Kimarite

is the technique used in sumo by a Template:Transliteration (wrestler) to win a match. It is officially decided or announced by the Template:Transliteration (referee) at the end of the match, though judges can modify this decision. The records of Template:Transliteration are then kept for statistical purposes.

The Japan Sumo Association (JSA) have officially recognized 82 such techniques since 2001, with five also recognized as winning non-techniques. However, only about a dozen of these are frequently and regularly used by Template:Transliteration.

A sumo match can still be won even without a Template:Transliteration, by the virtue of disqualification due to a Template:Transliteration (foul), such as striking with closed fist.

Basic techniques

The are some of the most common winning techniques in sumo, with the exception of Template:Transliteration.

Template:Transliteration

Template:Nihongo3 is a rarely used basic Template:Transliteration that pushes down the opponent into the ground back-first by leaning forward while grappling.

Template:Transliteration

File:Japon tokyo 0628a.jpg

Template:Transliteration being used by the wrestler on the left

Template:Nihongo3 is a basic Template:Transliteration that requires pushing the opponent out of the ring using the arms, without holding their Template:Transliteration (belt) or extending the arms.

Template:Transliteration

Template:Nihongo3 is similar to an Template:Transliteration, except that the opponent falls down (as opposed to standing).

Template:Transliteration

Template:Nihongo3 is a basic Template:Transliteration that uses a single or multiple hand thrusts to force the opponent out of the ring without maintaining any contact with the opponent.

Template:Transliteration

Template:Nihongo3 is similar to a Template:Transliteration, except that the opponent falls down (as opposed to standing).

Template:Transliteration

Template:Nihongo3 is a basic Template:Transliteration where the Template:Transliteration maintains a grip on their opponent's Template:Transliteration and forces them out of the ring. This is the most common Template:Transliteration in Sumo and is the result of 32.4% of all professional matches.

Template:Transliteration

Template:Nihongo3 is similar to a Template:Transliteration, except that the opponent falls down out of the ring as a result (as opposed to standing), effectively crushing him out.

Leg tripping

Leg tripping techniques (Template:Langx) are kimarite where the rikishi wins the match by tripping or grabbing their opponent's leg out of the ring.

Ashitori

is a kimarite where the rikishi grabs one of their opponent's leg, resulting in a loss of balance, enabling the rikishi to force them out of the ring.

Chongake

is a kimarite where the rikishi trips their opponent through one of their heel by using their own heel, thereby resulting in a loss of balance and forcing their opponent to fall down back-first.

Kawazugake

is a kimarite where the rikishi wraps their leg around the opponent's leg of the opposite side and trips him backwards while grasping onto his upper body.

Kekaeshi

is a kimarite which involves kicking the inside of the opponent's foot. This is usually accompanied by a quick pull that causes the opponent to lose balance and fall.

Ketaguri

is a kimarite in which, directly after the tachi-ai, the attacker kicks the opponent's legs to the outside and thrusts or twists him down to the dohyō.

Kirikaeshi

is a kimarite in which the attacker places his leg behind the knee of the opponent, and while twisting the opponent sideways and backwards, sweeps him over the attacker's leg and throws him down.

Komatasukui

is a kimarite in which an opponent responds to being thrown and puts his leg out forward to balance himself, grabbing the underside of the thigh and lifting it up, throwing the opponent down.

Kozumatori

is a kimarite in which an attacker lifts the opponent's ankle from the front, causing them to fall.

Mitokorozeme

is a triple attack. Wrapping one leg around the opponent's (inside leg trip), grabbing the other leg behind the thigh, and thrusting the head into the opponent's chest, the attacker pushes him up and off the surface, then throwing him down on his back.

This is a very rare technique, first used in the modern era by Mainoumi Shūhei, who used it two or three times in the early 1990s (officially twice, on a third occasion his win was judged by most observers to be a mitokorozeme, but was officially judged an uchigake). Ishiura successfully used it against Nishikigi on Day 8 of the November 2019 tournament, for the first time in makuuchi since Mainoumi in 1993.

Nimaigeri

is a kimarite in which the attacker kicks an off-balance opponent on the outside of their standing leg's foot, then throws him to the surface.

Ōmata

is a kimarite in which, when the opponent escapes from a komatsukui by extending the other foot, the attacker switches to lift the opponent's other off-balance foot and throws him down.

Sotogake

is a kimarite in which the attacker wraps his calf around the opponent's calf from the outside and drives him over backwards.

Lyoto Machida, with a sumo background, has successfully used this multiple times in the course of his mixed martial arts career.

Sotokomata

is a kimarite in which, directly after a nage is avoided by the opponent, the attacker grabs the opponent's thigh from the outside, lifting it, and throwing them down on their back.

Susoharai

is a kimarite in which, directly after a nage is avoided by the opponent, an attacker drives the knee under the opponent's thigh and pulls them down to the surface.

Susotori

is a kimarite in which, directly after a nage is avoided by the opponent, an attacker grabs the ankle of the opponent and pulls them down to the surface.

Tsumatori

is a kimarite in which, as the opponent is losing their balance to the front (or is moving forward), the attacker grabs the leg and pulls it back, thereby ensuring the opponent falls to the surface.

Uchigake

is performed by wrapping the calf around the opponent's calf from the inside and forcing him down on his back.

Watashikomi

is performed by grabbing the underside of the opponent's thigh or knee with one hand and pushing with the other arm, thereby forcing the opponent out or down.

Throwing

Throwing techniques (Template:Langx) are kimarite where the rikishi wins the match by throwing their opponent to the dohyō or out of the ring.

Ipponzeoi

is a kimarite in which, while moving backwards to the side, the opponent is pulled past the attacker and out of the ring by grabbing and pulling their arm with both hands.

Kakenage

is performed by lifting the opponent's thigh with one's leg, while grasping the opponent with both arms, and then throwing the off-balance opponent to the ground.

Koshinage

is performed by bending over and pulling the opponent over the attacker's hip, then throwing the opponent to the ground on their back.

Kotenage

is a kimarite in which the attacker wraps their arm around the opponent's extended arm, then throws the opponent to the ground without touching their mawashi. A common technique.

Kubinage

is performed by the attacker wrapping the opponent's head (or neck) in his arms, throwing him down.

Nichōnage

is performed by extending the right (left) leg around the outside of the opponent's right (left) knee thereby sweeping both of his legs off the surface and throwing him down.

Shitatedashinage

is performed when the attacker extends their arm under the opponent's arm to grab the opponent's mawashi while dragging the opponent forwards and/or to the side, throwing them to the ground.

Shitatenage

is a kimarite in which the attacker extends their arm under the opponent's arm to grab the opponent's mawashi and turns sideways, pulling the opponent down and throwing them to the ground.

Sukuinage

is performed by the attacker extending their arm under the opponent's armpit and across their back while turning sideways, forcing the opponent forward and throwing him to the ground without touching the mawashi (beltless arm throw).

Tsukaminage

is a technique where the attacker grabs the opponent's mawashi and lifts his body off the surface, pulling them into the air past the attacker and throwing them down.

File:Azumafuji vs Tochinishiki 1953-10-29.jpg

Azumafuji (left) defeats Tochinishiki by uwatenage

Uwatedashinage

is executed when the attacker extends their arm over the opponent's arm/back to grab the opponent's mawashi while pulling them forwards to the ground.

Uwatenage

is performed by the attacker extending their arm over the opponent's arm to grab the opponent's mawashi and throwing the opponent to the ground while turning sideways.

Yaguranage

is a technique performed by, with both wrestlers grasping each other's mawashi, pushing one's leg up under the opponent's groin, lifting them off the surface and then throwing them down on their side (inner thigh throw).

Twist down

Twist down techniques (Template:Langx) are kimarite where the rikishi wins the match by throwing an opponent or causing them to fall through a twisting motion.

Amiuchi

is a throw with both arms pulling on the opponent's arm, causing the opponent to fall over forward. It is so named because it resembles the traditional Japanese technique for casting fishing nets.

