Judo Techniques

Judo Techniques Breakdown

All Judo techniques (wazas) are divided into the following groups:

Throwing Techniques – Nage-Waza

Standing Techniques – Tachi-Waza

1. Hand Techniques – Te-Waza

  • Tai Otoshi (Body Drop)

  • Ippon Seoi Nage (One Arm Shoulder Throw)

  • Morote Seoi Nage (Two Hand Shoulder Throw)

  • Kata Guruma (Shoulder Wheel)

  • Morote Gari (Two Hand Reap)

  • Sukuinage (Scoop Throw)

  • Obi Otoshi (Belt Drop)

  • Kibisu Gaeshi (Heel Reversal)

  • Kuchiki Taoshi (Dead Tree Drop)

  • Sumi Otoshi (Corner Drop)

  • Uki Otoshi (Floating Drop)

  • Uchimata Sukashi (Inner Thigh Throw Slip)

  • Yama Arashi (Mountain Storm)

  • Seoi Otoshi (Shoulder Drop)

  • Obi Tori Gaeshi (Belt Grab Reversal)

2. Foot / Leg Techniques – Ashi-Waza

  • Deashi Harai (Advanced Foot Sweep)

  • Hiza Guruma (Knee Wheel)

  • Kosoto Gake (Small Outer Hook)

  • Kosoto Gari (Small Outer Reap)

  • Kouchi Gari (Minor Inner Reap)

  • Ouchi Gari (Major Inner Reap)

  • Ouchi Gaeshi (Ouchi Gari Counter)

  • Osoto Gari (Major Outer Reap)

  • Osoto Otoshi (Major Outer Drop)

  • Osoto Gaeshi (Counter to Osoto Gari)

  • Osoto Guruma (Large Outer Wheel)

  • Okuriashi Harai (Foot Sweep)

  • Sasae Tsurikomi Ashi (Ankle Block)

  • Tsubame Gaeshi (Swallow Counter)

  • Uchimata (Inner Thigh Throw)

  • Ashi Guruma (Leg Wheel)

  • Hane Goshi Gaeshi (Hane Goshi Counter)

  • Harai Goshi Gaeshi (Harai Goshi Counter)

  • Harai Tsurikomi Ashi (Sweeping Lifting Pulling Leg Throw)

3. Hip Techniques – Koshi-Waza

  • Hane Goshi (Spring Hip Throw)

  • Harai Goshi (Sweeping Hip Throw)

  • Koshi Guruma (Hip Wheel)

  • O Goshi (Major Hip Throw)

  • Tsuri Goshi (Lifting Hip Throw)

  • Tsurikomi Goshi (Lifting Pulling Hip Throw)

  • Sode Tsurikomi Goshi (Sleeve Lifting Pulling Hip Throw)

  • Uki Goshi (Floating Hip Throw)

  • Ushiro Goshi (Rear Hip Throw)

  • Utsuri Goshi (Changing Hip Throw)

  • Daki Age (High Lift, prohibited)

Sacrifice Techniques – Sutemi-Waza

1. Back Sacrifice – Ma Sutemi Waza

  • Tomoe Nage (Circle Throw)

  • Sumi Gaeshi (Corner Reversal)

  • Hikikomi Gaeshi (Pulling Reversal)

  • Ura Nage (Rear Throw)

  • Tawara Gaeshi (Rice Bale Reversal)

  • Tani Otoshi (Valley Drop)

  • Uchi Makikomi (Inner Wraparound)

  • Uchi Mata Makikomi (Uchimata Wraparound)

2. Side Sacrifice – Yoko Sutemi Waza

  • Yoko Otoshi (Side Drop)

  • Yoko Guruma (Side Wheel)

  • Yoko Gake (Side Hook)

  • Yoko Wakare (Side Separation)

  • Uki Waza (Floating Drop)

  • Soto Makikomi (Outer Wraparound)

  • Osoto Makikomi (Major Outer Wraparound)

  • Harai Makikomi (Sweeping Wraparound)

  • Hane Makikomi (Spring Wraparound)

  • Kouchi Makikomi (Minor Inner Wraparound)

  • Daki Wakare (Lift and Separate)

Grappling Techniques – Katame-Waza

1. Pinning Techniques – Osaekomi-Waza

  • Kesa Gatame (Scarf Hold)

  • Kuzure Kesa Gatame (Modified Scarf Hold)

  • Makura Kesa Gatame (Pillow Scarf Hold)

  • Ushiro Kesa Gatame (Reverse Scarf Hold)

