According to the kojitsu (old customs and manners) of the Yoshida Tsukasake family, who was the head family of the sumo world, a push, a punch, and a kick used to be the three traditional techniques of sumo before the rules of prohibited techniques were established.
相撲司家の吉田司家の故実では、禁じ手制定以前の相撲の戦い方について「相撲の古法は、突く・殴る・蹴るの三手である」と伝えられている。