spectators in London.

"Seeing all this ritual and ceremony that is part of sumo is especially significant," an attendee explains. "Today, watching it live, you experience being you are more part of it."

For other committed supporters, the drama "produced unforgettable moments" - as did meeting the other fans.

"Leaving a very niche online community and being able to witness multiple sumo fans directly and being able to speak to other people who are equally passionate as we are - it was completely valuable."