Kimarite
Kimarite are winning techniques in a sumo bout. For each bout in a Grand Sumo tournament, a sumo referee, or gyōji, will decide and announce the type of kimarite used by the winner. It is possible for the judges to modify this decision later. Records of the kimarite are kept and statistical information on the preferred techniques of different wrestlers can be deduced easily. For example, a pie chart of the kimarite used by each sekitori in the past year can be found on the Japan Sumo Association webpage.
Since 2001, the Japan Sumo Association recognizes 82 types of kimarite, but only about a dozen are used regularly. For example, yorikiri, oshidashi and hatakikomi are frequent methods used to win bouts. In addition to kimarite, a bout can end in a disqualification if either wrestler makes a foul, such as striking with a closed fist.
The following is a full list of kimarite. Literal translations of the Japanese are also given.
''Kihonwaza'' 基本技
Basic techniques. These, with the exception of the rarely seen Abisetaoshi, are some of the most common kimarite in sumo.''Abisetaoshi'' 浴びせ倒し
Forcing down the opponent on their back by leaning forward while in a grappling position.''Oshidashi'' 押し出し
Pushing the opponent out of the ring without holding their mawashi or belt, nor fully extending his arms. Hand contact must be maintained through the push.''Oshitaoshi'' 押し倒し
Pushing the opponent down out of the ring without holding their mawashi. Hand contact is maintained throughout the push.''Tsukidashi'' 突き出し
Thrusting the opponent backwards out of the ring with one or a series of hand thrusts. The attacker does not have to maintain hand contact.''Tsukitaoshi'' 突き倒し
Thrusting the opponent down out of the ring onto their back with a hard thrust or shove.''Yorikiri'' 寄り切り
Maintaining a grip on the opponent's mawashi, the opponent is forced backwards out of the ring.''Yoritaoshi'' 寄り倒し
Maintaining a grip on the opponent's mawashi, the opponent is forced backwards out of the ring and collapses on their back from the force of the attack.''Nagete'' 投げ手
Throwing techniques.''Ipponzeoi'' 一本背負い
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'' 掛け投げ
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'' 腰投げ
Bending over and pulling the opponent over the attacker's hip, then throwing the opponent to the ground on their back.''Kotenage'' 小手投げ
The attacker wraps their arm around the opponent's extended arm, then throws the opponent to the ground without touching their mawashi. A common move.''Kubinage'' 首投げ
The attacker wraps the opponent's head in his arms, throwing him down.''Nichonage'' 二丁投げ
Extending the right leg around the outside of the opponent's right knee thereby sweeping both of his legs off the surface and throwing him down.''Shitatedashinage'' 下手出し投げ
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'' 下手投げ
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'' 掬い投げ
The attacker extends 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.''Tsukaminage'' つかみ投げ
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.defeats Tochinishiki by uwatenage
''Uwatedashinage'' 上手出し投げ
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'' 上手投げ
The attacker extends their arm over the opponent's arm to grab the opponent's mawashi and throws the opponent to the ground while turning sideways.''Yaguranage'' 櫓投げ
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.''Kakete'' 掛け手
Leg tripping techniques.''Ashitori'' 足取り
Grabbing the opponent's leg and pulling upward with both hands, causing the opponent to fall over.''Chongake'' ちょん掛け
Hooking a heel under the opponent's opposite heel and forcing them to fall over backwards by pushing or twisting their arm.''Kawazugake'' 河津掛け
Wrapping one's leg around the opponent's leg of the opposite side, and tripping him backwards while grasping onto his upper body.''Kekaeshi'' 蹴返し
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'' 蹴手繰り
Directly after tachi-ai, kicking the opponent's legs to the outside and thrusting or twisting him down to the dohyō.''Kirikaeshi'' 切り返し
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'' 小股掬い
When 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'' 小褄取り
Lifting the opponent's ankle from the front, causing them to fall.''Mitokorozeme'' 三所攻め
A triple attack. Wrapping one leg around the opponent's, 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.
This technique was used in a victory by Ishiura against Nishikigi on Day 8 of the Fukuoka Basho, for the first time in makuuchi since Mainoumi in 1993.
