Sumo words · Intermediate
The words that make the commentary make sense. They build on the beginner words.
I · Intermediate · 35 words · Step 2 of 2Basic setup terms
Rikishi entry
To enter professional sumo a person must be a healthy man who has finished compulsory schooling, at least 167 cm and 67 kg (165 cm and 65 kg for those leaving junior high school who test for the March tournament), and normally under 23 years old (25 with strong amateur results). He applies through a stable master and must pass a doctor's check and the recruit examination.
Heya
A sumo stable, where a rikishi lives and trains. A recruit applies through the toshiyori (oyakata) who runs it.
Winning a match
Kinjite
Prohibited moves. They include punching with a closed fist, poking with fingers, kicking the chest or stomach, pulling the hair, taking hold of the throat, grabbing clothing other than the mawashi twice or more, holding the front pouch of the mawashi, bending back fingers, biting and slapping the face with a stretched arm. The gyoji stops the bout and the rikishi can lose.
See also: Rikishi, Mawashi, Gyoji, Bout
The ruleWhat is not allowed in sumo?Shinitai
A rikishi who has lost balance completely and is in a falling position. The other rikishi does not lose by touching down (kabaite) or stepping out (kabaiashi) a moment earlier.
See also: Rikishi
The ruleHow do you win in sumo?Non-technique results
Five results the JSA lists apart from the 82 techniques (isami-ashi, tsukite, fumidashi, koshikudake and tsukihiza), when the bout is decided by the loser's own touch-down or step-out rather than a technique. What each one means is not given on the list and is common usage.
See also: Bout
Kimarite groups
The JSA's six groups of the 82 techniques: basic techniques, throws, trips, backward bends, twists and special techniques.
Torinaoshi
A rematch. It is ordered after a gyoji's mistaken 'shobu atta', when a bout lasts over three minutes in IFS rules, or when the judges decide to replay after a discussion.
The ruleWho decides a sumo bout?Ranking system
Tournament terms
Technique terms
Hatakikomi
A winning technique in the special group. The usual description is a slap-down of the opponent from above as they charge forward.
Uwatenage
An overarm throw, one of the throwing techniques. The usual description is a throw using an outer grip on the belt (uwate).
Shitatenage
An underarm throw, one of the throwing techniques. The usual description is a throw using an inner grip on the belt (shitate).
Tsukidashi
One of the seven basic techniques, the thrust out. The usual description is forcing the opponent out of the circle with open-hand thrusts.
Hikiotoshi
A winning technique in the special group. The usual description is pulling the opponent down by an arm or shoulder while stepping aside.
Ritual and ceremony terms
Shiko
The leg stomp. In the yokozuna's ring-entering ceremony the leg is lifted high to the side and brought down with a stamp, symbolically driving evil from the ring. The word shiko is not in the booklet.
See also: Yokozuna
Chirichozu
The hand-cleansing ritual on entering the ring. The rikishi claps, spreads the arms wide and turns the palms over, to show that no weapon is hidden.
See also: Rikishi
Salt throwing
A purification: salt is scooped from baskets at the east and west points of the ring and scattered to expel evil and pray for safety. Only makuuchi, juryo and, on some occasions, makushita rikishi may do it.
Shikiri
The pre-bout ritual in which the rikishi squat facing each other with their fists on the ground, go back for more salt, and return again until both are ready. The limit is four minutes in makuuchi and three in juryo, and the lowest ranks start almost at once.
See also: Tachi-ai
Dohyo-iri
The ring-entering ceremony held before the makuuchi bouts, and earlier for juryo. The makuuchi rikishi in silk aprons (keshomawashi) enter the ring one side at a time, and the yokozuna, in a hemp rope of 11 to 15 kg, performs it with an attendant and a sword bearer.
Chikaramizu
The water of strength. Rikishi in the top two divisions rinse their mouths with water from the winner of the previous bout, or from the competitor on their side in the next.
Sonkyo
The squatting pose the rikishi take on entering the ring and again to receive the winner's announcement.
See also: Rikishi
Ranking and tournament terms
Juryo
The second division, just below makuuchi. Its rikishi also wear the oichomage, perform a ring-entering ceremony before their bouts and have a three-minute limit for the pre-bout ritual.
See also: Makuuchi
Danpatsu-shiki
A retirement ceremony in which the topknot is cut. The booklet does not mention it.
Zensho yusho
A tournament win with no losses. The booklet only says the winner is the rikishi with the best record.
See also: Championship
Kadoban
The status of an ozeki who had a losing record at the last tournament, who has to do better or lose the rank. The booklet does not describe it.
Officials and rules
Shimpan
The judges. In professional sumo five former rikishi sit around the dohyo and may overrule the referee or order a rematch. In IFS rules the panel is a head judge, a gyoji and four judges, and the head judge alone decides after a majority vote of the judges.
See also: Dohyo, Rikishi, Gyoji
The ruleWho decides a sumo bout?Gyoji's calls
'Hakkeyoi' starts the bout once both have hands down and still, and urges rikishi who are standing still. 'Nokotta' urges them while they are moving. 'Matta' (wait) stops a false start or a bout when the mawashi loosens, and 'Shobu atta' calls the end.
Kachi-nanori
The formal announcement of the winner, after which the decision is final. The gyoji points to the winning side, who remains in the sonkyo crouch.
Toshiyori
The elders of the Japan Sumo Association. They choose the shimpan from among former rikishi.
Loss by rule
After the judges confer, a competitor can be ruled to have lost for an injury that stops the bout, a prohibited move, ending the bout on their own, deliberately not jumping off, not following the judges, a mawashi front pouch that comes undone, or not appearing at the ringside after two calls.
Amateur sumo
Weight classes
Amateur events are split by weight, with an open-weight class too. For women the classes are under 65, 65 to 73, 73 to 80 and 80 kg and over. For men the page gives under 85 and 115 kg and over, with the middle classes listed inconsistently. Juniors are 13 to 18.
Team competition
Teams fight in order as senpo (first), chuken (middle) and taisho (last), with a substitute.