other-martial-arts
Nimaigeri
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Nimaigeri is an official sumo kimarite in which after lifting the opponent, the attacker kicks the outside ankle with the opposite foot and topples the opponent toward that side. The clearest cue is that the upper body is elevated before a cross-body kick removes the outer ankle. Nimaigeri combines a lift with an outside ankle kick; Kekaeshi uses an inside-to-outside kick without the same lifted setup. The practical English gloss “Ankle-kick 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 | 二枚蹴り |
|---|---|
| Reading | にまいげり |
| Group | Leg techniques (掛け手) |
| English guide | Ankle-kick throw |
| Official no. | 30 |
What happens
The result is recorded when after lifting the opponent, the attacker kicks the outside ankle with the opposite foot and topples the opponent toward that side.
How to spot it
Watch the decisive action, then confirm the result and the closest alternative.
- Action the upper body is elevated before a cross-body kick removes the outer ankle.
- Result after lifting the opponent, the attacker kicks the outside ankle with the opposite foot and topples the opponent toward that side.
- Compare Nimaigeri combines a lift with an outside ankle kick; Kekaeshi uses an inside-to-outside kick without the same lifted setup.
Similar techniques
Nimaigeri combines a lift with an outside ankle kick; Kekaeshi uses an inside-to-outside kick without the same lifted setup. The related pages Komatasukui and Sotokomata offer useful visual comparisons.
Name
Nimaigeri is written 二枚蹴り and read にまいげり. It belongs to Leg techniques (掛け手); “Ankle-kick throw” is a practical English guide, not an official translation.
Context
Nimaigeri 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 19 Nimaigeri results, 0.01% of 190,450 bouts from January 2013 through the final day of the July 2026 tournament, and listed the technique 63rd 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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