Gasshōhineri

is performed with both hands clasped around the opponent's back, twisting the opponent over sideways. See Tokkurinage.

Harimanage

is achieved when, reaching over the opponent's back and grabbing hold of their mawashi, the opponent is pulled over in front or beside the attacker.

Kainahineri

is performed by wrapping both arms around the opponent's extended arm and forcing him down to the dohyō by way of one's shoulder. (Similar to the tottari, but the body is positioned differently)

Katasukashi

is a technique where the attacker wraps his hands around the opponent's arm, both grasping the opponent's shoulder and forcing him down. This is notably used by Midorifuji.

Kotehineri

is performed when twisting the opponent's arm down, causing a fall.

Kubihineri

is performed by twisting the opponent's head or neck down, causing a fall.

Makiotoshi

is achieved when, reacting quickly to an opponent's actions, twisting the opponent's off-balance body down to the dohyō without grasping the mawashi.

Ōsakate

is a kimarite in which the attacker takes the opponent's arm extended over one's arm and twists the arm downward, while grabbing the opponent's body and throwing it in the same direction as the arm.

Sabaori

is performed by grabbing the opponent's mawashi while pulling out and down, forcing the opponent's knees to the dohyō.

Sakatottari

is to wrap one arm around the opponent's extended arm while grasping onto the opponent's wrist with the other hand, twisting and forcing the opponent down (could be considered an "anti-tottari").

Shitatehineri

is a kimarite where a rikishi extends an arm under the opponent's arm to grasp the mawashi, then pulling the mawashi down until the opponent falls or touches his knee to the dohyō.

Sotomusō

is a technique using the left (right) hand to grab onto the outside of the opponent's right (left) knee and twisting the opponent over one's left (right) knee.

Tokkurinage

is executed by grasping the opponent's neck or head with both hands and twisting him down to the dohyō.

Tottari

is performed by wrapping both arms around the opponent's extended arm and forcing him forward down to the dohyō.

Tsukiotoshi

File:Japon tokyo 0610a.jpg

Tsukiotoshi

is achieved through twisting the opponent down to the dohyō by forcing the arms on the opponent's upper torso off of his center of gravity.

Uchimusō

is a technique using the left (right) hand to grab onto the outside of the opponent's left (right) knee and twisting the opponent down.

Uwatehineri

is performed by extending the arm over the opponent's arm to grasp the mawashi, then pulling the mawashi down until the opponent falls or touches his knee to the dohyō.

Zubuneri

is called when the head is used to thrust an opponent down during a hineri.

Backwards body drop

Backwards body drop techniques (Template:Langx) are kimarite where the rikishi wins the match by throwing an opponent or forcing them backwards.

Izori

is a technique where, diving under the charge of the opponent, the attacker grabs behind one or both of the opponent's knees, or their mawashi and pulls them up and over backwards.

Kakezori

is performed by putting one's head under the opponent's extended arm and body, and forcing the opponent backwards over one's legs.

Shumokuzori

is a technique carried out in the same position as a tasukizori, but the wrestler throws himself backwards, thus ensuring that his opponent lands first under him. The name is derived from the similarity to the shape of Japanese bell hammers.

Sototasukizori

File:Ura Tasukizori January 2017.jpg

Ura (pink) performing tasukizori against Amakaze in Jan 2017; the first in 65 years

is a technique which, with one arm around the opponents arm and one arm around the opponents leg, one lifts their opponent and throws him sideways and backwards.

Tasukizori

is performed with one arm around the opponents arm and one arm around the opponents leg, lifting the opponent perpendicular across the shoulders and throwing him down. The name refers to tasuki, the cords used to tie the sleeves of the traditional Japanese kimono.

Tsutaezori

is executed by shifting the extended opponent's arm around and twisting the opponent behind one's back and down to the dohyō. An uncommon move, it is associated primarily with Ura Kazuki, who is responsible for 4 of the 6 recorded top-division bouts where it was the winning technique.

Special techniques

Special techniques (Template:Langx) are kimarite where the rikishi wins the match by techniques outside the above categories.

