other-martial-arts
Kubinage
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Kubinage is an official sumo kimarite in which one arm wraps the opponent’s neck while the attacker inserts the hips and twists or rolls the opponent over. The clearest cue is that neck control and the inserted hip combine to create the rotation. Kubinage uses a one-arm neck wrap; Koshinage is centered on the hip load, and Ipponzeoi controls an arm over the shoulder. The practical English gloss “Headlock throw” 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 | 首投げ |
|---|---|
| Reading | くびなげ |
| Group | Throwing techniques (投げ手) |
| English guide | Headlock throw |
| Official no. | 15 |
What happens
The result is recorded when one arm wraps the opponent’s neck while the attacker inserts the hips and twists or rolls the opponent over.
How to spot it
Watch the decisive action, then confirm the result and the closest alternative.
- Action neck control and the inserted hip combine to create the rotation.
- Result one arm wraps the opponent’s neck while the attacker inserts the hips and twists or rolls the opponent over.
- Compare Kubinage uses a one-arm neck wrap; Koshinage is centered on the hip load, and Ipponzeoi controls an arm over the shoulder.
Similar techniques
Kubinage uses a one-arm neck wrap; Koshinage is centered on the hip load, and Ipponzeoi controls an arm over the shoulder. The related pages Ipponzeoi and Nichōnage offer useful visual comparisons.
Name
Kubinage is written 首投げ and read くびなげ. It belongs to Throwing techniques (投げ手); “Headlock throw” is a practical English guide, not an official translation.
Context
Kubinage 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 412 Kubinage results, 0.2% of 190,450 bouts from January 2013 through the final day of the July 2026 tournament, and listed the technique 23rd 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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