shikiri 仕切り
The crouch-and-stare routine before a bout.
Shikiri is the build-up before a bout. The two wrestlers crouch and glare at each other, then go back for more salt and do it again. The top division gets up to four minutes for this and the second division three, while the lower divisions start almost straight away. The bout begins when both put their fists down and charge together, with nobody saying go.
Related words
- tachi-ai 立ち合い
- The opening charge, when both wrestlers launch from the crouch.
- matta 待った
- A false start at the opening charge.
- sonkyo 蹲踞
- The balanced squat wrestlers hold facing each other.
- chikara-mizu 力水
- Power water: a ladle of water to rinse the mouth before a bout.