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Exploring the Match-Winning Techniques of Sumō

  • Starting in the latter half of the eighteenth century, benefit sumō matches, the precursor of modern-day tournaments, were held at the Buddhist temple Ekōin in Ryōgoku. This ukiyo-e by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798–1861) depicts a ring-entering ceremony. (From a Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library collection)

    Starting in the latter half of the eighteenth century, benefit sumō matches, the precursor of modern-day tournaments, were held at the Buddhist temple Ekōin in Ryōgoku. This ukiyo-e by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798–1861) depicts a ring-entering ceremony. (From a Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library collection)

  • The uchigake inside leg trip, one of the 48 match-winning techniques, from an Edo-period book on sumō. (Courtesy Ōzumō Journal)

    The uchigake inside leg trip, one of the 48 match-winning techniques, from an Edo-period book on sumō. (Courtesy Ōzumō Journal)

  • Komata-sukui (over thigh scooping body drop): After unleashing a throw, grabbing the inside thigh of the opponent’s near leg and lifting it to send him off balance. (Courtesy Ōzumō Journal)

    Komata-sukui (over thigh scooping body drop): After unleashing a throw, grabbing the inside thigh of the opponent’s near leg and lifting it to send him off balance. (Courtesy Ōzumō Journal)

  • Zubuneri (head pivot throw): Placing the head against the opponent’s chest or shoulder and grasping his extended arm or elbow to pull him to the ground with a pivoting motion of the head. (Courtesy Ōzumō Journal)

    Zubuneri (head pivot throw): Placing the head against the opponent’s chest or shoulder and grasping his extended arm or elbow to pull him to the ground with a pivoting motion of the head. (Courtesy Ōzumō Journal)

  • Amiuchi (the fisherman’s throw): Grabbing the opponent’s outstretched arm with both hands and pulling it to throw him backward, using a motion similar to casting a fishing net. (Courtesy Ōzumō Journal)

    Amiuchi (the fisherman’s throw): Grabbing the opponent’s outstretched arm with both hands and pulling it to throw him backward, using a motion similar to casting a fishing net. (Courtesy Ōzumō Journal)

  • Sabaori (forward force-down): Grasping the opponent’s mawashi with both hands and forcing him down on his knees, making him look like a mackerel (saba) with its neck broken. (Courtesy Ōzumō Journal)

    Sabaori (forward force-down): Grasping the opponent’s mawashi with both hands and forcing him down on his knees, making him look like a mackerel (saba) with its neck broken. (Courtesy Ōzumō Journal)

  • Ōsakate (backward twisting overarm throw): Reaching over the opponent’s shoulder to grasp his mawashi and throw him by lifting him off his feet. Estonia-born sekiwake Baruto (right) wins his match against Kakizoe using this unusual kimarite on the fourteenth day of the 2010 January basho. (© Jiji)

    Ōsakate (backward twisting overarm throw): Reaching over the opponent’s shoulder to grasp his mawashi and throw him by lifting him off his feet. Estonia-born sekiwake Baruto (right) wins his match against Kakizoe using this unusual kimarite on the fourteenth day of the 2010 January basho. (© Jiji)

  • Tokkuri-nage (two-handed head twist-down): Using a pincer motion, Abi (right) grasps Satanoumi’s head and neck in both hands to force him down on the sixth day of the November 2021 basho. The name of this kimarite comes from using one’s thumb and forefinger to grasp the neck of a tokkuri sake flask. (© Jiji)

    Tokkuri-nage (two-handed head twist-down): Using a pincer motion, Abi (right) grasps Satanoumi’s head and neck in both hands to force him down on the sixth day of the November 2021 basho. The name of this kimarite comes from using one’s thumb and forefinger to grasp the neck of a tokkuri sake flask. (© Jiji)

  • Diminutive Mainoumi (172 cm/96 kg), pitted against behemoth Kotofuji (192 cm/146 kg), pulls off a win with a mitokoro-zeme at the September 1992 basho, a first in the makuuchi division since the May 1955 basho when kimarite began to be announced. (Courtesy Ōzumō Journal)

    Diminutive Mainoumi (172 cm/96 kg), pitted against behemoth Kotofuji (192 cm/146 kg), pulls off a win with a mitokoro-zeme at the September 1992 basho, a first in the makuuchi division since the May 1955 basho when kimarite began to be announced. (Courtesy Ōzumō Journal)

  • On the tenth day of the November 1968 basho, Futagodake (left) downs Uminoyama with a sotomusō. Futagodake was equally proficient in the uchimusō technique. (Courtesy Ōzumō Journal)

    On the tenth day of the November 1968 basho, Futagodake (left) downs Uminoyama with a sotomusō. Futagodake was equally proficient in the uchimusō technique. (Courtesy Ōzumō Journal)

  • At the March 1972 basho, Kotozakura (right) executes a yaguranage, throwing opponent Takanohana clear into the ringside seats. (Courtesy Ōzumō Journal)

    At the March 1972 basho, Kotozakura (right) executes a yaguranage, throwing opponent Takanohana clear into the ringside seats. (Courtesy Ōzumō Journal)

  • At the July 2009 basho, Mongolia-born Asashōryū (left) lifts Harumafuji atop his leg and, using a left upper arm throw, pulls off a yaguranage. Interviewed after the match, Asashōryū said that the move was the same as one used in Mongolian wrestling, and that he had been planning for a while to use it. (© Jiji)

    At the July 2009 basho, Mongolia-born Asashōryū (left) lifts Harumafuji atop his leg and, using a left upper arm throw, pulls off a yaguranage. Interviewed after the match, Asashōryū said that the move was the same as one used in Mongolian wrestling, and that he had been planning for a while to use it. (© Jiji)

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