other-martial-arts
Kekaeshi
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Kekaeshi is an official sumo kimarite in which the sole kicks the opponent’s ankle from inside to outside as the attacker opens the body and directs the upper body forward. The clearest cue is that a quick inside-to-outside ankle kick coincides with an upper-body pull or slap. Kekaeshi is commonly applied during movement; Ketaguri is associated with the initial charge and a simultaneous hand action. The practical English gloss “Ankle-kick counter” is a viewing aid rather than an official translation. Focus on the contact that causes the final movement and on whether the opponent is forced out, falls, or is thrown. Earlier exchanges may create the opening, but the kimarite names the action that actually decides the bout.
Overview
| Japanese | 蹴返し |
|---|---|
| Reading | けかえし |
| Group | Leg techniques (掛け手) |
| English guide | Ankle-kick counter |
| Official no. | 26 |
What happens
The result is recorded when the sole kicks the opponent’s ankle from inside to outside as the attacker opens the body and directs the upper body forward.
How to spot it
Watch the decisive action, then confirm the result and the closest alternative.
- Action a quick inside-to-outside ankle kick coincides with an upper-body pull or slap.
- Result the sole kicks the opponent’s ankle from inside to outside as the attacker opens the body and directs the upper body forward.
- Compare Kekaeshi is commonly applied during movement; Ketaguri is associated with the initial charge and a simultaneous hand action.
Similar techniques
Kekaeshi is commonly applied during movement; Ketaguri is associated with the initial charge and a simultaneous hand action. The related pages Ketaguri and Mitokorozeme offer useful visual comparisons.
Name
Kekaeshi is written 蹴返し and read けかえし. It belongs to Leg techniques (掛け手); “Ankle-kick counter” is a practical English guide, not an official translation.
Context
Kekaeshi can emerge directly from the tachiai, after a prolonged exchange, or as a counter when posture and footing change. Left-right orientation, wrestler size, and camera angle can alter its appearance without changing the classification.
Statistics
The Japan Sumo Association table consulted on 12 September 2026 counted 114 Kekaeshi results, 0.1% of 190,450 bouts from January 2013 through the final day of the July 2026 tournament, and listed the technique 39th in that bounded dataset. This is a dated sample, not a timeless probability; check the association’s live page for later totals.
Sources
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