Must see video: Sumo wrestler slept with power slap knockout

It’s sumo season!

In Japan, the 2024 Nagoya basho has begun, bringing us 15 consecutive days of thrilling sumo matches. Over the course of two weeks, all wrestlers in the Grand Sumo system gather on the same ring, vying against each other to determine the ultimate champion among them.

Since there are multiple tiers of sumo competitions all happening at once, during a given tournament there are always some wacky goings-on in the lower divisions. In the last tournament we had a ripped rikishi take out one of the biggest wrestlers in history with a single leg.

This time around, we had two titans throw down in a slap fest leading to one of them getting slept in the middle of the dohyo. Check that out footage below, courtesy of X user @acdmma_.

This bout happened in the makushita (third division) on Day 5 of the competition. It involves Kaiseijo (on the left) and Wakamiyabi (on the right).

Wakamiyabi is the guy who gets knocked out. Kaiseijo is the official winner of the bout, with his kimarite (winning technique) declared as a tsukiotoshi (thrust down). Tsukiotoshi is somewhat of a catch-all term for bouts which end with one or both wrestlers being flung to the ground. Wakamiyabi fought two days after this and lost again, this time by yoritaoshi (frontal crush out). Kaiseijo lost his next bout, but rebounded with a shitatedashinage (pulling under arm throw) win last night.

There were some online commenters who raised doubts about the legality of the actions in this match. However, it is important to clarify that in the sport of sumo, open palm strikes are considered completely legal. The rules state that you only lose if any part of your body other than the soles of your feet touch the ground, or if you step outside the designated straw ring. Therefore, if you use a slap to bring your opponent down or out of the ring, it is perfectly acceptable within the rules of the sport.

Sumo wrestlers generally fight in one of two styles: oshi-zumō or yotsu-zumō. Oshi-zumō features pushing and thrusting attacks whereas yotsu-zumō features grappling attacks. When two oshi-sumō wrestlers face off against each other, you see thrusting/slapping duels like the one above.

In the majority of matches, palm strikes are a common occurrence, yet it is uncommon to witness someone being knocked out by them. The reason behind this is that palm strikes are typically directed towards the throat, chest, and shoulders, with the intention of pushing the opponent backwards and out of the ring, rather than inflicting harm or causing a knockout. It’s important to note that palm strikes are not exactly intended to deliver a powerful blow like a knockout punch.

Here’s what that looks like in the makuuchi (top division) with Abi (in the black), who is known as “Machine gun arm,” losing a thrusting battle against Hiradoumi.

Some wrestlers have used very heavy slaps for different reasons, though. Takakeisho aka “The Angry Hamster,” who is ranked ōzeki (one below yokozuna), is known to throw brutal slaps at his opponents’ jaws. He does this to disorient them and open a window for him to shove them out.

Here he is (in black) trying that on Tobizaru this month, only for “The Flying Monkey” to clear the cobwebs and score the win.

Sumo’s GOAT Hakuho was also known to use strikes to disorient his opponents. Hakuho would also employ a forearm/elbow strike off the tachiai (opening clash) to devastating effect.

See that below:

If any of this has you eager to follow sumo and learn more about the sport, please consider subscribing to my free Substack Sumo Stomp! I am currently sending out daily newsletters recapping the results of the Nagoya basho (and including lots of gifs!).