Kodokan judo techniques
All 100 techniques on the official Kodokan list (2017): 68 throws and 32 grappling techniques. Each has a short description of ours and the Kodokan × IJF Academy video.
How the list is organised
Te-waza · Hand techniques
Group overview-
Seoi-nage
Shoulder throw
Pull uke forward, turn in with your elbow under their armpit and throw them over your shoulder off your back.
- Hand techniques
- Gokyo 1
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
-
Ippon-seoi-nage
One-arm shoulder throw
A shoulder throw in which you trap uke's arm in the crook of your elbow and throw them forward over your shoulder.
- Hand techniques
- Shinmeisho
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
-
Seoi-otoshi
Shoulder drop
A shoulder throw finished by dropping onto one or both knees, pulling uke forward and down.
- Hand techniques
- Habukareta
-
Tai-otoshi
Body drop
Turn in front of uke, block their leg with your outstretched leg and pull them forward over it with your hands.
- Hand techniques
- Gokyo 2
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
-
Kata-guruma
Shoulder wheel
Lift uke across both shoulders, holding a leg from the inside, and roll them off to the front.
- Hand techniques
- Gokyo 3
- 1st dan exam
-
Sukui-nage
Scooping throw
Step behind uke, scoop up their legs or a thigh with your arm and drop them backward.
- Hand techniques
- Gokyo 4
-
Obi-otoshi
Belt drop
Grip the front of uke's belt, step behind them and lift and tip them backward.
- Hand techniques
- Habukareta
-
Uki-otoshi
Floating drop
A pure hand throw: break uke's balance to their front corner and pull them down, often dropping to one knee.
- Hand techniques
- Gokyo 4
- 1st dan exam
-
Sumi-otoshi
Corner drop
Step to uke's side and push them down into their back corner with your hands, without using your legs.
- Hand techniques
- Gokyo 5
-
Yama-arashi
Mountain storm
With sleeve and collar gripped on the same side, lift uke forward while sweeping their leg.
- Hand techniques
- Habukareta
-
Obi-tori-gaeshi
Belt-grab reversal
Reach over uke's shoulder to grab their belt, hold an arm or leg, and lift and roll them over your shoulder.
- Hand techniques
- Shinmeisho
-
Morote-gari
Two-hand reap
Wrap both arms around uke's legs from the outside and drive forward to put them on their back.
- Hand techniques
- Shinmeisho
-
Kuchiki-taoshi
Dead-tree drop
Pull up one of uke's legs with a hand and push them over backward like a falling tree.
- Hand techniques
- Shinmeisho
-
Kibisu-gaeshi
Heel reversal
Catch uke's heel with your hand and pull it while pushing their upper body backward.
- Hand techniques
- Shinmeisho
-
Uchi-mata-sukashi
Inner-thigh dodge
A counter: let uke's uchi-mata pass through empty air, then throw them forward with your hands.
- Hand techniques
- Shinmeisho
-
Ko-uchi-gaeshi
Minor inner reap counter
A counter: avoid uke's ko-uchi-gari and use their momentum to turn them over with your hands.
- Hand techniques
- Shinmeisho
Koshi-waza · Hip techniques
Group overview-
Uki-goshi
Floating hip throw
With an arm around uke's waist, bring them lightly onto your hip and twist them over it.
- Hip techniques
- Gokyo 1
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
-
O-goshi
Major hip throw
Hug uke's waist, pull them in tight, load them across the back of your hips and throw them forward.
- Hip techniques
- Gokyo 1
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
-
Koshi-guruma
Hip wheel
With an arm around uke's neck and your hips deep across theirs, wheel them over your hip.
- Hip techniques
- Gokyo 2
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
-
Tsurikomi-goshi
Lift-pull hip throw
Lift and pull with your lapel grip as you drop under uke and throw them over your hips.
- Hip techniques
- Gokyo 2
- 1st dan exam
-
Sode-tsurikomi-goshi
Sleeve lift-pull hip throw
Like tsurikomi-goshi, but the lifting hand holds uke's sleeve and drives their arm up.