''Nimaigeri'' 二枚蹴り
Kicking an off-balance opponent on the outside of their standing leg's foot, then throwing him to the surface.''Omata'' 大股
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'' 外掛け
Wrapping the calf around the opponent's calf from the outside and driving him over backwards. The UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, with a sumo background, has successfully used this multiple times in the course of his mixed martial arts career.''Sotokomata'' 外小股
Directly after a nage or hikkake is avoided by the opponent, grabbing the opponent's thigh from the outside, lifting it, and throwing them down on their back.''Susoharai'' 裾払い
Directly after a nage or hikkake is avoided by the opponent, driving the knee under the opponent's thigh and pulling them down to the surface.''Susotori'' 裾取り
Directly after a nage is avoided by the opponent, grabbing the ankle of the opponent and pulling them down to the surface.''Tsumatori'' 褄取り
As the opponent is losing their balance to the front, grabbing the leg and pulling it back, thereby ensuring the opponent falls to the surface.''Uchigake'' 内掛け
Wrapping the calf around the opponent's calf from the inside and forcing him down on his back.''Watashikomi'' 渡し込み
While against the ring of the surface, the attacker grabs the underside of the opponent's thigh or knee with one hand and pushes with the other arm, thereby forcing the opponent out or down.''Hinerite'' 捻り手
Twist down techniques.''Amiuchi'' 網打ち
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.''Gasshohineri'' 合掌捻り
With both hands clasped around the opponent's back, the opponent is twisted over sideways. See Tokkurinage.''Harimanage'' 波離間投げ
Reaching over the opponent's back and grabbing hold of their mawashi, the opponent is pulled over in front or beside the attacker.''Kainahineri'' 腕捻り
Wrapping both arms around the opponent's extended arm and forcing him down to the dohyō by way of one's shoulder.''Katasukashi'' 肩透かし
Wrapping two hands around the opponent's arm, both grasping the opponent's shoulder and forcing him down.''Kotehineri'' 小手捻り
Twisting the opponent's arm down, causing a fall.''Kubihineri'' 首捻り
Twisting the opponent's neck down, causing a fall.''Makiotoshi'' 巻き落とし
Reacting quickly to an opponent's actions, twisting the opponent's off-balance body down to the dohyō without grasping the mawashi.''Osakate'' 大逆手
Taking the opponent's arm extended over one's arm and twisting the arm downward, while grabbing the opponent's body and throwing it in the same direction as the arm.''Sabaori'' 鯖折り
Grabbing the opponent's mawashi while pulling out and down, forcing the opponent's knees to the dohyō.''Sakatottari'' 逆とったり
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.''Shitatehineri'' 下手捻り
Extending the 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.''Sotomuso'' 外無双
Using the left hand to grab onto the outside of the opponent's right knee and twisting the opponent over one's left knee.''Tokkurinage'' 徳利投げ
Grasping the opponent's neck or head with both hands and twisting him down to the dohyō.''Tottari'' とったり
Wrapping both arms around the opponent's extended arm and forcing him forward down to the dohyō.''Tsukiotoshi'' 突き落とし
Twisting the opponent down to the dohyō by forcing the arms on the opponent's upper torso, off of his center of gravity.''Uchimuso'' 内無双
Using the left hand to grab onto the outside of the opponent's left knee and twisting the opponent down.''Uwatehineri'' 上手捻り
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'' ずぶねり
When the head is used to thrust an opponent down during a hineri.''Sorite'' 反り手
Backwards body drop techniques.''Izori'' 居反り
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'' 掛け反り
Putting one's head under the opponent's extended arm and body, and forcing the opponent backwards over one's legs.''Shumokuzori'' 撞木反り
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'' 外たすき反り
With one arm around the opponents arm and one arm around the opponents leg, lifting the opponent and throwing him sideways and backwards.''Tasukizori'' たすき反り
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'' 伝え反り
Shifting the extended opponent's arm around and twisting the opponent behind one's back and down to the dohyō.''Tokushuwaza'' 特殊技
Special techniques.''Hatakikomi'' 叩き込み
Slapping down the opponent's shoulder, back, or arm and forcing them to fall forwards touching the clay.''Hikiotoshi'' 引き落とし
Pulling on the opponent's shoulder, arm, or mawashi and forcing them to fall forwards touching the clay.''Hikkake'' 引っ掛け
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'' 極め出し
Immobilizing the opponent's arms and shoulders with one's arms and forcing him out of the dohyō.''Kimetaoshi'' 極め倒し
Immobilizing the opponent's arms and shoulders with one's arms and forcing him down.''Okuridashi'' 送り出し
To push an off-balance opponent out of the dohyō from behind.''Okurigake'' 送り掛け
To trip an opponent's ankle up from behind.''Okurihikiotoshi'' 送り引き落とし
To pull an opponent down from behind.''Okurinage'' 送り投げ
To throw an opponent from behind.''Okuritaoshi'' 送り倒し
To knock down an opponent from behind.''Okuritsuridashi'' 送り吊り出し
To pick up the opponent by his mawashi from behind and throw him out of the dohyō.''Okuritsuriotoshi'' 送り吊り落とし
To pick up the opponent by his mawashi from behind and throw him down on the dohyō.''Sokubiotoshi'' 素首落とし
Pushing the opponent's head down from the back of the neck.''Tsuridashi'' 吊り出し
While wrestlers face each other, to pick up the opponent by his mawashi and deliver him outside of the dohyō.''Tsuriotoshi'' 吊り落とし
While wrestlers face each other, to pick up the opponent by his mawashi and slam him onto the dohyō.''Ushiromotare'' 後ろもたれ
While the opponent is behind the wrestler, to back up and push him out of the dohyō.''Utchari'' うっちゃり
When near the edge of the dohyō, to bend oneself backwards and twist the opponent's body until he steps out of the dohyō.''Waridashi'' 割り出し
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'' 呼び戻し
Reacting to the opponent's reaction to the attacker's inside pull, the attacker pulls them off by grabbing around them around the waist, before throwing them down.''Hiwaza'' 非技
Non-techniques. There are five ways in which a wrestler can win without employing a technique.''Fumidashi'' 踏み出し
The opponent accidentally takes a backward step outside the ring with no attack initiated against him.''Isamiashi'' 勇み足
In the performance of a kimarite, the opponent inadvertently steps too far forward and places a foot outside the ring..''Koshikudake'' 腰砕け
The opponent falls over backwards without a technique being initiated against him. This usually happens because he has over-committed to an attack..''Tsukihiza'' つきひざ
The opponent stumbles and lands on one or both knees without any significant prior contact with the winning wrestler.''Tsukite'' つき手
The opponent stumbles and lands on one or both hands without any significant prior contact with the winning wrestler.Others
Databases for sumo bouts, such as , may list other win conditions alongside the current 87 kimarite for statistical and historical purposes.''Fusen'' 不戦
The opponent is absent for the scheduled bout. There are also corresponding terms for winning by default and losing by default. Wins and losses by fusen are also visually recorded as black and white squares rather than the normal black and white circles.''Hansoku'' 反則
The opponent is disqualified. This can be as a result of a wrestler committing a Foul or other violation, such as having their 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 rematches and forfeitures. Similar to fusen, the various draw states were recorded visually in a different manner than normal victories and loses, employing white triangles for both wrestlers instead.