other-martial-arts
Ashitori
Image: TokyoWaltz / Original illustration · All rights reserved
Ashitori is an official sumo kimarite in which the attacker ducks underneath, embraces one leg with both hands, and forces or tips the opponent out or down. The clearest cue is that both arms secure one leg while the attacker’s body rises through the opponent’s base. Ashitori uses a two-handed hold on the whole leg; Kozumatori and Susotori are narrower one-hand picks at the ankle. The practical English gloss “Leg pick” 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 | 足取り |
|---|---|
| Reading | あしとり |
| Group | Leg techniques (掛け手) |
| English guide | Leg pick |
| Official no. | 36 |
What happens
The result is recorded when the attacker ducks underneath, embraces one leg with both hands, and forces or tips the opponent out or down.
How to spot it
Watch the decisive action, then confirm the result and the closest alternative.
- Action both arms secure one leg while the attacker’s body rises through the opponent’s base.
- Result the attacker ducks underneath, embraces one leg with both hands, and forces or tips the opponent out or down.
- Compare Ashitori uses a two-handed hold on the whole leg; Kozumatori and Susotori are narrower one-hand picks at the ankle.
Similar techniques
Ashitori uses a two-handed hold on the whole leg; Kozumatori and Susotori are narrower one-hand picks at the ankle. The related pages Susotori and Susoharai offer useful visual comparisons.
Name
Ashitori is written 足取り and read あしとり. It belongs to Leg techniques (掛け手); “Leg pick” is a practical English guide, not an official translation.
Context
Ashitori 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 275 Ashitori results, 0.1% of 190,450 bouts from January 2013 through the final day of the July 2026 tournament, and listed the technique 30th 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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