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
Why people argue about this
People often assume that sumo matches have a strict time limit like other combat sports do, so they are surprised when informed that there's no set duration; instead, most bouts last just 10 seconds or less, including the pre-match ritual. This discrepancy leads to misunderstandings about how and why these matches conclude so quickly.
