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Not many athletic disciplines can captivate an audience through an extended period of ritual before the initial score is even determined.

Yet the complex rituals unfolding in a compact earthen circle - mostly preserved for hundreds of years - managed to do just that.

Welcome to the Major Sumo Competition

This multi-day tournament at the Royal Albert Hall features numerous elite rikishi showcasing a sport whose initial documentation dates back to ancient times.

London's Victorian concert venue has been completely reimagined, complete with a massive traditional roof structure hanging above the competition area.

Time-Honored Rituals Meet Current Innovations

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

Above all this traditional ritual, a massive rotating display - that appears natural at an professional sports event - offers the audience all the stats and replays they could want.

Worldwide Followers Embrace Sumo

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

This was soon supplemented with the discovery of dedicated YouTube channels for rikishi houses, where competitors stay and exercise, starting their day early to train, followed by a high protein stew and then an daytime sleep - all in the effort toward gaining weight.

From Edinburgh, Different Experience

Another couple discovered sumo through a conventional method: a visit to the country six years ago.

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

"After that, we tried to find communities, resources, just to expand our knowledge about it," adds Cezar.

Rare Opportunity

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

This London competition marks only the second instance the tournament has visited the city - the previous visit was in 1991.

Even traveling to Asia isn't certain of getting a seat, with current times seeing fully attended competitions.

Live Observation

For many attendees, the current event represents the premier chance they have seen live sumo - and it doesn't disappoint.

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

The Matches

To win the match, one wrestler needs to move the other man off the clay or to the floor using physical force.

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

Either way, the impact of the two wrestlers crashing together in the opening second of the match echoes around the hall.

Prime Locations

The seats right next to the competition area are of course extremely sought-after - but also, somewhat dangerous.

During one particular match, a tall wrestler tumbled into the crowd - perhaps making those in more affordable locations experience comfort.

Internal Challenges

Of course, the dimensions of the athletes is one of the initial aspects most people think of when they think of sumo.

The facility's operators revealed they "needed to find and buy new chairs which can support 200kg in weight."

But sumo - for all its sell-out events - is not without its difficulties behind the scenes.

Future Challenges

Perhaps the strict life of a professional athlete doesn't look as attractive as it once might have.

Its appeal among youth in Japan is also being threatened by different athletic pursuits, while Japan's declining population will not help.

Worldwide Following

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 live, you feel like you are more involved."

For other enthusiastic fans, the drama "made it so incredible" - as did encountering the other fans.

"Getting out of a highly specialized online community and being able to see all these sumo fans directly and being able to converse with other people who are similarly enthusiastic as we are - it was completely valuable."