other-martial-arts
Kozumatori
Image: TokyoWaltz / Original illustration · All rights reserved
Kozumatori is an official sumo kimarite in which the attacker catches the front of the opponent’s advancing ankle, lifts it, and pulls the opponent down. The clearest cue is that the hand closes at the front of the ankle rather than on the toes or whole leg. Kozumatori is an ankle pick; Tsumatori takes the toes, and Ashitori embraces the leg more fully with both hands. The practical English gloss “Ankle pick” 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 | 小褄取り |
|---|---|
| Reading | こづまとり |
| Group | Leg techniques (掛け手) |
| English guide | Ankle pick |
| Official no. | 35 |
What happens
The result is recorded when the attacker catches the front of the opponent’s advancing ankle, lifts it, and pulls the opponent down.
How to spot it
Watch the decisive action, then confirm the result and the closest alternative.
- Action the hand closes at the front of the ankle rather than on the toes or whole leg.
- Result the attacker catches the front of the opponent’s advancing ankle, lifts it, and pulls the opponent down.
- Compare Kozumatori is an ankle pick; Tsumatori takes the toes, and Ashitori embraces the leg more fully with both hands.
Similar techniques
Kozumatori is an ankle pick; Tsumatori takes the toes, and Ashitori embraces the leg more fully with both hands. The related pages Ashitori and Susotori offer useful visual comparisons.
Name
Kozumatori is written 小褄取り and read こづまとり. It belongs to Leg techniques (掛け手); “Ankle pick” is a practical English guide, not an official translation.
Context
Kozumatori 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 6 Kozumatori results, 0.01% of 190,450 bouts from January 2013 through the final day of the July 2026 tournament, and listed the technique 71st 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:
