History of sumo in England and the UK
Sumo has a long history in the United Kingdom, with structured amateur competition in Britain dating from the 1980s. This page gives an England-focused overview of that journey so people new to the sport can understand how the modern pathway through British Sumo and EnglandSumo developed.
Last updated: 2026-07-06.
See also: Governance and eligibility, What is sumo, and Team England Sumo.
The early years (1980s and 1990s)
By the late 1980s, British athletes were competing internationally in Japan, and this period was shaped by Syd Hoare. His longstanding links with Japanese martial arts, combined with his Olympic judo background (Tokyo 1964), helped create early opportunities for British sumo competitors on the international stage.
For broader context on that era of martial arts development in Britain, Syd Hoare's book A Slow Boat to Yokohama is a valuable reference and personal account of the period.
Early names in UK sumo included Jim Webb, Bill Etherington, and Larry Stevenson. Around 1990, Syd Hoare organised the first European to train as a professional in a Japanese heya (sumo stable). In 1992, he also organised a British team for the first Sumo World Championships in Tokyo.
A key UK milestone came in October 1991, when Grand Sumo was staged at the Royal Albert Hall in London as part of the UK Japan Festival — the first time an official five-day Grand Sumo tournament had been held outside Japan.
The British Sumo Federation era
A national sumo body has existed in some form in Britain since 1985. In the following decades, the British Sumo Federation (BSF) remained an important part of that landscape and was led for many years by Steve Pateman, who stepped down in 2024. British competitors from this era included Steve Pateman, Bill Etherington, Kevin Emslie, and Adele Jones, with medal performances at international level.
Two national bodies — the British Sumo Federation and the British Sumo Union — co-existed for a period as part of the historic governance landscape in Britain. Both contributed to the development of UK sumo before the current recognised pathway.
Another important figure from this period is Sharran Alexander, a British sumo competitor and Guinness World Record holder (heaviest competitive sportswoman, recorded at 203.21 kg in 2011). She represented Great Britain internationally and has remained active in the UK sumo community, including supporting the 2026 English Nationals as an announcer.
Modern recognition: British Sumo, EFS and IFS
- 2023 — British Sumo is founded and formally recognised by the European Sumo Federation (EFS). (Source: About British Sumo.)
- 2024 — Steve Pateman steps down from the British Sumo Federation.
- 2025 — British Sumo is recognised by the International Sumo Federation (IFS) as the national governing body for sumo in the United Kingdom. (Source: About British Sumo.)
- January 2026 — EnglandSumo is formed as the England-focused affiliate under the British Sumo umbrella, responsible for club affiliations, athlete development, and competition pathways within England.
- March 2026 — the English Sumo Nationals 2026 becomes the first nationals event held by the newly formed EnglandSumo. Public Smoothcomp event data records 11 brackets, 44 individual athletes, and 127 published finished contests across the schedule. (See full medalists by category.)
If you encounter older British Sumo Federation pages online, treat them as historical background and part of the sport's journey. The current UK governing body recognised by the EFS and IFS is British Sumo, and the England affiliate is EnglandSumo.
Sumo in England today
Sumo in England is in a period of rapid growth, with affiliated clubs operating across the country, athletes competing internationally through the British Sumo pathway, and the 2026 European Sumo Championships being hosted in Stirling, Scotland.
Grand Sumo returned to the Royal Albert Hall for a second London event in October 2025, marking another major moment for the sport's visibility in the UK.
To take part: