other-martial-arts
Komatasukui
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Komatasukui is an official sumo kimarite in which after the opponent steps forward to resist a throw, the attacker scoops the inside of that leg and drops the opponent backward. The clearest cue is that a hand catches the inside of the newly advanced thigh during a throwing exchange. Komatasukui scoops the near thigh from inside; Sotokomata reaches from outside, and Ōmata changes to the farther leg when the first target escapes. The practical English gloss “Inner-thigh scoop” 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 | 小股掬い |
|---|---|
| Reading | こまたすくい |
| Group | Leg techniques (掛け手) |
| English guide | Inner-thigh scoop |
| Official no. | 31 |
What happens
The result is recorded when after the opponent steps forward to resist a throw, the attacker scoops the inside of that leg and drops the opponent backward.
How to spot it
Watch the decisive action, then confirm the result and the closest alternative.
- Action a hand catches the inside of the newly advanced thigh during a throwing exchange.
- Result after the opponent steps forward to resist a throw, the attacker scoops the inside of that leg and drops the opponent backward.
- Compare Komatasukui scoops the near thigh from inside; Sotokomata reaches from outside, and Ōmata changes to the farther leg when the first target escapes.
Similar techniques
Komatasukui scoops the near thigh from inside; Sotokomata reaches from outside, and Ōmata changes to the farther leg when the first target escapes. The related pages Sotokomata and Ōmata offer useful visual comparisons.
Name
Komatasukui is written 小股掬い and read こまたすくい. It belongs to Leg techniques (掛け手); “Inner-thigh scoop” is a practical English guide, not an official translation.
Context
Komatasukui 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 41 Komatasukui results, 0.02% of 190,450 bouts from January 2013 through the final day of the July 2026 tournament, and listed the technique 52nd 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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