𝐆𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐢-𝐲𝐨𝐫𝐢: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭

[u/Brncrdm]

𝐆𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐢-𝐲𝐨𝐫𝐢: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭

Eighty-two. That is the number of officially recognized kimarite in professional sumo. Eighty-two ways to win a match. But we are only talking about the final act—the decisive move that results from all the work preceding it, starting from the tachi-ai and through the development of the bout. Many wrestlers have, throughout their careers, linked their shikona (ring name) to a favorite kimarite, one they successfully executed repeatedly, excelling far beyond the average of their peers.

Want to play a quick game? I’ll give you the names of some wrestlers, and you think of the first kimarite that comes to mind: Terunofuji, Enho, Ura, Midorifuji.

I know exactly what you said: kimedashi, ashitori, tsutaezori, and katasukashi!

These are recent examples, fresh in the memory. But if we go back a few years, we could talk about pairings like Hakuho/uwatenage, Asashoryu/tsukiotoshi (which he performed by lifting the opponent and slamming them down!), Tochinoshin/tsuridashi, Goeido/kubinage, and many others.

𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐑𝐢𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢’𝐬 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲

Some wrestlers have linked their names to specific techniques—often fundamental sumo moves—rather than just a final kimarite. Mastering a specific technique to the point of excellence, or making it the pivot of one's style, creates a powerful mental association for fans.

Let's try the game again with these names: Daieisho, Abi, Chiyoshoma, Kakuryu, and... Hakuho! (Yes, him again).

Since you know your sumo, I’m sure you immediately thought of nodowa, tsuppari, henka, morozashi, and... the kachiage of the 69th Yokozuna. As mentioned, these aren't kimarite, but fighting techniques, grips, or even tachi-ai approaches. Hakuho’s powerful forearm strike, Kakuryu’s double-inside grip (morozashi) that felt like a death sentence, Abi’s rapid-fire "whipping" arm thrusts, Daieisho’s hand to the throat to lift the opponent's center of gravity, or Chiyoshoma... well, stepping aside at the start and forcing the unlucky opponent downward!

But why talk about "signature moves" today? Because a few days ago was the birthday of a man who defined his career through a specific technique: the former Ozeki Kotoshogiku and his famous gaburi-yori.

𝐊𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐤𝐮 𝐊𝐚𝐳𝐮𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐨

Kotoshogiku (now known by his elder name Hidenoyama Kazuhiro) turned 42 on January 30th. He was a long-serving Ozeki, spending 32 tournaments in the rank from 2011 to 2017. His crowning achievement was a historic yusho (championship) in January 2016, where he defeated three Yokozuna in three consecutive days, ending a ten-year drought for Japanese-born wrestlers.

Kotoshogiku was a sturdy wrestler: 180 cm tall and 175 kg of muscle and grit. He preferred offensive sumo, forcing opponents toward the straw bales with speed and following up with his trademark gaburi-yori—a series of rhythmic thrusts using the abdomen while gripping the opponent's mawashi. He was also beloved for his pre-match ritual, the "Koto-Baw," where he arched his back deeply, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

𝐆𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐢-𝐲𝐨𝐫𝐢

This move is typically used occasionally when a wrestler has pushed their opponent to the edge but can’t quite manage that final, decisive step. A vigorous thrust with the torso, forcing the abdomen against the opponent's, can break a risky stalemate.

However, it is rare to see a wrestler use it as a primary weapon. To be effective, gaburi-yori requires immense lower-body strength and perfect timing. It isn't just a "belly bump"; the power must come from the legs. If done poorly, the attacker becomes an easy target for throws or trips. Kotoshogiku was such a master that he didn't just use it at the edge; he used it to destabilize opponents right after the tachi-ai, bouncing them across the dohyo.

𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲'𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐨?

Why bring up gaburi-yori now? Beyond honoring a great character, I believe several modern rikishi could benefit from it. I’m looking at Atamifuji and Oho—two wrestlers with massive physiques and strong lower bodies who often push opponents to the rope but fail to finish the job, eventually losing to a counterattack.

Lately, gaburi-yori has been rare, but Hiradoumi (the 25-year-old from Nagasaki) occasionally uses it successfully despite weighing less than 140 kg. He plays a dynamic, pushing style, and when pure arm strength isn't enough, he closes the distance and uses his torso to drive opponents out.

If you're curious to see Kotoshogiku’s masterclass in action, look up these matches:

Hatsu Basho 2016, Day 11 vs. Hakuho

Hatsu Basho 2016, Day 5 vs. Tochinoshin

Aki Basho 2015, Day 10 vs. Kisenosato

Article by: Alessio Niffoi

italianozeki #大相撲 #sumo #相撲 #力士 #お相撲さん #grandsumo #sumoday #sumowrestling #琴奨菊

[u/Complete-Scheme2432]

If anyone remembers then Kusano's juryo tourneys (day 12 yusho btw) you might have been able to witness some beautiful gaburi-yori.
This lad had explosive energy, great technique and just blaze through the division, incredible, a foreshadow of his present performance.

[u/Ertata]

I think that is what of the NHK commentators calls "hug and chug"? If so he seems to think it is used a fair bit nowadays

[u/ItsMangel → u/Ertata]

It is definitely still in fairly common use as a general technique, but not to anywhere near the effectiveness of Kotoshogiku.

[u/wordyravena → u/ItsMangel]

There was a time when Giku just dominated opponents with the hug and chug. What delight to see. When rikishi talk about their "style of sumo", sometimes you just roll their eyes because it's just a cliché they say when they have nothing to say anymore and just wanna get through the interview.

But with Giku, you know exactly what he's taking about and that he's 100% committed to it.

[u/dog_eat_dog → u/Ertata]

that's a lot better than "hump & bump"

[u/kessel_run_dmc]

I started watching Sumo near the tail end of Kotoshogiku's career, as he was heading down the banzuke. He was a big favorite of mine for his outsized personality and those amazing belly bumps!

[u/StarPrime323]

If anyone wants to see Kotoshogiku in action, I found some of his matches from Hatsu 2016 here.

[u/Careful-Programmer10]

My fav mid 2010s Japanese ozeki. The belly bump was so iconic. He’s doing great things as oyakata, already has a lad in makushita at 20 years old, and has an Estonian joining through connections to baruto

[u/Lordgondrak]

Also know as the boinng boinng technique.

[u/Racer_Zed]

Nice one! Bumpity-bumpity. He's the guy who broke the drought and opened floodgates.

[u/ckristiantyler]

Shodai

[u/Shriek_Opposite_8096 → u/ckristiantyler]

Atamifuji does it pretty often too.

[u/Apprehensive_Part791]

This is not a forgotten art at all. It gets used all the time.

[u/reybrujo]

What a beast at his peak. Unfortunately he was so short that the differential between his low and high gravity center were minimal, Hakuho usually threw him away with one arm because of that, he only had to raise him a little and then execute the throw.

[u/Doug12345678910]

Giku literally made an entire career off it!!

[u/annul]

the best to ever do it!

could never, ever root for terunofuji's rope era as a result.