  • Yoko Shiho Gatame (Side Four Corner Hold)

  • Kami Shiho Gatame (Upper Four Corner Hold)

  • Kuzure Kami Shiho Gatame (Modified Upper Four Corner Hold)

  • Tate Shiho Gatame (Mounted Four Corner Hold)

  • Kuzure Tate Shiho Gatame (Broken Vertical Four Corner Hold)

  • Mune Gatame (Chest Hold)

  • Uki Gatame (Floating Hold)

2. Choking Techniques – Shime-Waza

  • Hadaka Jime (Naked Choke)

  • Okuri Eri Jime (Sliding Lapel Choke)

  • Kata Juji Jime (Half Cross Choke)

  • Nami Juji Jime (Normal Cross Choke)

  • Gyaku Juji Jime (Reverse Cross Choke)

  • Sankaku Jime (Triangle Choke)

  • Sode Guruma Jime (Sleeve Wheel Choke)

  • Kata Ha Jime (Single Wing Choke)

  • Tsukkomi Jime (Thrust Choke)

  • Ryo Te Jime (Two-Handed Choke)

  • Kata Te Jime (One-Hand Choke)

3. Joint Locks – Kansetsu-Waza

  • Ude Hishigi Juji Gatame (Cross Arm Lock)

  • Ude Hishigi Ude Gatame (Straight Arm Lock)

  • Ude Hishigi Waki Gatame (Armpit Lock)

  • Ude Hishigi Hara Gatame (Stomach Arm Lock)

  • Ude Hishigi Hiza Gatame (Knee Arm Lock)

  • Ude Hishigi Ashi Gatame (Leg Arm Lock)

  • Ude Hishigi Te Gatame (Hand Arm Lock)

  • Ude Hishigi Sankaku Gatame (Triangle Arm Lock)

  • Ude Garami (Entangled Arm Lock)

  • Ashi Gatame (Leg Lock)

  • Hiza Gatame (Knee Lock)

  • Kannuki Gatame (Bolt Lock)

NJC Grading Syllabus: Mandatory vs Choice Techniques

Mon Grades (Ages ~8–17)

1st–3rd Mon (Red to Yellow Belts)

Compulsory Techniques:

  • Breakfalls: Ushiro uke (rear), Yoko uke (side), Mae mawari uke (rolling), Mae uke (forward)

  • Tachi-Waza: Osoto Otoshi

  • Osaekomi-Waza: Kesa Gatame & escape, Yoko Shiho Gatame, Kami Shiho Gatame & escape

  • Ukemi, bowing, belt tying, kamae, terminology

Optional (Personal Choice):

  • Techniques demonstrated in combos or variations from above syllabus

4th–6th Mon (Orange to Green)

Compulsory Techniques:

  • Tai Otoshi

  • Ippon Seoi Nage

  • Ko-Uchi Gari

  • Ko-Soto Gari

  • O-Soto Gari

  • Tsurikomi Goshi

Optional Choices:

  • Combinations (e.g. O-Uchi → Ko-Uchi, Seoi Otoshi combos)

  • Choice techniques from prior levels

7th–9th Mon (Green with tabs)

Compulsory Techniques:

  • Hiza Guruma

  • Sasae Tsurikomi Ashi

  • Harai Goshi

  • Uchi Mata

  • Juji Gatame

  • Hiza Gatame

Optional Choices:

  • Combinations and counters, including personal choice techniques (e.g., Tai Otoshi into Osaekomi)

10th–12th Mon (Green to Blue)

Compulsory Techniques:

  • Tomoe Nage

  • Yoko Guruma

  • Tani Otoshi

  • Kuzure Kesa Gatame → Ude Garami

  • Shime-Waza: Juji Jime, Okuri Eri Jime, Gyaku/Nami Juji Jime, Kata Ha Jime, Sankaku Jime

  • Kansetsu-Waza: Ude Garami

Optional Choices:

  • Personal combinations, transitions to Ne-Waza, selected personal techniques

Kyu Grades (Adult: Red–Brown Belt)

The Kyu syllabus closely mirrors Mon Grades through orange/green belt and adds deeper randori performance and technical understanding.
Compulsory Elements:

  • Technical demonstration of designated techniques per belt (see above)

  • Structured randori appropriate to grade level

  • Knowledge of Japanese terminology

  • Performance skills: combinations, counters, transitions to groundwork

Optional Elements:

  • Personal technique choices for combinations and counters

  • Extra kata or transitions as agreed with coach