- Hip techniques
- Shinmeisho
- 1st dan exam
▶ Watch Sode-tsurikomi-goshi On YouTube Sode-tsurikomi-goshi
-
Harai-goshi
Sweeping hip throw
Load uke onto your hip and sweep their leg up with yours as you throw them forward.
- Hip techniques
- Gokyo 2
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
-
Tsuri-goshi
Belt-lift hip throw
Grip uke's belt at the back, lift them onto your hips and throw them forward.
- Hip techniques
- Gokyo 3
- 1st dan exam
-
Hane-goshi
Spring hip throw
Load uke onto your hip and spring them up with your bent leg against their inner thigh.
- Hip techniques
- Gokyo 3
-
Utsuri-goshi
Changing hip throw
A counter: as uke attacks, lift them and switch them onto your own hip to throw.
- Hip techniques
- Gokyo 4
- 1st dan exam
-
Ushiro-goshi
Rear hip throw
A counter: as uke attacks, lift them from behind with your hips and drop them straight down.
- Hip techniques
- Gokyo 5
- 1st dan exam
Ashi-waza · Foot and leg techniques
Group overview-
De-ashi-harai
Forward foot sweep
Sweep uke's advancing foot just as they put their weight on it.
- Foot and leg techniques
- Gokyo 1
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
-
Hiza-guruma
Knee wheel
Block uke's knee with the sole of your foot and turn them forward around it.
- Foot and leg techniques
- Gokyo 1
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
-
Sasae-tsurikomi-ashi
Propping foot lift-pull throw
Block uke's ankle with your sole and lift-pull them forward over it.
- Foot and leg techniques
- Gokyo 1
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
▶ Watch Sasae-tsurikomi-ashi On YouTube Sasae-tsurikomi-ashi
-
O-soto-gari
Major outer reap
Break uke's balance backward and reap their supporting leg from behind with your leg.
- Foot and leg techniques
- Gokyo 1
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
-
O-uchi-gari
Major inner reap
Break uke's balance backward and reap their leg from the inside with your leg.
- Foot and leg techniques
- Gokyo 1
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
-
Ko-soto-gari
Minor outer reap
Break uke's balance backward and sweep their heel from the outside with your sole.
- Foot and leg techniques
- Gokyo 2
- 1st dan exam
-
Ko-uchi-gari
Minor inner reap
Break uke's balance backward and sweep their foot from the inside with your sole.
- Foot and leg techniques
- Gokyo 2
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
-
Okuri-ashi-harai
Following foot sweep
Move uke sideways and sweep both of their feet together in the direction they are stepping.
- Foot and leg techniques
- Gokyo 2
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
-
Uchi-mata
Inner thigh throw
Pull uke forward and lift their inner thigh with the back of your thigh.
- Foot and leg techniques
- Gokyo 2
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
-
Ko-soto-gake
Minor outer hook
Hook uke's leg from the outside with your foot and push them backward over it.
- Foot and leg techniques
- Gokyo 3
- 1st dan exam
-
Ashi-guruma
Leg wheel
Block uke's knee with your straight leg and wheel them forward over it.
- Foot and leg techniques
- Gokyo 3
- 1st dan exam
-
Harai-tsurikomi-ashi
Lift-pull foot sweep
Lift-pull uke forward and sweep their ankle from the front with your sole.
- Foot and leg techniques
- Gokyo 3
▶ Watch Harai-tsurikomi-ashi On YouTube Harai-tsurikomi-ashi
-
O-guruma
Major wheel
Place your straight leg across uke's lower body and wheel them forward over it.
- Foot and leg techniques
- Gokyo 4
- 1st dan exam
-
O-soto-guruma
Major outer wheel
Break uke backward, put your leg behind both of theirs and wheel them over it.
- Foot and leg techniques
- Gokyo 5
-
O-soto-otoshi
Major outer drop
Break uke backward, step deep behind their leg and drive them straight down.
- Foot and leg techniques
- Habukareta
-
Tsubame-gaeshi
Swallow counter
A counter: dodge uke's foot sweep and sweep them with the very foot they attacked.
- Foot and leg techniques
- Shinmeisho
-
O-soto-gaeshi
Major outer reap counter
A counter to o-soto-gari: reap uke with the same leg they tried to reap.
