Common Sumo Terms
A glossary of frequently used terms in sumo wrestling:
- Basho
- A sumo tournament, held six times per year
- Dohyo
- The sumo ring, a raised clay platform 4.55 meters in diameter
- Heya
- A sumo stable where wrestlers live and train
- Kimarite
- The winning technique used to defeat an opponent
- Mawashi
- The silk belt worn by sumo wrestlers
- Ozeki
- The second-highest rank in sumo, below Yokozuna
- Rikishi
- A sumo wrestler
- Shikiri
- The ritual crouching and preparation before a match begins
- Tachiai
- The initial charge when both wrestlers meet at the start of a match
- Yokozuna
- Grand Champion - the highest rank in sumo wrestling
- Kachi-koshi
- A winning record (8 wins or more in a 15-match tournament)
- Make-koshi
- A losing record (7 wins or fewer in a 15-match tournament)
- Gyoji
- The referee who officiates sumo matches
- Shimpan
- The judges who sit around the ring and can call for a rematch (torinaoshi)
- Makuuchi
- The top division of professional sumo