Judo Techniques

Judo techniques or “waza” are classified into three primary groups:

1. Nage-Waza - Throwing techniques (69)

2. Katame-Waza – Grappling techniques

3. Atemi-Waza – Striking techniques

Nage-Waza, or throwing techniques, are grouped into two major sub-groups with
further grouping:
 Tachi-Waza (45) - standing techniques, that includes:

◦ Te-Waza - hand/arm techniques (15)

◦ Koshi-Waza - hip techniques (11)

◦ Ashi-Waza - foot or leg techniques (19)

 Sutemi-Waza (24) - sacrifice techniques , that includes:

◦ Ma-Sutemi-Waza - back sacrifice techniques (8)

◦ Yoko-Sutemi-Waza - side sacrifice techniques (16)

Note: some throws listed as an “approved” Kodokan recognized technique may not be permitted for
competition. Check your current tournament rules or discuss with your Sensei.

Tachi-Waza – Standing techniques (45)

Te-Waza – Hand / Arm techniques (15)

 Ippon Seoinage One Arm Shoulder

 Kata Guruma Shoulder Wheel
 Kibisu Gaeshi Heel Reversal
 Kuchiki Taoshi Dead Tree Drop
 Morote Gari Two Hand Leg Reaping
 Morote Seionage Two Hand Shoulder
 Obi Otoshi Belt Drop
 Obi Tori Gaeshi Belt Grab Reveral
 Seio Otoshi Shoulder Drop
 Sukuinage Scoop
  Sumi Otoshi Corner Drop
 Tai Otoshi Body Drop
 Uchimata Sukashi Inner Thigh Throw Slip
 Uki Otoshi Floating Drop
 Yama Arashi Mountain Storm

Koshi-Waza – Hip techniques (11)

 Daki Age High Lift

 Hane Goshi Spring Hip
 Harai Goshi Sweeping Hip
 Koshi Guruma Hip Wheel
 O Goshi Major Hip
 Sode Tsurikomi Goshi Sleeve Lifting Pulling Hip
 Tsuri Goshi Lifting Hip
 Tsurikomi Goshi Lifting Pulling Hip
 Uki Goshi Floating Hip
 Ushiro Goshi Rear Hip
 Utsuri Goshi Changing Hip

Ashi-Waza – Foot / Leg techniques (19)

 Ashi Guruma Leg Wheel

 Deashi Harai / Barai Advancing / Forward Foot Sweep
 Hane Goshi Gaeshi Spring Hip Counter
 Harai Goshi Gaeshi Sweeping Hip Counter
 Harai Tsurikomi Ashi Lifting Pulling Foot Sweep
 Hiza Guruma Knee Wheel
 Kosoto Gake Minor / Small Outside Hook
 Kosoto Gari Minor / Small Outside Sweep
 Kouchi Gari Minor / Small Inner Reap
 O Guruma Major / Big Wheel
 Okuriashi Harai / Barai Following Foot Sweep
 Osoto Gaeshi Major / Big Outside Reap Counter
 Osoto Guruma Major / Big Outside Wheel
 Osoto Otoshi Major / Big Outside Drop
 Ouchi Gaeshi Major / Big Inner Reversal
 Ouchi Gari Major / Big Inner Reap
 Sasae Tsurikomi Ashi Lifting Pulling Foot / Ankle Prop
 Tsubame Gaeshi Swallow Flight Reversal
 Uchimata Inner Thigh Throw
 Uchimata Gaeshi Inner Thigh Throw Reveral
Sutemi-Waza – Sacrifice techniques (24)

Ma-Sutemi-Waza – Hand / Arm techniques (8)

 Hikikomi Gaeshi Pulling-in Reversal

 Sumi Gaeshi Corner Reversal
 Tani Otoshi Valley Drop
 Tawara Gaeshi Rice Bale Reversal
 Tomoe Nage Circle Throw
 Uchi Makikomi Inner Winding
 Uchimata Makikomi Inner Thigh Winding
 Ura Nage Rear Throw

Yoko-Sutemi-Waza – Side Sacrifice techniques (16)

 Daki Wakare High Lift and Separate

 Hane Makikomi Spring Winding
 Harai Makikomi Sweeping Winding
 Kani Basami Flying Crab / Scissors
 Kawazu Gake Leg Entanglement
 Kouchi Makikomi Minor / Small Inner Winding
 Osoto Makikomi Major / Big Outside Winding
 Soto Makikomi Outside Winding
 Tani Otoshi Valley Drop
 Uchi Makikomi Inner Winding
 Uchimata Makikomi Inner Thight Winding
 Uki Waza Floating Technique
 Yoko Gake Side Hook
 Yoko Guruma Side Wheel
 Yoko Otoshi Side Drop
 Yoko Wakare Side Separation