- Foot and leg techniques
- Shinmeisho
-
O-uchi-gaeshi
Major inner reap counter
A counter to o-uchi-gari: use the attacked leg to reap uke instead.
- Foot and leg techniques
- Shinmeisho
-
Hane-goshi-gaeshi
Spring hip counter
A counter to hane-goshi: reap or hook uke's supporting leg as they turn in.
- Foot and leg techniques
- Shinmeisho
-
Harai-goshi-gaeshi
Sweeping hip counter
A counter to harai-goshi: reap or hook uke's supporting leg as they turn in.
- Foot and leg techniques
- Shinmeisho
-
Uchi-mata-gaeshi
Inner thigh counter
A counter to uchi-mata: reap or hook uke's supporting leg as they turn in.
- Foot and leg techniques
- Shinmeisho
Ma-sutemi-waza · Rear sacrifice techniques
Group overview-
Tomoe-nage
Circle throw
Drop onto your back, put a foot on uke's belly and throw them over your head.
- Rear sacrifice techniques
- Gokyo 3
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
-
Sumi-gaeshi
Corner reversal
Drop onto your back, pull uke in and lift their inner thigh with your shin to throw them over your head.
- Rear sacrifice techniques
- Gokyo 4
- 1st dan exam
-
Hikikomi-gaeshi
Pull-in reversal
Like sumi-gaeshi, but you grip uke's belt over their back as you roll back.
- Rear sacrifice techniques
- Habukareta
-
Tawara-gaeshi
Rice-bale reversal
Lean over uke's back, wrap their trunk in both arms and roll back, throwing them over your shoulder.
- Rear sacrifice techniques
- Habukareta
-
Ura-nage
Rear throw
A counter: hug uke from behind or the side, lift and fall back, throwing them over your shoulder.
- Rear sacrifice techniques
- Gokyo 5
- 1st dan exam
Yoko-sutemi-waza · Side sacrifice techniques
Group overview-
Yoko-otoshi
Side drop
Pull uke to their side and drop onto your own side, sliding a leg outside their foot.
- Side sacrifice techniques
- Gokyo 3
-
Tani-otoshi
Valley drop
Break uke backward and drop onto your side, sliding your leg behind both of theirs.
- Side sacrifice techniques
- Gokyo 4
- 1st dan exam
-
Hane-makikomi
Springing wrap-around
A hane-goshi in which you trap uke's arm under your armpit and wrap them around you as you fall.
- Side sacrifice techniques
- Gokyo 4
-
Soto-makikomi
Outer wrap-around
Trap uke's arm under your armpit, turn in deep and roll forward, wrapping them over you.
- Side sacrifice techniques
- Gokyo 4
- 1st dan exam
-
Uchi-makikomi
Inner wrap-around
Wrap uke's arm from the inside, turn in deep and roll forward with them.
- Side sacrifice techniques
- Habukareta
-
Uki-waza
Floating technique
Pull uke to their front corner and drop onto your side with your leg stretched outside their foot.
- Side sacrifice techniques
- Gokyo 5
-
Yoko-wakare
Side separation
Pull uke forward and throw yourself down across their path, so they roll over your body.
- Side sacrifice techniques
- Gokyo 5
-
Yoko-guruma
Side wheel
A counter: slide a leg between uke's legs and fall to your side, wheeling them over you.
- Side sacrifice techniques
- Gokyo 5
-
Yoko-gake
Side hook
Tilt uke onto the outer edge of their foot, sweep the ankle and drop to your side.
- Side sacrifice techniques
- Gokyo 5
-
Daki-wakare
Hugging separation
When uke is on all fours, hug their trunk from behind and twist as you fall, throwing them over you.
- Side sacrifice techniques
- Habukareta
-
O-soto-makikomi
Major outer wrap-around
An o-soto-gari finished by trapping uke's arm and wrapping them down as you fall.
- Side sacrifice techniques
- Shinmeisho
-
Uchi-mata-makikomi
Inner thigh wrap-around
An uchi-mata finished by trapping uke's arm and wrapping them down as you fall.
