Winning Techniques

The attacker pushes the opponent out of the ring with both hands on the chest or shoulders. One of the most fundamental and frequently used techniques in sumo, it requires strong forward pressure and good footwork to drive an opponent over the tawara.

The attacker forces the opponent out of the ring using repeated thrusting strikes to the upper body. Unlike oshidashi which uses sustained pressure, tsukidashi employs a rapid series of open-handed thrusts to keep the opponent off-balance and moving backward.

The attacker pushes the opponent down to the ground rather than out of the ring. Similar to oshidashi but the opponent falls before reaching the edge, typically because the pusher generates strong downward force through the arms while driving forward.

The attacker knocks the opponent down with thrusting blows. The opponent falls to the dohyo surface from the force of the thrusts rather than being pushed out of the ring.

The attacker pushes the opponent out from behind. This commonly occurs when the opponent turns or spins during a technique attempt, leaving their back exposed. The attacker seizes the opportunity to push them forward and out of the ring from the rear.

The attacker pushes the opponent down from behind. Similar to okuridashi, but the opponent falls to the ground rather than being pushed out of the ring.

The attacker leans their full body weight forward onto the opponent, crushing them down to the dohyo surface. The technique relies on mass and forward momentum rather than arm strength.

An overarm throw where the attacker grips the opponent's mawashi from over the arm and swings them down to the ground. This is one of the most powerful and commonly seen throws in sumo, favored by wrestlers with long arms and strong upper bodies.

An underarm throw where the attacker grips the opponent's mawashi from beneath the arm and swings them down. It requires getting lower than the opponent and leveraging upward momentum to break their balance, and is one of the most frequently used throwing techniques.

An arm-lock throw where the attacker wraps their arm around the opponent's arm and twists them down using the elbow as a fulcrum. The attacker typically steps to the side and uses rotational force to bring the opponent crashing to the clay. A dramatic and effective counter-technique.

A beltless arm throw where the attacker scoops under the opponent's arm without gripping the mawashi and throws them to the side. It requires precise timing and hip rotation, and is often used when the attacker cannot secure a belt grip.

A pulling overarm throw where the attacker has an overarm grip on the mawashi and yanks the opponent forward and down while stepping to the side. It combines the overarm grip with a pulling motion, using the opponent's forward momentum against them.

A pulling underarm throw where the attacker has an underarm grip and pulls the opponent forward and down. Similar to uwatedashinage but executed from the inside position.

A hip throw where the attacker loads the opponent onto their hip and flips them over. The attacker turns their body, positions their hip under the opponent's center of gravity, and rotates to send them over. A spectacular but rarely seen technique.

A headlock throw where the attacker wraps their arm around the opponent's neck and pulls them down to the side. The attacker uses the neck as leverage while pivoting their body.

A double-armed throw where the attacker lifts the opponent by gripping both inner thighs and throws them sideways. An extremely rare and difficult technique that requires immense strength.

A hooking inner-thigh throw where the attacker hooks the opponent's leg from the inside with their own leg while simultaneously executing an overarm or underarm throw.

A shin kick-back trip where the attacker hooks or kicks the opponent's lower leg from the inside while pushing their upper body in the opposite direction. The combination of upper-body force and lower-body obstruction breaks the opponent's balance. A common counter to forward-charging attacks.

A pulling inside leg trip where the attacker kicks or sweeps the opponent's ankle from the inside while pulling them forward. It is often used at the tachiai as a surprise opening move, catching an aggressive charger off-guard.

An outside leg trip where the attacker hooks their leg around the outside of the opponent's leg and drives forward to topple them. The attacker uses their body weight to push while their leg prevents the opponent from stepping back.

An inside leg trip where the attacker hooks their leg around the inside of the opponent's leg and pulls it toward them while pushing the upper body. This destabilizes the opponent's base and sends them to the ground.

A toe-hook trip where the attacker uses the top of their foot to hook the opponent's ankle from the outside and pull it forward while pushing them backward.

The attacker locks both of the opponent's arms tight against their body using arm-bar pressure and forces them out of the ring. The opponent cannot use their arms to resist or counter.

The attacker locks both of the opponent's arms and forces them down to the ground. Similar to kimedashi but the opponent falls to the dohyo surface rather than being driven out.

