ぶつかり稽古

Lit.: Collision Keiko

Butsukari for short

Butsukarigeiko is one of the Basic Sumou exercises.

It is the single most important piece of Keiko, surpassing in its importance even the #1 among Basic Sumou exercises - Shiko.

The reason for this is that Butsukarigeiko solidifies in a Rikishi exactly the habits he needs for fighting - charging hard, colliding with the Aite, focusing purely on the Offense, and maintaining the ideal bodily posture all the time.

It is performed by an attacking Rikishi and a defending Rikishi.

It is a key exercise for developing proper Technique and Power, therefore it is even more important than Sanbangeiko and Moushiai.

The proper procedure for Butsukarigeiko:

1. The attacking Rikishi steps inside the Dohyou. 2. The attacking Rikishi goes into Shikiri just inside the Tokudawara where he has entered. 3. The attacking Rikishi shouts Gotchandesu loudly. 4. The defending Rikishi stands at the Shikirisen. 5. The defending Rikishi does a right Shiko. 6. The defending Rikishi does a left Shiko. 7. The defending Rikishi steps forward with the right leg and leans forward offering his chest to the attacking Rikishi. 8. The attacking Rikishi charges hitting the defending Rikishi with both hands in the chest area close to the armpits and the head in the chest at the same time. 9. The attacking Rikishi pushes hard, pushing the defending Rikishi in this position across the Dohyou and out beyond the Tawara. The defending Rikishi slides back, taking no steps, resisting hard the attacking Rikishi's push. 10. Once the defending Rikishi is pushed out, he turns around, standing inside the Tawara at the edge of the Dohyou. The attacking Rikishi goes out around him, goes into Shikiri, and in one continuous motion hits his own Mawashi with both hands on the sides and charges into the defending Rikishi.

This is a procedural description of what should be done in Butsukarigeiko. However the key lies in the fact that it must be done extra tough, i.e. the defending Rikishi will bring the attacker to complete Exhaustion. For this, usually the defending Rikishi is stronger, higher on the Bandzuke than the attacker. It is therefore also a form of schooling.

The toughening up is done by resisting with full force.

"You have to slam, push, and then slam again. You do that over and over until you're on verge of fainting. Then, the movement becomes natural. You can't just let things take its own course. Both the oyakata and the rikishi have to take the task to heart." Taihou Oyakata on Butsukarigeiko, in his interview in May 2005 before his retirement from Nihon Sumou Kyoukai

This is the secret, the attacking Rikishi is forced to exert the maximum Power because the defending Rikishi will refuse to move, he stands. That's where the slam with full force, elbows in, head tucked in, hips low - a basic Sumou posture, comes in.

Then when the defender doesn't move, he will push the attacker back with both hands, the attacker will take one or two steps back and try to slam again as hard as possible, in a good position - hips down, trying to move the defender.

This is done to complete exhaustion, sometimes rough Butsukarigeiko sessions last 10 minutes. This is absolutely brutal. Yokodzuna Asashouryuu is know to have administered such Butsukarigeiko to other Rikishi on occassion.

The value of Butsukarigeiko also comes to count for the defender. The offender sharpens everything about his Sumou, mostly offensive Power. The defender however also develops resistive Power necessary for Nebarizumou and Balance which is also very important in Sumou.

The Value of Butsukarigeiko is such that its absence in Keiko is absolutely fatal. For this reason, if you do not have many strong partenrs for Keiko you must practice Butsukari sessions with the Butsukariki, it's absolutely essential.