What Is a Kimarite?
In sumo, a kimarite (決まり手) is the official "deciding technique" — the move that ends a bout. After every match, the referee and judges announce which kimarite was used to determine the winner. The Japan Sumo Association officially recognizes 82 kimarite, divided into categories based on how the winning move is executed.
Understanding kimarite transforms your experience as a viewer. Rather than simply watching two large men push each other around, you begin to see strategy, feints, timing, and technical mastery at play.
How Matches Are Won: The Two Basic Rules
Before diving into specific techniques, it helps to understand the two fundamental ways to win in sumo:
- Force your opponent out of the ring — the circular dohyō is roughly 4.55 meters in diameter. Any part of the body touching outside the ring's edge loses.
- Make any part of your opponent's body (other than the soles of the feet) touch the ground — a knee, fingertip, or elbow touching the clay is enough.
All 82 kimarite are specific methods of achieving one of these two outcomes.
The Most Common Kimarite
Yorikiri — Force-Out (Frontal)
The most frequently seen technique in sumo. The winner establishes a belt grip, drives forward chest-to-chest, and pushes the opponent straight out of the ring. This is the textbook sumo move — a test of raw pushing power and leverage.
Oshidashi — Push-Out
Similar to yorikiri but without a belt grip. The winner uses open-handed pushing to drive the opponent out. Common among wrestlers who prefer an "oshi" (pushing) style over a "yotsu" (belt-wrestling) style.
Hatakikomi — Pull-Down
The winner slaps or pulls the opponent's shoulders or neck downward, causing the opponent to fall forward onto the clay. Effective when an opponent charges hard — their own momentum is used against them. Purists sometimes consider it an "unclean" win, but it is fully legal.
Uwatenage — Overarm Throw
With an outer belt grip (uwate), the winner swings the opponent in an arc and throws them to the clay. One of the more dramatic-looking techniques and a favorite of physically powerful wrestlers.
Shitatenage — Underarm Throw
Similar to uwatenage but executed with an inside (underarm) belt grip. Often used by wrestlers with exceptional upper-body strength or superior leverage despite a height disadvantage.
Tsuriotoshi — Lift-Out
A rarer, spectacular technique where the winner lifts the opponent completely off the clay and carries them out of the ring. Among the most crowd-pleasing moves in the sport, though it requires extraordinary strength.
Kimarite by Category
| Category | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Yori (Forcing) | Driving opponent out with belt contact | Yorikiri, Yoritaoshi |
| Oshi (Pushing) | Driving opponent out without belt grip | Oshidashi, Oshitaoshi |
| Nage (Throwing) | Throwing opponent to the clay | Uwatenage, Shitatenage, Kotenage |
| Kake (Hooking) | Using leg or foot sweeps/hooks | Sotogake, Uchigake, Kakenage |
| Hiki (Pulling) | Pulling opponent down | Hatakikomi, Hikiotoshi |
| Soto (Special) | Rare or unusual techniques | Tsuriotoshi, Kirikaeshi, Zubuneri |
Special Decisions
Occasionally, a bout ends under circumstances that don't fit any of the 82 standard kimarite. These are called non-technique decisions:
- Isamiashi: The winner steps out of the ring themselves while throwing the opponent — the opponent is judged to have landed out first, so the thrower still wins.
- Koshikudake: A wrestler's own hips give way, causing self-inflicted loss.
- Tsukite / Tsukihiza: A hand or knee touches down, often from one's own stumble.
Learning to recognize kimarite takes time, but even identifying the five or six most common ones will significantly enrich your sumo viewing experience.