No fixed time limit — matches typically last 5-30 seconds; most are over within 10 seconds; Pre-match ritual (shikiri) takes 4+ minutes; salt-throwing + facing-off; the actual bout is brief; Force opponent out of the dohyo (any part of body steps outside the rope), OR
Why people argue about this
People often assume that sumo matches should have a set time limit like other combat sports, thinking they last minutes. But the key fact is that sumo matches don't have fixed times; most are over within 10 seconds, with some lasting up to 30 seconds at most. This can lead to confusion because it's so different from what people expect based on their experience in other disciplines.
