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Not many athletic disciplines can captivate an audience through 45 minutes of ritual before the opening contest is even determined.

Yet the complex rituals unfolding in a small clay ring - mostly preserved for centuries - managed to do just that.

Welcome to the Grand Sumo Tournament

This five-day event at the Royal Albert Hall features 40 of the very best sumo athletes showcasing a sport whose initial documentation dates back to the first century BC.

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

Ancient Traditions Meet Current Innovations

It is here the athletes, known as rikishi, perform their leg stomps to drive away dark forces, and where they clap to get the attention of the gods.

Above all this traditional ritual, a enormous circular monitor - which wouldn't look out of place at an professional sports event - offers the crowd all the data and video they could want.

Worldwide Followers Find Sumo

For Sian Spencer, it was a "random video" 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 wrestlers live and train, rising before dawn to train, followed by a protein-rich meal and then an midday rest - all in the service of gaining weight.

From Edinburgh, Alternative View

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

"We saw it as a typical visitor experience, but we actually ended up loving the sport," says Julia.

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

Unique Chance

Traveling to Asia is typically the sole method to see a major championship.

This week's event marks only the second time the tournament has appeared in the capital - the initial occasion was in the early nineties.

Even going to Japan isn't a guarantee of obtaining admission, with the past period seeing sold-out events.

In-Person Viewing

For multiple fans, the London tournament represents the premier chance they have seen live sumo - and it exceeds expectations.

"Watching nearby, you get a sense of the speed and the strength which you won't feel on TV," notes one fan. "Their stature is remarkable."

The Bouts

To succeed, one rikishi needs to force his opponent from the dohyō or to the ground using physical force.

The primary group use one of two styles to achieve this, often in moments - thrusting, or clenching.

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

Front Row Positions

The seats right next to the competition area are of course highly prized - but also, a bit risky.

During one particular match, a tall wrestler went plummeting into the spectators - perhaps making those in more affordable locations feel relieved.

Internal Challenges

Of course, the size of the rikishi is one of the first things most people think of when they consider the sport.

The hall's organizers revealed they "were required to locate and buy new chairs which can withstand 200kg in weight."

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

Future Challenges

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

Its appeal among youth in Japan is also being challenged by alternative competitions, while Japan's falling birthrate will not help.

Global Community

Not that any of this has troubled spectators in London.

"Witnessing these custom and formality that accompanies sumo is quite special," fan Sian says. "Currently, observing it directly, you experience being you are more part of it."

For other enthusiastic fans, the drama "produced unforgettable moments" - as did encountering the like-minded individuals.

"Getting out of a particularly focused online community and being able to witness multiple sumo fans directly and being able to chat with other people who are just as into this as we are - it was completely valuable."