Baruto Kaito - Fighting Style

Fighting Style

Baruto has a solid and straightforward yotsu-sumo style, concentrating on techniques which involve grabbing the opponent's mawashi or belt. He prefers a migi-yotsu grip, with his right hand inside and left hand outside his opponent's arms. His most common winning kimarite or technique is overwhelmingly yori-kiri, or force out. Due to his great strength he is known for using tsuri-dashi, or lift out, a technique which has declined in recent years because of the increasing weight of wrestlers. Baruto used this technique three times in the July 2009 tournament alone. He also frequently uses uwatenage, or overarm throw. He was forced to change his yotsu style in his successful ōzeki promotion basho of March 2010, as his thumb injury meant he was less effective on the mawashi, and he used a more aggressive slapping and thrusting attack instead.

At 188 kilograms, Baruto is the second heaviest man in the top division after Gagamaru. He is popular among other wrestlers due to his friendly character and is known for always smiling, win or lose. His stablemaster Onoe Oyakata commented, "All wrestlers have their unique personalities. Baruto is friendly and gentle and he shouldn't change that. He has to win to get promoted but outside the ring I don't want him to forget to smile." Baruto is also known for taking great care not to injure his opponents.