The procedure for a bout

The referee (gyoji) controls every bout from the edge of the dohyo. For each contest the procedure runs as follows. The calls and their meaning follow the referee regulations of the International Sumo Federation, the framework used at EnglandSumo events.

Last updated: 2026-09-22.

Positioning. The gyoji is always to the south. The first athlete called comes to the gyoji's right — the east — and the second to the gyoji's left — the west — approaching from around the gyoji into the ring.
Entry and bow (rei, 礼). The athletes step in over the edge of the dohyo (the tawara) and bow.
Purification (chiri-chozu, 塵手水). Each athlete performs the pre-bout purification ritual: crouch and bow, clap the hands, make the washing motion, clap again, bring the open palms together, raise the arms, turn and lower them, and bow again.
Facing off at the shikiri-sen (仕切り線). The athletes come to the centre lines (shikiri-sen) and sink into the squatting position (sonkyo, 蹲踞), aligning their breathing. Once they are settled and breathing in sync, the gyoji calls "kamaete!" (構えて — "ka-ma-e-te": take positions!) and steps back a pace to open the ring.
Readiness and the start. The gyoji calls "te o tsuite. matta nashi!" (手をついて。待ったなし — "te oh tsoo-ee-te. maht-tah nah-shee": hands down, waiting time is over, no false starts!), bringing both athletes' fists down on their lines. If one places a hand down early, the gyoji calls "madayo, madayo" (まだよ、まだよ — "mah-dah-yoh": not yet!) or "matta!" (待った — "maht-tah": wait!), and the start is reset. Once both fists are down and both athletes are still, the gyoji completes the charge by calling "hakkeyoi!" (はっけよい — "hak-kee-oy": get moving!).
During the bout. While the athletes are in motion the gyoji urges them with "nokotta!" (残った — "noh-kot-tah": hang in there!), and with "hakkeyoi!" (はっけよい — "hak-kee-oy") when they stall. If the mawashi (廻し) comes loose the gyoji calls "matta!" (待った — "maht-tah": wait!) and the athletes freeze in their positions; the belt is retied and the gyoji restarts the frozen grip with "hikimasuyo!" (ひきますよ — "hee-kee-mah-soo-yoh": get ready! — IFS rulebook wording) before calling "hakkeyoi!" (はっけよい) again.
The winner. As soon as the bout is decided the gyoji calls "shobu atta!" (勝負あった — "shoh-boo aht-tah": the contest is decided!) and points to the winning side. The athletes return to the centre, the gyoji calls "rei!" (礼 — "ray": bow!), and both bow to accept the outcome — the winner is then announced as "higashi no kachi" (東の勝ち — "hee-gah-shee noh kah-chee": east side's victory) or "nishi no kachi" (西の勝ち — "nee-shee noh kah-chee": west side's victory).