Winning a Sumo Bout

There are two principal ways to win a Sumo bout:

1. The first wrestler to touch the ground with any other part of his body than the soles of his feet will lose.
2. The first wrestler to touch the ground outside the circle will lose.

On rare occasions the referee or judges can determine that the wrestler touching first wins as the other wrestler was in an irrecoverable position (so called "dead body" or shini-tai).

There are also a number of rarer methods, for example a wrestler using an illegal technique (or kinjite) automatically loses, as does one whose mawashi becomes completely undone. A wrestler failing to turn up for his bout (including through a prior injury) also automatically loses (fusenpai). After a winner is declared, the judges will announce the kimarite (winning technique) used in the bout.

Matches usually last only seconds, as one wrestler is quickly ousted from the circle or thrown to the clay, although they can occasionally last for several minutes.

Each match is preceded by an elaborate ceremonial ritual. The sportsmen themselves are renowned for their great girth, as body mass is a factor in Sumo.