is an unconventional sumo wrestling technique which involves a wrestler clapping his hands together in front of his opponent's face at the tachiai

Tachi-ai

The tachi-ai is the initial charge between two sumo wrestlers at the beginning of a bout.There are several common techniques that wrestlers use at the tachi-ai, with the aim of getting a decisive advantage in the bout:...

 (start of the bout.) The aim of this technique is to cause the opponent to close his eyes briefly, allowing the instigator to gain the advantage.

Nekodamashi requires there to be a fair amount of space between the wrestlers at the tachiai. Using the technique is also a gamble: if it miscarries, it leaves the wrestler wide open to his opponent's attack.

Nekodamashi is not listed as a kimarite

Kimarite

Kimarite are winning techniques in a sumo bout. For each bout in a Grand Sumo tournament , a sumo referee, or gyoji, will decide and announce the type of kimarite used by the winner...

 (winning technique); even in the unlikely situation that a wrestler is so surprised by a nekodamashi that he falls over, the winning technique is simply recorded as hiwaza (non-technique victory.)

Famous sumo wrestlers to have used the nekodamashi over the years include Mainoumi, Otsukasa and Ozeki (champion-ranked) Mienoumi.