other-martial-arts
Shitatehineri
Image: TokyoWaltz / Original illustration · All rights reserved
Shitatehineri is an official sumo kimarite in which an underarm mawashi grip twists the opponent down toward the gripping side. The clearest cue is that the inside belt hand tightens and turns the opponent into the floor. Shitatehineri twists from an inside grip; Shitatenage throws from that grip, while Uwatehineri uses an outside hold. The practical English gloss “Underarm twist-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 | 下手捻り |
|---|---|
| Reading | したてひねり |
| Group | Twist-down techniques (捻り手) |
| English guide | Underarm twist-down |
| Official no. | 54 |
What happens
The result is recorded when an underarm mawashi grip twists the opponent down toward the gripping side.
How to spot it
Watch the decisive action, then confirm the result and the closest alternative.
- Action the inside belt hand tightens and turns the opponent into the floor.
- Result an underarm mawashi grip twists the opponent down toward the gripping side.
- Compare Shitatehineri twists from an inside grip; Shitatenage throws from that grip, while Uwatehineri uses an outside hold.
Similar techniques
Shitatehineri twists from an inside grip; Shitatenage throws from that grip, while Uwatehineri uses an outside hold. The related pages Makiotoshi and Tottari offer useful visual comparisons.
Name
Shitatehineri is written 下手捻り and read したてひねり. It belongs to Twist-down techniques (捻り手); “Underarm twist-down” is a practical English guide, not an official translation.
Context
Shitatehineri 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 362 Shitatehineri results, 0.2% of 190,450 bouts from January 2013 through the final day of the July 2026 tournament, and listed the technique 26th in that bounded dataset. This is a dated sample, not a timeless probability; check the association’s live page for later totals.
Sources
Last updated:
