Kimarite: Sumo Winning Techniques
A kimarite is the winning technique used to defeat an opponent in a sumo bout. The Japan Sumo Association officially recognizes 82 kimarite plus 5 non-technique decisions (hiwaza). Below is a complete reference grouped by category. When you make your daily predictions, you'll see the kimarite displayed in completed match results.
Categories
Push & Thrust Techniques
Kihonwaza: basic techniques that use open-palm pushes and thrusts without gripping the belt.
The attacker pushes the opponent out of the ring with sustained open-palm thrusts to the chest or shoulders, maintaining forward pressure without gripping the belt.
The attacker pushes the opponent down to the ground using forceful open-palm thrusts, driving them forward and downward until they fall.
The attacker drives the opponent out of the ring with rapid, aggressive thrusts, delivering a series of sharp pushing blows rather than sustained pressure.
The attacker knocks the opponent down with powerful thrusting strikes, causing them to collapse forward onto the clay surface.
The attacker thrusts the opponent down to the side, using a pushing motion angled downward to knock them off balance and onto the ground.
The attacker leans their full body weight forward onto the opponent from a grappling position, crushing them down to the ground with sustained pressure.
Belt Techniques (Yotsu-zumo)
Nagete: throwing techniques that involve gripping the opponent's mawashi (belt) to throw or force them out.
The attacker grips the opponent's belt and steadily drives them backward and out of the ring. This is the single most frequently seen kimarite in professional sumo.
Similar to yorikiri, but the attacker crushes the opponent down rather than pushing them out, driving them to the ground while maintaining belt grip and forward momentum.
The attacker grips the opponent's belt from over the arm (outside grip) and executes a powerful throwing motion, swinging the opponent down to the clay.
The attacker grips the opponent's belt from under the arm (inside grip) and throws them down. This is a fundamental technique in belt-fighting sumo.
The attacker pulls the opponent forward and down while holding the belt with an overarm grip, using a pulling rather than swinging motion to topple them.
The attacker pulls the opponent forward and down using an underarm belt grip, yanking them off balance and guiding them to the ground.
The attacker locks the opponent's arm against their body and executes a twisting throw, using the trapped arm as a lever to bring the opponent down.
The attacker scoops the opponent up using an underarm grip and throws them down in a lifting, scooping motion that unbalances them completely.
The attacker grasps the opponent's belt firmly, lifts their body off the ground using sheer strength, and throws them to the clay.
The attacker hooks the opponent's inner thigh with their leg while grasping the belt, then throws them using the combined leverage of the leg hook and arm grip.
The attacker lifts the opponent by hooking their inner thigh, hoisting them up and throwing them in a powerful lifting-and-tossing motion.
Slap Down, Pull & Special Techniques
Tokushuwaza: techniques including slap-downs, pull-downs, rear attacks, lifts, and arm-barring moves.
The attacker slaps the opponent down by striking the back of their head or shoulders as they charge forward, redirecting their momentum downward to the clay.
The attacker pulls the opponent down by grabbing their arm or shoulder and yanking them forward and downward, using their own charging momentum against them.
The attacker gets behind the opponent and pushes them out of the ring from the rear, usually after the opponent has turned or been spun around.
The attacker pushes the opponent down from behind, sending them crashing face-first to the ground after gaining a position at their back.
The attacker trips the opponent from behind by hooking their leg while positioned at their back, toppling them forward.
The attacker throws the opponent down from behind, typically using their belt grip to hurl them to the clay after getting behind them.
The attacker grasps the opponent and pulls them down to the ground, using a firm grip on the arm or belt to drag them into a forward fall.
The attacker grabs the opponent's arm and pulls it while twisting, forcing them off balance and out of the ring using the trapped arm as leverage.
The attacker immobilizes one or both of the opponent's arms by clamping them against their body, then forces them out of the ring while their arms are trapped.
The attacker immobilizes the opponent's arms and forces them down to the clay, using the arm-bar to prevent any defensive grip.
The attacker gets behind the opponent and twists them down to the ground, using a rotational motion from the rear position.
The attacker pushes down on the back of the opponent's neck or head, driving them face-first into the clay.
The attacker lifts the opponent off the ground by their belt and carries them out of the ring, a dramatic display of strength.
The attacker lifts the opponent off the ground by their belt and slams them down onto the clay, combining a lift with a forceful throw-down.
The attacker lifts the opponent from behind by the belt and carries them out of the ring, combining rear position with a lift.
The attacker lifts the opponent from behind and slams them down to the clay, a rear variant of the lifting body slam.
The attacker pulls the opponent's shoulder downward while stepping to the side, using the under-shoulder grip to swing them face-first into the clay.
The attacker presses on the opponent's upper arms or bicep area to force them out of the ring without gripping the belt.
Twist-Down Techniques
Hinerite: techniques that use rotational or twisting force to bring the opponent down, targeting the head, arms, or body.
The attacker wraps both arms around the opponent's extended arm and twists them down using rotational force on the trapped limb.
The attacker clasps the opponent's hand or arm with both hands in a prayer-like grip and twists them down, rotating the opponent to the ground.
The attacker buries their head into the opponent's chest and uses it as a fulcrum to spin them down, pivoting the opponent to the ground with head-driven rotational force.
The attacker grips the opponent's belt from under the arm and twists them down with a rotational motion, combining an underarm grip with a spiraling throw.
The attacker grips the opponent's belt from over the arm and twists them down, using the overarm grip combined with rotational force to topple the opponent.
The attacker grabs the opponent's neck or head and twists them down to the ground using rotational force applied to the upper body.
The attacker locks the opponent's forearm and twists them down, using the trapped arm as a lever for the rotational throw.
The attacker grasps both sides of the opponent's neck or head — like holding a tokkuri (sake flask) — and twists them down to the clay. Named for the distinctive two-handed grip.
The attacker grabs the outside of the opponent's knee or inner thigh and twists them down, combining thigh manipulation with rotational force.
The attacker twists the opponent's off-balance body down to the clay without gripping the belt, using an arm wrapped around the opponent to generate rotational force.
Leg & Foot Techniques
Kakete: tripping, sweeping, and leg manipulation techniques that target the opponent's lower body to topple them.
The attacker grabs one of the opponent's legs and lifts it, unbalancing them and toppling them over. A bold and sometimes risky move that requires speed.
The attacker kicks the inside of the opponent's ankle or foot, sweeping it out from under them to reverse their momentum and bring them down.
The attacker pulls the opponent's leg from the inside at the initial charge (tachi-ai), swiping the ankle or lower leg to trip them forward.
The attacker hooks the opponent's knee from behind and twists them backward, blocking their leg while rotating their body to force a backward fall.
The attacker grabs the opponent's ankle from the front and lifts it while pushing the upper body, splitting their base and forcing them down.
The attacker reaches between the opponent's legs to scoop and lift their inner thigh, disrupting their stance and throwing them off balance.
A rare and spectacular technique where the attacker simultaneously attacks at three points — tripping one leg, grabbing the other thigh, and pushing with the head — to topple the opponent.
The attacker grabs the opponent's outer thigh and pushes them down, lifting the leg while applying upper-body pressure to topple them.
The attacker hooks the opponent's leg from the outside and trips them backward, using their own leg as a block while pushing the upper body.
The attacker grabs the opponent's thigh from the outside and scoops it upward, throwing them down using the thigh as leverage.
The attacker sweeps the back of the opponent's foot or ankle from behind, kicking it out at the critical moment to topple them.
The attacker grabs the opponent's foot or ankle with their hands and pulls it upward, lifting their base of support and sending them tumbling.
The attacker grabs the opponent's arm and applies a bar or lock, using leverage on the extended arm to twist and throw the opponent down.
The attacker grabs the opponent's foot or ankle from behind and pulls it forward, removing their rear support and causing them to fall.