Traditionally, Nage-Waza was classified into the ”Go-Kyo-No-Waza” or Five Sets of Techniques
consists of 40 throws grouped into five sets. These throws were grouped together in each Kyo (set)
because they leveraged similar motions or principles, and it was thought that would make learning
the judo principles easier. The kyo classification names use the Japanese numbering system followed
by kyo; eg., Dai-Ikkyo (first set)

Below is the Go-Kyo-No-Waza with Japanese and English names, along with the throwing sub-
grouping:

Dai-Ikkyo

 De Ashi Harai Advancing Foot Sweep Ashi
  Hiza Garuma Knee Wheel Ashi
 Sasae Tsuri Komi Ashi Foot Stop Throw Ashi
 Uki Goshi Floating Hip Koshi
 O Soto Gari Major Outside Reap Ashi
 O Goshi Major Hip Koshi
 O Uchi Gari Major Inner Reap Ashi
 Seoi Nage (Ippon, Morote) Shoulder Throw (1 or 2 Arm) Te

Dai-Nikyo
 Ko Soto Gari Minor Outside Reap Ashi
 Ko Uchi Gari Major Outside Reap Ashi
 Koshi Guruma Hip Wheel Koshi
 Tsuri Komi Goshi Lift Pull Hip Koshi
 Okuri Ashi Harai Sliding Foot Sweep Ashi
 Tai Otoshi Body Drop Te
 Harai Ogoshi Sweeping Hip Koshi
 Uchi Mata Inner Thigh Ashi

Dai-Sankyo
 Ko Soto Gake Minor Outside Hook Ashi
 Tsuri Goshi Lift Hip Koshi
 Yoko Otoshi Side Drop Yoko Sutemi
 Ashi Guruma Foot Wheel Ashi
 Hane Goshi Springing Hip Koshi
 Harai Tsurikomi Ashi Sweeping Lift Pull Foot Ashi
 Tomoe Nage Stomach Throw Ma Sutemi
 Kata Guruma Shoulder Wheel Te

Dai-Yonkyo
 Sumi Gaeshi Corner Counter Ma Sutemi
 Tani Otoshi Valley Drop Yoko Sutemi
 Hane Makikomi Spring Winding Yoko Sutemi
 Sukui Nage Scooping Throw Te
 Utsuri Goshi Changing Hip Koshi
 O Guruma Major Wheel Ashi
 Soto Makikomi Outer Winding Yoko Sutemi
 Uki Otoshi Floating Drop Te

Dai-Gokyo
 O Soto Guruma Major Outside Wheel Ashi
 Uki Waza Floating Technique Ashi
 Yoko Wakare Side Body Separation Yoko Sutemi
 Yoko Guruma Side Wheel Yoko Sutemi
 Ura Nage Rear Throw Ma Sutemi
  Ushiro Goshi Backward Hip Koshi
 Sumi Otoshi Corner Drop Te
 Yoko Gake Side Hood Yoko Sutemi

In addition, other throwing techniques have been officially accepted into the Kodokan “approved” list
of judo nage-waza - see below. However, not all “approved” throws are permitted in tournaments,
please check with current tournament rules and regulations, or discuss with your Sensei.

Additional “approved” judo techniques:

 Obi Otoshi Belt Drop Te

 Seoi Otoshi Shoulder Drop Te
 Yama Arashi Mountain Storm Te
 Morote Gari Double Arm Reap Te
 Kuchiki Taoshi Dead Tree Drop Te
 Kibisu Gaeshi Heel Trip Te
 Uchi Mata Sukashi Inner Thigh Slip Te
 Ko Uchi Gaeshi Minor Inner Counter Te
 Dai Age High Lift Koshi
 Sode Tsurikomi Goshi Sleeve Grip Lift Pull Hip Koshi
 O Soto Otoshi Major Outer Drop Ashi
 Tsubame Gaeshi Swallow Counter Ashi
 O Soto Gaeshi Major Outside Counter Ashi
 O Uchi Gaeshi Major Inner Counter Ashi
 Hane Goshi Gaeshi Springing Hip Ashi
 Uchi Mata Gaeshi Inner Thigh Counter Ashi
 Hikikomi Gaeshi Back Fall Reversal Ma Sutemi
 Tawara Gaeshi Rice Bag Reversal Ma Sutemi
 Daki Wakare High Separation Yoko Sutemi
 Kani Basami Crab Claw Yoko Sutemi
 Uchi Makikomi Inner Winding Yoko Sutemi
 O Soto Makikomi Major Outside Winding Yoko Sutemi
 Uchi Mata Makikomi Inner Thigh Winding Yoko Sutemi
 Hari Makikomi Sweeping Winding Yoko Sutemi
 Kawazu Gake One-Leg Entanglement Yoko Sutemi

2. Katame Waza (38), or grappling techniques, are classified into three major groups:
 Osaekomi Waza – Pinning (hold down) techniques (12)

 Shime Waza – Strangulation (choking – blood / breathing) techniques (14)

 Kansetsu Waza – Joint-locking (elbow) techniques (12)

There may be confusion with Japanese judo terms such as Katame waza versus Ne waza. Katame
waza are all grappling techniques that can be used on the mat, and standing up, that include chokes
and joint locks. Ne waza is a subset of techniques that refer to on the mat techniques that include
pins, chokes and joint locks.

