other-martial-arts
Kakezori
Image: TokyoWaltz / Original illustration · All rights reserved
Kakezori is an official sumo kimarite in which the attacker puts the head under an inside arm, steps deep, adds a leg hook or knee prop, and arches backward. The clearest cue is that a low head position and leg hook combine as the attacker falls backward beneath the opponent. Kakezori is distinguished by its leg hook or prop; Tasukizori combines control of an arm with a hand lifting the inner thigh. The practical English gloss “Hooked backward drop” 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 | 掛け反り |
|---|---|
| Reading | かけぞり |
| Group | Backward body drops (反り手) |
| English guide | Hooked backward drop |
| Official no. | 41 |
What happens
The result is recorded when the attacker puts the head under an inside arm, steps deep, adds a leg hook or knee prop, and arches backward.
How to spot it
Watch the decisive action, then confirm the result and the closest alternative.
- Action a low head position and leg hook combine as the attacker falls backward beneath the opponent.
- Result the attacker puts the head under an inside arm, steps deep, adds a leg hook or knee prop, and arches backward.
- Compare Kakezori is distinguished by its leg hook or prop; Tasukizori combines control of an arm with a hand lifting the inner thigh.
Similar techniques
Kakezori is distinguished by its leg hook or prop; Tasukizori combines control of an arm with a hand lifting the inner thigh. The related pages Tasuki-zori and Soto-tasuki-zori offer useful visual comparisons.
Name
Kakezori is written 掛け反り and read かけぞり. It belongs to Backward body drops (反り手); “Hooked backward drop” is a practical English guide, not an official translation.
Context
Kakezori 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 recorded no Kakezori result in its bounded sample of 190,450 bouts from January 2013 through the final day of the July 2026 tournament. This is a dated sample, not a timeless probability; check the association’s live page for later totals.
Sources
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