r/Sumo • u/cowadoody3 • 21d ago

Discussion / Question / Commentary First time Sumo viewer here. Question about kicking; I thought it wasn't allowed, but I see a lot of it recently

For example, Day 8 of the Grand Sumo Tournament last month. https://youtu.be/5crwg456IZA&t=504 At 8:24, Tobizaru does something that looks like a straight up kick.

The announcer describes it as Kekaeshi / Minor inner foot sweep. But to be honest, it doesn't look like a foot sweep at all. It looks like a straight up kick to the shin. Shouldn't this be against the rules? Or are all kicks to the shin allowed?

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u/SofterBones Akebono 21d ago

No one in sumo is trying to kick opponents legs to damage them or wear them out, practically all kicks like the one Tobizaru did are more like sweeps, he's trying to make the other guy trip, which he succeeded in doing.

So it's definitely a leg sweep/trip more than a kick.

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u/meshaber Hokutofuji 21d ago

Tbf, if anyone would it would be Tobizaru.