- Side sacrifice techniques
- Shinmeisho
-
Harai-makikomi
Sweeping wrap-around
A harai-goshi finished by trapping uke's arm and wrapping them down as you fall.
- Side sacrifice techniques
- Shinmeisho
-
Ko-uchi-makikomi
Minor inner wrap-around
Hook uke's leg from the inside and dive forward, taking them down backward under you.
- Side sacrifice techniques
- Shinmeisho
-
Kani-basami
Crab scissors
Fall to your side, scissor uke's legs between yours and take them down backward.
- Side sacrifice techniques
- Shinmeisho
- Not allowed in competition
-
Kawazu-gake
One-leg entanglement
Wrap your leg around uke's leg from the inside and fall back together.
- Side sacrifice techniques
- Shinmeisho
- Not allowed in competition
Osaekomi-waza · Hold-downs
Group overview-
Kesa-gatame
Scarf hold
From uke's side, clamp their arm under yours, wrap their neck and pin their upper body with your chest.
- Hold-downs
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
▶ Watch Kesa-gatame Escapes Kesa-gatame On YouTube Kesa-gatame
-
Kuzure-kesa-gatame
Broken scarf hold
Like kesa-gatame, but your other arm goes under uke's far armpit instead of around the neck.
- Hold-downs
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
▶ Watch Kuzure-kesa-gatame Escapes Kuzure-kesa-gatame On YouTube Kuzure-kesa-gatame
-
Ushiro-kesa-gatame
Reverse scarf hold
Sit at uke's side facing their legs, hold their near arm and pin their body.
- Hold-downs
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
▶ Watch Ushiro-kesa-gatame Escapes Ushiro-kesa-gatame On YouTube Ushiro-kesa-gatame
-
Kata-gatame
Shoulder hold
Trap uke's arm against their own head and neck with your head and both arms.
- Hold-downs
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
▶ Watch Kata-gatame Escapes Kata-gatame On YouTube Kata-gatame
-
Kami-shiho-gatame
Upper four-quarter hold
From above uke's head, grip their belt on both sides and pin their chest with yours.
- Hold-downs
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
▶ Watch Kami-shiho-gatame Escapes Kami-shiho-gatame On YouTube Kami-shiho-gatame
-
Kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame
Broken upper four-quarter hold
A variation from diagonally above uke's head: one arm wraps their arm, the other holds the belt.
- Hold-downs
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
▶ Watch Kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame Escapes Kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame On YouTube Kuzure-kami-shiho-gatame
-
Yoko-shiho-gatame
Side four-quarter hold
Lie across uke from the side, one arm between their legs and the other around the neck.
- Hold-downs
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
▶ Watch Yoko-shiho-gatame Escapes Yoko-shiho-gatame On YouTube Yoko-shiho-gatame
-
Tate-shiho-gatame
Straddle four-quarter hold
Sit astride uke, control an arm and the neck, and lock their legs with yours.
- Hold-downs
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
▶ Watch Tate-shiho-gatame Escapes Tate-shiho-gatame On YouTube Tate-shiho-gatame
-
Uki-gatame
Floating hold
From the side, press your knee onto uke's chest, control their arm and stretch your other leg back.
- Hold-downs
-
Ura-gatame
Reverse hold
Pin uke with your back across their chest, holding an arm and a leg.
- Hold-downs
Shime-waza · Chokes and strangles
Group overview-
Nami-juji-jime
Normal cross choke
Cross your wrists, grip both sides of uke's collar thumbs-in and choke.
- Chokes and strangles
- 1st dan exam
-
Gyaku-juji-jime
Reverse cross choke
A cross choke with both hands gripping the collar fingers-in.
- Chokes and strangles
- 1st dan exam
-
Kata-juji-jime
Half cross choke
A cross choke with one hand thumb-in and the other fingers-in.
- Chokes and strangles
- 1st dan exam
-
Hadaka-jime
Naked choke
From behind, choke uke with your forearm across the throat, locked by your other arm, without using the jacket.
- Chokes and strangles
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
-
Okuri-eri-jime
Sliding lapel choke
From behind, grip uke's collar across the throat with one hand and pull their other lapel down with the other.
