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Not many athletic disciplines can hold spectators spellbound through 45 minutes of ceremony before the initial score is even contested.

Yet the detailed ceremonies unfolding in a compact earthen circle - mostly preserved for centuries - accomplished exactly that.

Experience the Prestigious Rikishi Event

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

London's historic performance space has been totally redesigned, complete with a massive traditional roof structure hanging above the competition area.

Time-Honored Rituals Meet Modern Technology

It is here the competitors, known as sumo wrestlers, perform their foot stomping to drive away evil spirits, and where they applaud to summon the gods.

Above all this historical practice, a massive rotating display - that would fit perfectly at an American basketball game - offers the spectators all the stats and replays they could want.

Global Fans Discover Sumo

For one dedicated fan, it was a "unexpected footage" that first drew her interest a couple of years ago.

This was soon supplemented with the discovery of dedicated YouTube channels for training facilities, where athletes reside and practice, starting their day early to practice, followed by a nutritious chankonabe and then an daytime sleep - all in the pursuit of increasing mass.

Traveling from the North, Another Perspective

Different enthusiasts discovered sumo through a more traditional route: a trip to Japan six years ago.

"We approached it as a common sightseeing event, but we actually ended up loving the sport," explains the fan.

"From there on, we tried to discover networks, materials, just to expand our knowledge about it," the other fan explains.

Rare Opportunity

Traveling to Asia is typically the sole method to see a top-flight sumo tournament.

This current tournament marks only the second instance the tournament has appeared in the capital - the initial occasion was in 1991.

Even going to Japan isn't a guarantee of obtaining admission, with current times seeing completely booked tournaments.

In-Person Viewing

For numerous spectators, the current event represents the initial opportunity they have watched sumo in person - and it doesn't disappoint.

"Seeing it up close, you get a sense of the speed and the strength which you can't experience on TV," says Caspar Eliot. "They are so big."

The Bouts

To win the match, one competitor needs to force his opponent from the dohyō or to the ground using raw power.

The most use one of pair of techniques to achieve this, often in split seconds - thrusting, or clenching.

Either way, the sound of the two wrestlers meeting in the opening second of the match resounds around the auditorium.

Premium Seating

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

During one particular match, a 191cm wrestler fell into the audience - perhaps making those in less expensive positions 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 think of sumo.

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

But sumo - for all its successful competitions - is not without its difficulties behind the scenes.

Coming Obstacles

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

Its following among the younger generation is also being threatened by alternative competitions, while Japan's falling birthrate will not help.

Global Community

Not that any of this has troubled spectators in London.

"Experiencing the ritual and ceremony that accompanies sumo is quite special," fan Sian says. "Now, seeing it live, you experience being you are more engaged."

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

"Getting out of a particularly focused online community and being able to witness multiple sumo fans live and being able to speak to other people who are just as into this as we are - it was absolutely worthwhile."