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Only a handful of competitions can captivate an audience through three-quarters of an hour of ceremony before the opening contest is even contested.

Yet the detailed ceremonies unfolding in a small clay ring - largely unaltered for hundreds of years - managed to do just that.

Discover the Prestigious Rikishi Event

This week-long competition at the Royal Albert Hall features four dozen top-tier sumo athletes showcasing a sport whose initial documentation dates back to the first century BC.

London's historic performance space has been totally redesigned, complete with a six-tonne Japanese temple roof hanging above the ring.

Historical Ceremonies Meet Current Innovations

It is here the competitors, known as rikishi, perform their foot stomping to banish evil spirits, and where they clap to get the attention of the divine beings.

Above all this ancient ceremony, a massive rotating display - that appears natural at an NBA match - offers the audience all the statistics and footage they could want.

Worldwide Followers Find Sumo

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

This was quickly followed by the discovery of specialized online content for training facilities, where athletes reside and practice, waking up early to practice, followed by a nutritious chankonabe and then an afternoon nap - all in the service of bulking up.

Hailing from Scotland, Another Perspective

Different enthusiasts discovered sumo through a established path: a visit to the country six years ago.

"We considered it a very touristy activity, but we actually came to adore the sport," says Julia.

"From there on, we tried to locate groups, information, just to deepen our understanding about it," the other fan explains.

Rare Opportunity

Going to Japan is almost the only way to see a top-flight sumo tournament.

This week's event marks only the second time the tournament has appeared in the capital - the first time was in 1991.

Even visiting the country isn't a guarantee of securing tickets, with the past period seeing sold-out events.

First-Hand Experience

For numerous spectators, the London tournament represents the initial opportunity they have seen live sumo - and it exceeds expectations.

"Watching nearby, you get a feeling of velocity and the power which you don't get on TV," says Caspar Eliot. "They are so big."

The Bouts

To succeed, one competitor needs to move the other man off the clay or to the ground using brute strength.

The primary group use one of two styles to succeed in this, often in instantaneous actions - pushing, or grappling.

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

Front Row Positions

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

During one particular match, a large wrestler tumbled into the crowd - perhaps making those in less expensive positions breathe a sigh of relief.

Organizational Issues

Of course, the dimensions of the rikishi is one of the initial aspects most people imagine when they contemplate wrestling.

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

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

Potential Issues

Perhaps the rigorous lifestyle of a sumo wrestler 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 falling birthrate will create further complications.

International Network

Not that any of this has troubled spectators in London.

"Experiencing the ritual and ceremony that goes with sumo is particularly meaningful," an attendee explains. "Now, seeing it directly, you sense that you are more engaged."

For other dedicated followers, the drama "produced unforgettable moments" - as did interacting with the fellow enthusiasts.

"Emerging from a very niche online community and being able to see all these sumo fans in person and being able to chat with other people who are similarly enthusiastic as we are - it was completely valuable."