other-martial-arts
Kainahineri
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Kainahineri is an official sumo kimarite in which both hands control one opponent arm and twist it outward to take the opponent down. The clearest cue is that the arm is rotated away from the opponent’s body as the attacker turns. Kainahineri twists the arm outward without a belt grip; Kotehineri combines arm control with a mawashi hold. The practical English gloss “Arm 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 | 腕捻り |
|---|---|
| Reading | かいなひねり |
| Group | Twist-down techniques (捻り手) |
| English guide | Arm twist-down |
| Official no. | 59 |
What happens
The result is recorded when both hands control one opponent arm and twist it outward to take the opponent down.
How to spot it
Watch the decisive action, then confirm the result and the closest alternative.
- Action the arm is rotated away from the opponent’s body as the attacker turns.
- Result both hands control one opponent arm and twist it outward to take the opponent down.
- Compare Kainahineri twists the arm outward without a belt grip; Kotehineri combines arm control with a mawashi hold.
Similar techniques
Kainahineri twists the arm outward without a belt grip; Kotehineri combines arm control with a mawashi hold. The related pages Gasshōhineri and Tokkurinage offer useful visual comparisons.
Name
Kainahineri is written 腕捻り and read かいなひねり. It belongs to Twist-down techniques (捻り手); “Arm twist-down” is a practical English guide, not an official translation.
Context
Kainahineri 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 143 Kainahineri results, 0.1% of 190,450 bouts from January 2013 through the final day of the July 2026 tournament, and listed the technique 37th 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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