Things Japanese

Sumo Postures and Tricks

The fundamentals of sumo are said to be "Oshi" had push. "Tsuki" thrust and "Yori" body push. Unless these fundamentals are mastered, throwing and other tricks are of little value among top sumo wreslers.
There are 70 winning tricks now offically listed, though it is hardly possible to find all of them used in regular tournaments. Some of more popular tricks are illustrated to acquint you with how sumo matches are won and lost.
As various tricks are used in succession or simultaneously, it is often difficult even for experts to agree on winning tricks. Some of the sumo postures as seen in the dohyo ring are also illustrated for your information.
In illistrations of winning tricks, those trying tricks are indicated gray so that you may more easily see how they are performed.


Kake-Nage	Ke-Kaeshi
Hook Throw	Kick-back
The combined trick of forearm and inside hook throws. When not decisive, the trick is repeated by jumping on one foot.	When pushing against each other the opponent is kicked on the ankle from inside or outside and pulled forward to lose the body balance.

Tsukami-Nage	Ketaguri
Grasp Throw	Kick and Pull
The opponent is thrown out by one hand on the back sash and the other on the side.	When the opponent rushes in to push, the body is swayed to dodge the attack and kick him on the ankle and pull him down simultaneously.

Soto-Gake	Watashi-Komi
Outside Hook	Push and Pull
A leg hooked around the opponent's from outside and pulled to put him out of balance and down.	Grasping the opponent's knee from outside by the upper-hand to pull and pushing in the lower-hand, the body weight is put on him to down him

Kiri-Kaeshi	Nimai-Geri
Reverse Trick	Two-Leg Kick
The opponent's trick is dodged to push him aside from the back.	The opponent is kicked on the ankle from the side of the lower-hand is thrown down by twist and pull.

Postures


Shitate-Nage	Uwate-Dashi-Nage
Lower-Hand Throw	Upper-Hand Pull Throw
The opponent is thrown out or down by the lower-hand from the cross grips.	Similar to Upper-Hand or Lower-Hand Throw, the opponent is pulled down simultaneously with the throwing trick.
Uwate-Nage	Shitate-Dashi-Nage
Upper-Hand Throw	Lower-Hand Pull Throw
The opponent is thrown out or down by the upper-hand from the cross grips.	Similar to Upper-Hand or Lower-Hand Throw, the opponent is pulled down simultaneously with the throwing trick.

Kote-Nage	Kubi-Nage
Forearm Throw	Head Throw
The opponent is thrown by a forearm, taking his arm around the elbow. The high-handed trick is used, when the opponent rshes in.	The opponent is thrown by an arm put around the neck.

Sukui-Nage	Nicho-Nage
Scooping throw	Two-leg Throw
The opponent is scooped up and thrown down by a lower-hand pushed against armpit. When both arms are in the lower position, the trick usually ends in "Haki-Otoshi" or twisting down.	The opponent's legs are swept off ground by a leg hooked around them from outside. A rare and colorful trick.

Nodowa	Uchi-Gake
Chin Thrust	Inside Hook
A stretched out arm is aimed at the oppornent's chin for pushing. It is a foul to put a hand on the opponent's throat.	A leg is hoooked around the opponent's from inside and pulled to put him out of balance and down.

Kan-Nuki	Uwate-Hineri Shitate-Hineri
Squeeze	Upper-Hand Twist Lower-Hand Twist
The opponent's "Moro-zashi" arms are held from outside and squeezed in. If effective, the opponent may give up the advantageous posture.	The opponent is twisted down by the upper or lower-hand in the direction of the hand. The throwing trick by the other hand helps the twisting trick.

Kata-Sukashi	Saba-Ori
Dodging	Bend-down
Grab the rushing opponent by the armpit and dodge him aside for forward throw by a slap on the shoulder.	When the opponent's both ars are in the lower position, the chin is put on his shoulder and the upper-hands are pulled sharply in to bend his knees down on ground.

Ami-Uchi	Okuri-Dashi
Cast-Net Throw	Back Pushing
The opponent is thrown away as though casting a net for flashing.	When the opponent turns on his heels, push him out from the back or push him down.(Okuri-Taoshi)

Utchari	Te-Yotsu
Lean-Back Throw	Hand-to-Hand
The opponent is thrown out left or right at the ring edge by leaning back and twisting the body.	It is a waiting posture, trying for an advantageous posture.

Yotsumi	Moro-Zashi
Cross Grips	Two Lower-Hands
When both wrestlers have their left (or right) arms under the opponent's right (or left) arms, they are said to be in "Yotsumi" cross grips. It is not necessarily true of this posture for both to have grips on the opponents' "Mawashi" sash. In this illustlation the "Uwate" upper arm over the opponent's is referred to as the upper-hand and the "Shitate" lower arm under the opponent's. the lower-hand.	When both arms are put under the opponent's. It is called the Moro-zashi posture. It is considered to be advantageous.

Winning Tricks


Tsuki-Dashi Tsuki-Taoshi	Kui-Sagari
Thrusting out Thrusting down	Hang-On
The opponent is thrusted out or down by hands.	The head is put against the opponent's lower breast. Smaller wrestlers take this posture against big opponents.

Tsuki-Otoshi	Oshi-Dashi Oshi-Taoshi
Push down	Push out Push down
The opponent is pushed down on the side of his lower-hand.	The opponent is pushed out or down by a hand on the chest. Sometimes both hands are used.

Maki-Otoshi	Yori-Kiri
Swerving Throw	Body Push-out
The opponent is swerved around and down the upper hand finishing the trick by pushing him down.	The opponent is pushed out by the body usually after putting him out of balance by throwing, twisting or other tricks. the most frequently used winning trick.

Tottari	Yobi-Modoshi
Wrist Throw	Swing-Back
The opponent is grabbed by the wrist and thrown forward from sideway.	The opponent is pulled in off balance and pushed back and twisted down.

Yori-Taoshi Abise-Taoshi
Body Push-down Dashing Push-down
The opponent is pushed down by the body, put against him breast to breast and waist to waist. When the body is dashed over the opponent. It is called "Abise-Taoshi" (Dashing Push-down).