勝負 Shoubu

A Sumou match.

Usually a Honwari bout, but Shoubu applies to a Keiko bout as well.

It basically signifies purely a Sumou match.

Shoubu is the ultimate test of the Quality of Keiko and of your real adherence to Sumoudou. It is the controlling mechanism of Sumoudou. Only through Shoubu can you carry out a Test of Power.

You Prove Yourself by Winning, however the Goal of Sumou is not Winning. The Goal of Sumou is to Prove Yourself and Winning is only a side effect of this. This is the Meaning of Transcendence over Winning and Technique in Futabayama's Japan Sumoudou Rikishi Charter.

In order to Win you must do Good Sumou. However Bad Sumou might also suffice in order to Win. Therefore the Win in itself is not a measure of anything. Only doing Good Sumou can you Prove Yourself and this is the key to living Sumoudou.

Shoubu also posesses an esthetic meaning since it represents the ideal of harmony. Rikishi carry out all actions in a Shoubu synchronized.

Therefore Shoubu has the following form which Rikishi must strive to achieve, while performing all the actions synchronized:

Ascend and enter the Dohyou.
Stand inside the Tokudawara facing the opponent.
Bow.
Go to their Salt corner of the Dohyou.
Stand inside the Tawara facing outside.
Arms extended clap the palms low in front of the body.
Right arm raised to the right side, palm down, do a right Shiko.
Left arm raised to the left side, palm down, do a left Shiko.
Step out over the Tawara.
Sonkyo.
Receive and rinse mouth with Chikaramizu.
Receive and wipe mouth with Chikaragami.
Take Salt with right hand from the Salt basket.
Turn towards the center of the Dohyou.
Stepping back in, toss Salt on the Dohyou.
Walk back to the entering Tokudawara.
Chirichouzu.
Go to own corner stepping out over the Tawara facing outside.
Take Salt with right hand from the Salt basket.
Turn towards the center of the Dohyou.
Stepping back in, toss Salt on the Dohyou.
Walk to the Shikirisen facing the opponent.
Arms extended clap the palms low in front of the body.
Right arm raised to the right side, palm down, do a right Shiko.
Left arm raised to the left side, palm down, do a left Shiko.
Sonkyo.
Shikiri.
Go to own corner stepping out over the Tawara facing outside.
Take Salt with right hand from the Salt basket.
Turn towards the center of the Dohyou.
Stepping back in, toss Salt on the Dohyou.
Walk to the Shikirisen facing the opponent.
Sonkyo.
Shikiri.
Go to own corner stepping out over the Tawara facing outside.
Repeat above 7 steps two more times.
Receive a towel and wipe off sweat from face and body. This is to be done as a sign of Respect for the opponent.
Take Salt with right hand from the Salt basket.
Turn towards the center of the Dohyou.
Stepping back in, toss Salt on the Dohyou.
Walk to the Shikirisen facing the opponent.
Sonkyo.
Shikiri.
Assume and maintain Aun Breath.
Shikiri.
Within Aun Breath Tachiai.

勝負 can also be read as Kachi-Make in Japanese. This means Win-Loss and is symbolic of the meaning of Shoubu. It means you must not get attached to the phenomenon of winning and losing. Instead you must only focus on doing Good Sumou.

A Honwari Shoubu is the same as Keiko Shoubu in the sense that you must Fight identically. This is why it is the ultimate Test of Sumoudou. You must absolutely identically as in Keiko as against a Butsukariki as in Butsukarigeiko. No attachment to Results, no Thoughts of Winning, Worries about Losing, pure Mushin.