For sumo or kendo (Japanese fencing), sonkyo refers to the posture taken by the wrestlers or the fighters as they face each other and squat down at each starting line, just prior to the start of a match.
相撲や剣道等においては、試合をする直前に対戦する相手と仕切り線をはさみ、腰を下ろして向かい合う姿勢のことを言う。