- Chokes and strangles
- 1st dan exam
-
Kataha-jime
Single wing choke
From behind, choke with a collar grip across the throat while your other arm lifts uke's arm and pushes behind the neck.
- Chokes and strangles
- 1st dan exam
-
Katate-jime
One-hand choke
A choke with a single collar grip, your fist and forearm pressing into the side of the neck.
- Chokes and strangles
-
Ryote-jime
Two-hand choke
From the front, grip both sides of the collar thumbs-in without crossing your hands and press with your fists.
- Chokes and strangles
-
Sode-guruma-jime
Sleeve wheel choke
Trap uke's neck between your forearms, one in front and one behind, holding your own sleeve.
- Chokes and strangles
-
Tsukkomi-jime
Thrust choke
Grip both of uke's lapels and drive one fist into the side of the neck while pulling with the other.
- Chokes and strangles
-
Sankaku-jime
Triangle choke
Lock uke's head and one arm inside a triangle of your legs and squeeze.
- Chokes and strangles
- 1st dan exam
-
Do-jime
Trunk squeeze
Squeeze uke's trunk between your legs.
- Chokes and strangles
- Not allowed in competition
Kansetsu-waza · Joint locks
Group overview-
Ude-garami
Entangled armlock
Bend uke's arm at the elbow and twist it with a locked two-hand grip to lock the elbow.
- Joint locks
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
-
Ude-hishigi-juji-gatame
Cross armlock
Hold uke's arm between your thighs and straighten it against your hips to lock the elbow.
- Joint locks
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
▶ Watch Ude-hishigi-juji-gatame On YouTube Ude-hishigi-juji-gatame
-
Ude-hishigi-ude-gatame
Arm armlock
Trap uke's straight arm against your shoulder and press on the elbow with both hands.
- Joint locks
- Brown belt exam
- 1st dan exam
▶ Watch Ude-hishigi-ude-gatame On YouTube Ude-hishigi-ude-gatame
-
Ude-hishigi-hiza-gatame
Knee armlock
Hold uke's arm under your armpit and lever the elbow with your knee.
- Joint locks
▶ Watch Ude-hishigi-hiza-gatame On YouTube Ude-hishigi-hiza-gatame
-
Ude-hishigi-waki-gatame
Armpit armlock
Trap uke's straight arm under your armpit and press down on the elbow.
- Joint locks
- 1st dan exam
▶ Watch Ude-hishigi-waki-gatame On YouTube Ude-hishigi-waki-gatame
-
Ude-hishigi-hara-gatame
Stomach armlock
Press uke's straight arm against your stomach to lock the elbow.
- Joint locks
▶ Watch Ude-hishigi-hara-gatame On YouTube Ude-hishigi-hara-gatame
-
Ude-hishigi-ashi-gatame
Leg armlock
With uke face down, hook your leg over their arm to lock the elbow.
- Joint locks
▶ Watch Ude-hishigi-ashi-gatame On YouTube Ude-hishigi-ashi-gatame
-
Ude-hishigi-te-gatame
Hand armlock
Lock uke's elbow with your hands alone, holding their wrist and levering the arm.
- Joint locks
▶ Watch Ude-hishigi-te-gatame On YouTube Ude-hishigi-te-gatame
-
Ude-hishigi-sankaku-gatame
Triangle armlock
With uke's head and arm locked in a triangle of your legs, straighten or twist the trapped arm.
- Joint locks
- 1st dan exam
▶ Watch Ude-hishigi-sankaku-gatame On YouTube Ude-hishigi-sankaku-gatame
-
Ashi-garami
Leg entanglement
Wrap your leg around uke's leg and lever their knee joint.
- Joint locks
- Not allowed in competition
No techniques found. Try another word or clear the filters.
Sources
Videos: Kodokan Institute and IJF Academy, on the official Kodokan YouTube channel. They are embedded with YouTube’s player and all rights belong to the Kodokan. Descriptions are ours.
Gokyo: the Kodokan teaching syllabus of 1920, 40 throws in five groups. Habukareta: 8 throws left out of it in 1920 and later restored to the list. Shinmeisho: throws recognised after it.
The brown belt and 1st dan exam lists and the forbidden techniques follow the Israel Judo Association grading regulations. Belts