A backwards body drop where the attacker wraps their leg around the opponent's leg from the inside and falls backward, dragging the opponent down with them. This is a dangerous and prohibited technique in modern sumo.

A head-twisting throw where the attacker grabs both sides of the opponent's neck or head (as if holding a sake bottle) and throws them down with a twisting motion.

A triple-attack force-out combining an inside leg trip with a push on the chest and a belt grip, attacking three points simultaneously to overwhelm the opponent's defenses.

A trailing-foot sweep where the attacker sweeps the opponent's ankle from behind while they are stepping forward, sending them to the ground.

A trailing-foot grab where the attacker reaches down and grabs the opponent's ankle, lifting it to topple them over.

A calf grab where the attacker reaches behind the opponent and grabs their calf, pulling it forward to trip them backward.

A double-leg kick where the attacker kicks the opponent's shin with the back of their foot while pulling them forward, combining a trip and pull.

A twisting knee trip where the attacker hooks the opponent's inner knee or thigh with their own knee and twists them down.

An overarm twist-down where the attacker grips the mawashi from over the arm and twists the opponent down to the ground using rotational force rather than a swinging throw.

An underarm twist-down where the attacker grips the mawashi from under the arm and twists the opponent down using rotational leverage.

A shoulder swing-down where the attacker pushes down on the opponent's shoulder with one hand while pulling the other arm to twist them off-balance and to the ground. A slick counter-technique that redirects the opponent's charging momentum. Commonly seen from nimble, technically skilled wrestlers.

An outer thigh twist where the attacker reaches around to grab the outside of the opponent's thigh and twists them down using that grip as leverage.

An inner thigh twist where the attacker reaches between the opponent's legs to grab the inner thigh and twists them down.

A headlock twist-down where the attacker grips the opponent's head and twists them face-first into the ground. The attacker typically moves to the side while applying rotational force to the neck.

A lifting body slam where the attacker grips the mawashi with both hands, lifts the opponent, and throws them down with a twisting motion.

A trailing-foot twist where the attacker grabs the opponent's lower leg and twists it to bring them down.

The attacker grips the opponent's mawashi and drives them straight back and out of the ring using sustained forward pressure. This is the single most common winning technique in professional sumo. It requires a strong belt grip, low center of gravity, and relentless forward-driving leg power to force the opponent across the tawara.

The attacker grips the mawashi and drives the opponent backward until they fall to the ground, either inside or at the edge of the ring. Similar to yorikiri, but the opponent goes down rather than stepping out. Often the attacker falls on top of the opponent as they collapse.

A fisherman's throw where the attacker grabs the opponent's arm and swings them in a wide arc, throwing them to the ground as if casting a fishing net. An extremely rare and visually dramatic technique.

A forward body crush where the attacker presses down on the opponent's back or belt while driving forward, folding them over and crushing them to the ground.

A thigh-grabbing push-down where the attacker reaches down to grab the opponent's thigh or knee and pushes them over backward.

An arm-bar throw where the attacker grabs the opponent's wrist with one hand and pushes down on their elbow with the other, using the arm as a lever to force them to the ground.

A lift-and-drop technique where the attacker lifts the opponent by the mawashi and slams them down to the clay. Requires tremendous strength and a deep belt grip.

A lift-out technique where the attacker lifts the opponent clear off the ground by the mawashi and carries them out of the ring. One of the most impressive displays of raw power in sumo.

A rear lift-out where the attacker lifts the opponent from behind by the mawashi and carries them out of the ring.

A backward kick trip where the attacker kicks the opponent's inner leg while pulling them forward and to the side, causing them to stumble and fall.

An outside body drop where the attacker wraps their leg around the outside of the opponent's leg and falls sideways, bringing the opponent down with them using body weight.

An inside body drop where the attacker positions their leg inside the opponent's leg and drops to the side, toppling the opponent over their body.

An outer thigh grab where the attacker reaches around the outside of the opponent's thigh, lifts it, and pushes them over to topple them.

A rear throw where the attacker, positioned behind the opponent, grips the mawashi from behind and throws them down. Typically occurs when the opponent turns their back during a failed technique.

A rear leg trip where the attacker, positioned behind the opponent, hooks their leg and trips them forward to the ground.

A rear pull-down where the attacker, positioned behind the opponent, pulls them backward and down to the ground.

A rear twist-down where the attacker, positioned behind the opponent, twists them down to the ground using a grip on the mawashi from behind.

