Sumo glossary
Terms used throughout the site, with brief English definitions. Romanisations follow the Hepburn system with macrons (e.g. jūryō, oshi-zumō).
Ranks
- yokozuna (横綱)
- Highest rank. Cannot be demoted; held until retirement.
- ozeki (大関)
- Second-highest rank. Demoted after two consecutive make-koshi.
- sekiwake (関脇)
- Third rank, one of three san'yaku titles.
- komusubi (小結)
- Fourth rank, the lowest san'yaku title.
- maegashira (前頭)
- Rank-and-file makuuchi wrestlers; numbered 1-17 down each side.
- jūryō (十両)
- Second division; the lowest sekitori rank with salary and full privileges.
Divisions
- Makuuchi (幕内)
- Top division. 42 wrestlers.
- Jūryō (十両)
- Second division. 28 wrestlers.
- Makushita (幕下)
- Third division. Roughly 120 wrestlers; unsalaried.
- Sandanme (三段目)
- Fourth division. Roughly 160 wrestlers.
- Jonidan (序二段)
- Fifth division. Roughly 200 wrestlers.
- Jonokuchi (序ノ口)
- Sixth division (lowest). New entrants start here.
Techniques (kimarite)
- oshi-zumō (押し相撲)
- Thrust- and shove-based attacking style.
- yotsu-zumō (寄り相撲)
- Belt-grip-based attacking style; works at close quarters.
- yorikiri (寄り切り)
- Frontal force-out — drive opponent over the bales chest-to-chest.
- oshidashi (押し出し)
- Frontal push-out without gripping the belt.
- tsukidashi (突き出し)
- Thrust-out using palm strikes to the chest or face.
- uwatenage (上手投げ)
- Outer-grip overarm throw.
- shitatenage (下手投げ)
- Inner-grip underarm throw.
- hikiotoshi (引き落とし)
- Pulling slap-down — sidestep and yank opponent forward.
- tsukiotoshi (突き落とし)
- Thrust-down to the side as opponent advances.
- hatakikomi (はたき込み)
- Slap-down on the back or shoulders.
General terms
- heya (部屋)
- Sumo stable. Each wrestler belongs to exactly one.
- ichimon (一門)
- Inter-heya alliance group; six exist in modern sumo.
- oyakata (親方)
- Stablemaster, retired wrestler holding a toshiyori share.
- banzuke (番付)
- Official ranking sheet, published 13 days before each basho.
- basho (場所)
- Tournament. Six per year, 15 days each.
- torikumi (取組)
- A single bout.
- kimarite (決まり手)
- Winning technique. 82 officially recognized.
- sekitori (関取)
- Salaried wrestler — makuuchi or jūryō rank.
- rikishi (力士)
- Sumo wrestler.
- shikona (四股名)
- A wrestler's professional ring name.
- maezumō (初土俵)
- First tournament; introductory unofficial matches before banzuke listing.
- kachi-koshi (勝ち越し)
- Winning record in a basho (8+ wins for sekitori, 4+ for lower divisions).
- make-koshi (負け越し)
- Losing record in a basho.
- yūshō (優勝)
- Tournament championship.
- san'yaku (三役)
- Top three ranks: yokozuna, ozeki, sekiwake, komusubi.