Hatakikomi

File:Takamisakari vs Kasugao May07.jpg

Takamisakari (left) defeats Kasugaō by hatakikomi

is slapping down the opponent's shoulder, back, or arm and forcing them to fall forwards touching the clay.

Hikiotoshi

is pulling on the opponent's shoulder, arm, or mawashi and forcing them to fall forwards touching the clay.

Hikkake

is a technique in which, while moving backwards to the side, the opponent is pulled past the attacker and out of the dohyō by grabbing and pulling their arm with both hands.

Kimedashi

is performed by immobilizing the opponent's arms and shoulders with one's arms and forcing him out of the dohyō.

Kimetaoshi

is a technique executed by immobilizing the opponent's arms and shoulders with one's arms and forcing him down.

Okuridashi

is a kimarite in which one pushes an off-balance opponent out of the dohyō from behind.

Okurigake

is to trip an opponent's ankle up from behind.

Okurihikiotoshi

is a technique where a rikishi pulls an opponent down from behind.

Okurinage

is to throw an opponent from behind.

Okuritaoshi

is achieved by knocking down an opponent from behind.

Okuritsuridashi

occurs when one picks up the opponent by his mawashi from behind and throws him out of the dohyō.

Okuritsuriotoshi

is performed when a rikishi picks up an opponent by his mawashi from behind and throw him down on the dohyō.

Sokubiotoshi

is achieved by pushing the opponent's head down from the back of the neck.

Tsuridashi

File:Tochinishiki VS Wakanohana I 1954-5b-12 Scan10006.JPG

Tochinishiki (right) defeats Wakanohana by tsuridashi

is a technique in which, while wrestlers face each other, one picks up their opponent by his mawashi and delivers him outside of the dohyō.

Tsuriotoshi

is, while wrestlers face each other, to pick up the opponent by his mawashi and slam him onto the dohyō.

Ushiromotare

is called when, while the opponent is behind the rikishi, to back up and push him out of the dohyō.

Utchari

is a technique where, when near the edge of the dohyō, a rikishi bends himself backwards and twists the opponent's body until he steps out of the dohyō.

Waridashi

is to push one foot of the opponent out of the ring from the side, extending the arm across the opponent's body and using the leg to force him off balance.

Yobimodoshi

is achieved when, reacting to the opponent's reaction to an attacker's inside pull, the attacker pulls them off by grabbing around them around the waist, before throwing them down.

Non-techniques

Non-techniques (Template:Langx) are the five ways in which a wrestler can win without employing a technique.

Fumidashi

occurs when an opponent accidentally takes a backward step outside the ring with no attack initiated against him.

Isamiashi

occurs when, in the performance of a kimarite, the opponent inadvertently steps too far forward and places a foot outside the ring.

Koshikudake

is called when the opponent falls over backwards without a technique being initiated against him. This usually happens because he has over-committed to an attack.

Tsukihiza

is called when the opponent stumbles and lands on one or both knees without any significant prior contact with the winning wrestler.

Tsukite

occurs when the opponent stumbles and lands on one or both hands without any significant prior contact with the winning wrestler.

Fusen

is called when the opponent is absent for the scheduled bout (by default). There are also corresponding terms for and . Wins and losses by fusen are also visually recorded as black and white squares rather than the normal black and white circles.

Hansoku

is called when the opponent is disqualified. This can be as a result of a wrestler committing a or other violation, such as having his mawashi come undone.

Archaic kimarite and draws

The Japan Sumo Association did not attempt to start standardizing kimarite decisions until 1935 and has modified its official list several times since. As a result, databases containing sumo results from earlier periods may list kimarite that are no longer recognized.

Additionally, the Japan Sumo Association has, over time, phased out the use of various draw states in favor of and forfeitures. Similar to fusen, the various draw states were recorded visually in a different manner than normal victories and losses, employing white triangles for both wrestlers instead.

See also

• Glossary of sumo terms

External links

• Kimarite information in English
• The Techniques of Sumo (NHK world)