IT has never been a better time to get involved with Sumo wrestling, the historic Japanese sport with over 1500 years of history.
Far less prominent overseas, Sumo recently went international and found its way to the United Kingdom as part of a five-day tournament at the Royal Albert Hall.
Over 40 of Japan’s elite Sumo wrestlers travelled to the country to put on a show that captivated new audiences and gave them an up close and personal look at this fascinating battle of strength.
The event, which took place from Wednesday, October 15, to Sunday, October 19, 2025, has helped to pave the way for unprecedented interest in full-contact wrestling, with more people than ever looking to try it out.
One such club that capitalized on this rise was Southampton Sumo, located at Parity Martial Arts and Wellness, which invited beginners down to get involved.
The session had participants from as far as Bath and Brighton, all striving to learn the basics from British Sumo representative Sonny Bell, who travelled from the London Sumo Club to take part alongside local leader Lance Wicks.
The event proved to be a roaring success, full of learning and laughter inside the Dohyō.
by Ashley Whiteway (@ashley_whiteway)
