other-martial-arts
Sotomusō
Image: TokyoWaltz / Original illustration · All rights reserved
Sotomusō is an official sumo kimarite in which the attacker withdraws an inside hand, sweeps the outside of the opponent’s same-side knee, and twists with upper-body control. The clearest cue is that one hand brushes or strikes the outer knee while the other controls the arm. Sotomusō attacks the outside of the knee; Uchimusō sweeps the inner thigh from below. The practical English gloss “Outer knee sweep-down” 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 | 外無双 |
|---|---|
| Reading | そとむそう |
| Group | Twist-down techniques (捻り手) |
| English guide | Outer knee sweep-down |
| Official no. | 50 |
What happens
The result is recorded when the attacker withdraws an inside hand, sweeps the outside of the opponent’s same-side knee, and twists with upper-body control.
How to spot it
Watch the decisive action, then confirm the result and the closest alternative.
- Action one hand brushes or strikes the outer knee while the other controls the arm.
- Result the attacker withdraws an inside hand, sweeps the outside of the opponent’s same-side knee, and twists with upper-body control.
- Compare Sotomusō attacks the outside of the knee; Uchimusō sweeps the inner thigh from below.
Similar techniques
Sotomusō attacks the outside of the knee; Uchimusō sweeps the inner thigh from below. The related pages Uchimusō and Zubuneri offer useful visual comparisons.
Name
Sotomusō is written 外無双 and read そとむそう. It belongs to Twist-down techniques (捻り手); “Outer knee sweep-down” is a practical English guide, not an official translation.
Context
Sotomusō 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 Sotomusō 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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