other-martial-arts
Uchigake
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Uchigake is an official sumo kimarite in which the attacker hooks the opponent’s opposite leg from inside, pulls that leg, and drops backward. The clearest cue is that an inside hook reaps the far leg as the bodies fall together. Uchigake hooks from inside; Sotogake hooks the corresponding leg from outside, while Chongake catches the heel with the toes. The practical English gloss “Inside leg trip” 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 | 内掛け |
|---|---|
| Reading | うちがけ |
| Group | Leg techniques (掛け手) |
| English guide | Inside leg trip |
| Official no. | 21 |
What happens
The result is recorded when the attacker hooks the opponent’s opposite leg from inside, pulls that leg, and drops backward.
How to spot it
Watch the decisive action, then confirm the result and the closest alternative.
- Action an inside hook reaps the far leg as the bodies fall together.
- Result the attacker hooks the opponent’s opposite leg from inside, pulls that leg, and drops backward.
- Compare Uchigake hooks from inside; Sotogake hooks the corresponding leg from outside, while Chongake catches the heel with the toes.
Similar techniques
Uchigake hooks from inside; Sotogake hooks the corresponding leg from outside, while Chongake catches the heel with the toes. The related pages Sotogake and Chongake offer useful visual comparisons.
Name
Uchigake is written 内掛け and read うちがけ. It belongs to Leg techniques (掛け手); “Inside leg trip” is a practical English guide, not an official translation.
Context
Uchigake 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 147 Uchigake results, 0.1% of 190,450 bouts from January 2013 through the final day of the July 2026 tournament, and listed the technique 36th 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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