Hikitsuke & Ottsuke

[abe@zoom.com (Masumi Abe)]

These are very important sumo techniques, but neither of them can be
a kimarite.

Hikitsuke: to pull the opponent with the hand(s) holding opponent's side/front
part of mawashi. It's much more effective if you do "hikitsuke" with both sides.
This technique requires strong holding power of fingers as well as pulling
power 
of arms. Hikitsuke technique will force the opponent's posture to get streighten
up and he could be vulnerable against your pushing (yori) attack.
Takanohana, Kaio and Musoyama are well known for strong hikitsuke technique.

Ottsuke: to push opponent's arm upward from out side with your arm and hand
when opponent is trying to push his arm in into the inside of your arm. This
technique requires tightly closed armpit with your upper arm and elbow with
pushing power of your arm and hand. The best ottsuke will make opponent's
arm stuck between your arm and body and could not utilize it in anyways while
your pushing power will raise opponent's center of gravity much higher.
Wakanohana is well known for his strong and skillful ottsuke technique.

-Masumiriki