The attacker hooks the opponent's leg from the inside using their own leg, tripping them backward by blocking their inner leg while pushing forward.
The attacker grabs the opponent's thigh and pushes them down, combining an upper-body push with a leg lift to collapse their stance.
The attacker kicks the outside of the opponent's standing foot or ankle while twisting them down. Despite the name suggesting "two sheets," it is a kicking technique (geri = kick).
The attacker sweeps the opponent's legs with their own extended leg while grasping them, causing a body-drop style throw. A dramatic leg technique rarely seen in modern sumo.
The attacker wraps their leg around the opponent's inner leg and falls backward, pulling the opponent down on top of them in a sacrifice-style counter throw. A dangerous and rarely-used technique.
The attacker hooks the opponent's heel from behind and pulls it forward while pushing their body backward, tripping them over the hooked foot.
The attacker grabs the outside of the opponent's thigh and twists them down, the outward-facing counterpart to uchimuso.
Backwards Body Drop Techniques
Sorite: spectacular techniques where the attacker bends or falls backward to throw the opponent over them. Among the rarest and most dramatic kimarite.
The attacker grabs the opponent's belt and forces them down, buckling their knees forward to the clay. Also known as the "mackerel fold" from the way the opponent bends.
The attacker hooks the opponent's body and bends backward, using their own falling weight to pull the opponent over them in a dramatic backward drop.
The attacker ducks under the opponent, lifts them onto their back, and throws them backward over their body in an extremely rare and acrobatic move.
The attacker grabs the opponent's arm and pulls them forward while falling backward, flipping them over in a dramatic backward arching motion.
An outer variant of tasukizori where the attacker grabs from the outside position and throws the opponent backward over their body.
Named after a bell hammer (shumoku), the attacker grabs the opponent's legs while driving forward, then drops backward to flip them over. Extremely rare.
The attacker grabs under the opponent's arm and drops forward, pulling the opponent over and down in a forward-bending body drop.
Special & Rare Techniques
Uncommon and spectacular techniques that are rarely seen in modern professional sumo.
The attacker throws the opponent as if casting a fishing net, sweeping their arm across while twisting the body in a wide throwing arc. Named for the motion resembling a fisherman casting.
The attacker reaches over the opponent's back to grab the belt and swings them around in a wide arc, hurling them to the ground.
The attacker loads the opponent onto their hip and throws them over it, using their hip as a fulcrum in a technique shared with judo.
The attacker wraps their arm around the opponent's neck and pulls them down in a headlock-style throw, using the neck grip for leverage.
The attacker grabs the opponent's arm and applies a reverse arm-bar, countering the opponent's own arm attack and throwing them down using the locked arm.
The attacker grabs the opponent's arm and throws them over their shoulder using one arm, a spectacular judo-like technique rarely seen in sumo.
While being pushed to the edge, the attacker pivots at the straw bales and throws the opponent out in a last-second reversal, one of sumo's most thrilling techniques.
The attacker pulls the opponent back by the waist and slams them down, using a sudden change of direction to reverse their momentum into a powerful throw.
The attacker uses an overarm belt grip to twist the opponent backward and down, combining overarm leverage with a backward-directed throw.
Non-Technique Decisions (Hiwaza)
Outcomes that end a bout without a standard winning technique being applied. These are classified separately from the 82 official kimarite.
The opponent forfeits the match, usually due to injury. The winner receives the victory without stepping into the ring, and the absent wrestler receives a loss.
A wrestler loses by accidentally stepping out of the ring while attacking, carried out by their own forward momentum even though they appeared to be winning.
A wrestler loses when their hips give way and they collapse under pressure without the opponent applying a specific technique. The loser's own body fails them.
A wrestler loses when they stumble or slip and their knee touches the ground, without the opponent applying a specific winning technique.
A wrestler loses when they stumble or lose balance and their hand touches the ground, without the opponent applying a specific winning technique.
A wrestler wins because their opponent committed a foul, such as pulling hair, striking with a closed fist, or using other prohibited actions during the bout.