other-martial-arts
Watashikomi
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Watashikomi is an official sumo kimarite in which one hand draws the outside of the opponent’s knee or thigh inward while the other hand pushes and the body leans through. The clearest cue is that the low hand controls the outer thigh while opposite upper-body pressure topples the opponent. Watashikomi couples an outside thigh hold with a forward body lean; Komatasukui and Sotokomata scoop a leg in response to a throw or evasive step. The practical English gloss “Thigh-grab push-down” 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 | 渡し込み |
|---|---|
| Reading | わたしこみ |
| Group | Leg techniques (掛け手) |
| English guide | Thigh-grab push-down |
| Official no. | 29 |
What happens
The result is recorded when one hand draws the outside of the opponent’s knee or thigh inward while the other hand pushes and the body leans through.
How to spot it
Watch the decisive action, then confirm the result and the closest alternative.
- Action the low hand controls the outer thigh while opposite upper-body pressure topples the opponent.
- Result one hand draws the outside of the opponent’s knee or thigh inward while the other hand pushes and the body leans through.
- Compare Watashikomi couples an outside thigh hold with a forward body lean; Komatasukui and Sotokomata scoop a leg in response to a throw or evasive step.
Similar techniques
Watashikomi couples an outside thigh hold with a forward body lean; Komatasukui and Sotokomata scoop a leg in response to a throw or evasive step. The related pages Uchigake and Sotogake offer useful visual comparisons.
Name
Watashikomi is written 渡し込み and read わたしこみ. It belongs to Leg techniques (掛け手); “Thigh-grab push-down” is a practical English guide, not an official translation.
Context
Watashikomi 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 215 Watashikomi results, 0.1% of 190,450 bouts from January 2013 through the final day of the July 2026 tournament, and listed the technique 34th 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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