A rear lift-and-drop where the attacker lifts the opponent from behind by the mawashi and slams them down to the ground.

A rear backward body drop where the attacker, positioned behind the opponent, falls backward while pulling them over and down.

A slap-down where the attacker swats the back of the opponent's head or shoulders to deflect their charge and drive them face-first into the clay. One of the most common techniques in sumo, it is a reactive move that exploits an opponent who is leaning too far forward. Often seen as less honorable than forward-moving techniques, but highly effective.

A hand pull-down where the attacker grabs the opponent's arm or shoulder and pulls them down to the ground. Unlike hatakikomi which uses a slapping motion, hikiotoshi involves gripping and pulling to exploit the opponent's forward momentum and drag them to the clay.

A thrust-down where the attacker delivers a hard thrusting blow to the side of the opponent's body, knocking them off-balance and to the ground. The attacker typically steps to the side and redirects the opponent's forward charge into the clay with a well-timed lateral shove.

An arm-grabbing force-out where the attacker hooks the opponent's arm from the inside and pulls them off-balance while moving sideways. The attacker uses the trapped arm as a lever to guide the opponent to the ground or out of the ring. A versatile technique that works as both offense and counter.

A twisting arm lock where the attacker grabs the opponent's arm and twists it inward, using the rotational force to bring the opponent down to the clay.

A twisting wraparound throw where the attacker wraps their arm around the opponent's arm and twists them down. The attacker pivots to the side and uses circular momentum to topple the opponent. An effective counter-technique used by wrestlers who prefer inside fighting.

A backward pivot throw performed at the edge of the ring. When being driven out, the attacker plants their foot on the tawara, twists their body, and throws the opponent down or out before their own feet leave the ring. One of the most dramatic and dangerous last-ditch techniques in sumo.

A one-armed shoulder throw where the attacker ducks under the opponent's arm, loads them onto their back, and throws them over their shoulder. Borrowed from judo, this spectacular technique is extremely rare in sumo.

A pulling body slam where the attacker pulls the charging opponent inward and redirects their momentum to slam them down to the clay.

A forced-out technique where the attacker pushes on the opponent's side or armpit area to drive them out of the ring laterally.

A clasped-hand twist where the attacker clasps both hands together around the opponent's arm and twists them down using combined arm strength.

A forearm twist-down where the attacker grabs the opponent's forearm and twists it to force them to the ground.

A head twist-down where the attacker grabs the opponent's head or neck and twists them down to the clay.

A backward lean-out where the attacker leans back into the opponent from behind, using their body weight to topple the opponent out or down.

A leg pick where the attacker grabs the opponent's foot or ankle and lifts it to topple them over.

An inner thigh scoop where the attacker reaches under the opponent's thigh from between their legs, scoops it up, and drives them over backward.

A self-inflicted step-out where the attacker inadvertently steps out of the ring while pressing the attack. The win is awarded to the retreating wrestler. Not truly a technique, but an official kimarite used when a wrestler's own momentum carries them out first.

A step-out loss similar to isamiashi, where a wrestler accidentally steps out of the ring during the bout, giving the win to the opponent.

A hip collapse where one wrestler's hips give way during the bout, causing them to fall. The win is awarded to the opponent. An uncommon outcome that typically signals exhaustion or injury.

A reverse arm-bar where the attacker grabs the opponent's arm and twists it in the opposite direction from a standard tottari, forcing them to the ground.

A bell-hammer backward body drop. The attacker grabs the opponent's arm and one leg, loads them across their shoulders, and falls backward to slam them. Extremely rare.

A cross-strap backward body drop where the attacker reaches under one arm and over the opposite shoulder, then falls backward pulling the opponent over and down.

A backward body drop where the attacker ducks under the opponent, lifts them onto their hips, and falls backward to slam them to the ground. An incredibly rare and spectacular technique.

A hooking backward body drop where the attacker hooks the opponent's leg while falling backward, pulling the opponent over on top of them.

A backward lean-down where the attacker arches backward while gripping the opponent, pulling them down. The attacker must touch the ground last to win.

A hand-assisted backward body drop where the attacker grabs the opponent's arm, turns their body, and falls backward while pulling the opponent over.

A pulling counter-throw where the attacker pulls the opponent toward them as they step back and throws them to the side using their own momentum.