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Not many athletic disciplines can keep viewers enthralled through three-quarters of an hour of tradition before the initial score is even contested.

Yet the complex rituals unfolding in a small clay ring - mostly preserved for generations - accomplished exactly that.

Welcome to the Prestigious Rikishi Event

This week-long competition at the Royal Albert Hall features 40 of the very best sumo athletes showcasing a sport whose first mention dates back to ancient times.

London's historic performance space has been utterly transformed, complete with a massive traditional roof structure hanging above the dohyō.

Historical Ceremonies Meet Current Innovations

It is here the competitors, known as sumo wrestlers, perform their shiko exercises to banish evil spirits, and where they strike their hands to summon the deities.

Above all this ancient ceremony, a massive rotating display - which wouldn't look out of place at an professional sports event - offers the crowd all the statistics and footage they could want.

Worldwide Followers Find Sumo

For Sian Spencer, it was a "random video" that first caught her attention a couple of years ago.

This was soon supplemented with the discovery of dedicated YouTube channels for rikishi houses, where wrestlers live and train, starting their day early to practice, followed by a nutritious chankonabe and then an afternoon nap - all in the service of gaining weight.

Hailing from Scotland, Alternative View

Julia and her partner Cezar discovered sumo through a more traditional route: a journey to Asia six years ago.

"We saw it as a very touristy activity, but we actually ended up loving the sport," explains the fan.

"From there on, we tried to discover networks, resources, just to deepen our understanding about it," the other fan explains.

Special Event

Going to Japan is almost the only way to see a elite competition.

This London competition marks only the second time the tournament has come to London - the first time was in the early nineties.

Even visiting the country isn't a guarantee of getting a seat, with the past period seeing completely booked tournaments.

In-Person Viewing

For many attendees, the London tournament represents the premier chance they have seen live sumo - and it lives up to the hype.

"Seeing it up close, you get a sense of the speed and the power which you don't get on TV," explains an attendee. "They are so big."

The Bouts

To achieve victory, one wrestler needs to move the other man out of the ring or to the surface using brute strength.

The most use one of pair of techniques to succeed in this, often in instantaneous actions - shoving, or grappling.

Either way, the noise of the two wrestlers meeting in the initial contact of the match echoes around the venue.

Premium Seating

The cushions right next to the dohyō are of course greatly valued - but also, a bit risky.

During one specific contest, a 191cm wrestler went plummeting into the crowd - perhaps making those in less expensive positions breathe a sigh of relief.

Organizational Issues

Of course, the size of the athletes is one of the first things most people consider when they contemplate wrestling.

The facility's operators revealed they "were required to locate and buy new chairs which can take up to 200kg in weight."

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

Potential Issues

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

Its following among youth in Japan is also being competed with by different athletic pursuits, while Japan's decreasing numbers will create further complications.

International Network

Not that any of this has worried fans in London.

"Experiencing the ritual and ceremony that is part of sumo is quite special," one enthusiast notes. "Currently, observing it directly, you feel like you are more part of it."

For other committed supporters, the drama "made it so incredible" - as did meeting the like-minded individuals.

"Getting out of a very niche online community and being able to witness multiple sumo fans directly and being able to converse with other people who are similarly enthusiastic as we are - it was completely valuable."