Osaekomi-Waza – Pinning / Holding techniques (12)

 Hon Kesa Gatame Normal Scarf Hold

 Kami Shiho Gatame Upper Four Corner Hold
 Kata Gatame Shoulder Hold
 Kesa Gatame Scarf Hold
 Kuzure Kami Shiho Gatame Modified Upper Four Corner Hold
 Kuzure Kata Gatame Modified Shoulder Hold
 Kuzure Kesa Gatame Modified Scarf Hold
 Makura Kesa Gatame Pillow Scarf Hold
 Sankaku Gatame Triangle Hold
 Tate Shiho Gatame Straddling Four Corner Hold
 Yoko Shiho Gatame Side Four Corner Hold
 Uki Gatame Floating Hold
 Ushiro Kesa Gatame Rear Scarf Hold

Shime-Waza – Choking techniques (14)

 Gyaku Juji Jime Reverse Cross Choke

 Hadaka Jime Rear Naked Choke
 Jiguku Jime Hell Choke
 Kataha Jime Single Wing Choke
 Kata Te Jime Single Hand Choke
 Kata Juji Jime Half Cross Choke
 Kata Te Jime One Hand Choke
 Koshi Jime Hip / Clock Choke
 Nami Juji Jime Normal Cross Choke
 Okuri Eri Jime Sliding Lapel Choke
 Ryo Te Jime Two Hand Choke
 Sankaku (Sangaku) Jime Triangle Choke
 Sode Guruma Jime Sleeve Wheel Choke
 Tsukkomi Jime Thrusting Choke

Kansetsu-Waza – Joint Locking techniques (12) “Ude” means arm

 Ashi Gatame Foot / Leg Lock (applied on foot / leg)

 Hiza Gatame Knee Lock (applied on arm)
 Kannuki Gatame Wrist Lock
  Ude Hishigi Ashi Gatame Leg Lock
 Ude Hishigi Hara Gatame Center / Stomach Lock
 Ude Hishigi Hiza Gatame Knee Lock
 Ude Hishigi Juji Gatame Cross Lock
 Ude Hishigi Sankaku Gatame Triangle Lock
 Ude Hishigi Te Gatame Hand Lock
 Ude Hishigi Ude Gatame Straight Arm Lock
 Ude Hishigi Waki Gatame Armpit Lock
 Ude Garami Entangled Arm Lock

3. Atemi-Waza (22), or striking techniques, are classified into two major groups:
 Ude Ate Waza – Arm / Hand striking techniques (17)

 Ashi Ate Waza – Leg / Foot striking techniques (5)

Atemi Waza has its roots from the martial art of jujitsu and is not legal in tournaments and would
result in Hansokumake or disqualification, and is therefore generally not taught today. In the Ude Ate
Waza several Japanese words are used interchangeably for striking, cut and blows – Uchi, Ate, and
Tsuki.

Ude Ate Waza – Arm / Hand striking techniques (17)

 Empi-uchi Elbow Blow

 Kami-ate Upward Blow
 Kiri-oroshi Downward / Knife Hand Blow
 Naname-ate Crossing Blow
 Naname-uchi Front Side (Carotid) Blow
 Ryogan-tsuki Upperward Throat Strike; Finger Tips to Eyes
 Shimo-tsuki Downward Blow
 Tsuki-age Uppercut
 Tsuki-dashi Thrusting Fingers Blow to Stomach
 Tsukkake Straight Punch
 Uchi-oroshi Downward Strike
 Ushiro-ate Rear Elbow Strike
 Ushiro-sumi-tsuki Rear Corner Blow
 Ushiro-tsuki Rear Blow
 Ushiro-uchi Rear Blow
 Yoko-ate Side Blow
 Yoko-uchi Side Blow

Ashi Ate Waza – Leg / Foot striking techniques (5)

 Mae-ate Front Knee

 Mae-geri Front Kick
 Naname-geri Crossing / Roundhouse Kick
 Taka-geri High Front Kick
 Ushiro-geri Rear Kick
 Yoko-geri Side Kick