In professional sumo, the initial face-off and preparation period before a bout is called shikiri.
During shikiri, wrestlers enter the dohyo, face one another, crouch, rise, stamp their feet, clap, and may throw salt. They repeatedly return to the starting position while waiting for the official signal to begin. The ritual gives wrestlers time to focus and displays confidence, balance, and psychological readiness.
The actual collision at the start is called the tachiai. Shikiri should therefore not be used as a synonym for the initial charge itself. The two terms describe consecutive parts of the bout: shikiri is the preparation, while tachiai is the opening contact.
In the top division, the preparation can last several minutes, although the wrestling action often ends within seconds. Tournament rules limit the overall preparation time, and the gyōji eventually signals the wrestlers to begin.