Chapter 4
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INTRODUCTORY SUMMARY OF THE MAIN SUMÓ RULES

Wrestlers
1. A wrestler must be naked, except for a loincloth called a mawashi. However, if permission is given by the Japan Sumó Federation, sumó pants may be worn).

2. A wrestler cannot ask for "time" after the referee has said that time is up.

3. A wrestler has no right to protest against the decision made by the referee. No one other than one of the judges is permitted to protest against the referee's decision.

4. Once a decision has been made, both wrestlers must retreat to the tokudawara and exchange nods. There the winner, in a crouching posture, receives the form notification of victory.

Referee
1. Matches are presided over by a referee.

2. In addition to presiding over the matches, the referee watches carefully for an unauthorized techniques (kinte).

3. Four judges sit at the North, East, South and West sides respectively, and the chief judge sits in front of the dohyó on the North side.

4. In the case of disagreement among the judges, the chief judge will listen to each judge and decide on the winner in accordance with the majority opinion. If both competitors are supported by an equal number of judges, the chief judge may order a rematch.

Match Decision
1. A competitor loses the bout when any portion of his body other than the soles of his feet touches the surface of the dohyó.

2. A competitor wins when he pushes his opponent over the outer boundary of the dohyó.

3. When both competitors touch the surface of the dohyó inside or outside at the same time, a rematch is called.

Unauthorized Techniques (Kin-te)
Techniques most likely to cause injury, namely boxing and certain types of kicking and thrusting, are forbidden as a matter of general principle. The unauthorized techniques established at the present time by the Japan Sumó Federation are described on page 21. Anyone using an unauthorized technique will lose the bout.

Shikiri
The posture adopted by a wrestler starting a bout is called shikiri.

This is formed with both feet apart, the upper part of the body bent forward with the hips and shoulders in a horizontal line, and with both hands placed on the ring. Similar to the starting posture of a runner, this is called the shikiri or tachi.ai posture and is the `ready' position for wrestlers.

Shiko
This is one of the training methods used by wrestlers to strengthen their legs and hips. As depicted in the drawings below, starting from a squatting position with knees spread apart and the palms of the hands on the knees, one leg is raised to its maximum height sideways and this position is held for 1 or 2 seconds. This leg is then brought back with a stamp and the other leg raised.

Ring (dohyó)
1. The perimeter of the ring, with a diameter of 455 meters, is formed of straw bags (tawara) or other bags, filled with earth; the bags are moved back at the four sides to form a space (tokudawara).

2. The circular ring is formed within a square with sides measuring 727 meters.

3. The surface of the dohyó must be perfectly smooth; an appropriate amount of sand may be strewn on it.