Judo Throws - Complete List of Judo Throws

Judo throws are the most effective way to get an opponent to the ground, and you start learning them from the first day of your first judo lesson.

Judo is all about throws, or "waza" in Japanese.

In this article, you will find all the Judo moves and techniques with names and plenty of videos. Here, you can find a detailed list of Japanese Judo terms.

Judo techniques belong into three main groups (Nage-waza, Katame-waza and Atemi-waza):

• NAGE-WAZA (throwing techniques)
  
  
  • TE-WAZA (hand techniques)
    • Seoi-nage
    • Ippon seoi-nage
    • Seoi-otoshi
    • Tai-otoshi
    • Kata-guruma (hardest technique)
    • Sukui-nage
    • Obi-otoshi
    • Uki-otoshi
    • Sumi-otoshi
    • Yama-arashi
    • Obi-tori-gaeshi
    • Morote-gari
    • Kuchiki-taoshi
    • Kibisu-gaeshi
    • Uchi-mata-sukashi
    • Ko-uchi-gaeshi
      
      
  • KOSHI-WAZA (hip techniques)
    • Uki-goshi
    • O-goshi
    • Koshi-guruma
    • Tsuri-komi-goshi
    • Sode-tsuri-komi-goshi
    • Harai-goshi
    • Tsuri-goshi
    • Hane-goshi
    • Utsuri-goshi
    • Ushiro-goshi
      
      
  • ASHI-WAZA (feet/leg techniques)
    • De-ashi-harai
    • Hiza-guruma
    • Sasae-tsurikomi-ashi
    • O-soto-gari
    • O-uchi-gari
    • Ko-soto-gari
    • Ko-uchi-gari
    • Okuri-ashi-harai
    • Uchi-mata (amazing technique)
    • Ko-soto-gake
    • Ashi-guruma
    • Harai-tsurikomi-ashi
    • O-guruma
    • O-soto-guruma
    • O-soto-otoshi
    • Tsubame-gaeshi
    • O-soto-gaeshi
    • O-uchi-gaeshi
    • Harai-goshi-gaeshi
    • Uchi-mata-gaeshi
      
      
  • MA-SUTEMI-WAZA (rear sacrifice techniques)
    
    • Tomoe-nage
    • Sumi-gaeshi
    • Hikikomi-gaeshi
    • Tawara-gaeshi
    • Ura-nage
      
      
  • YOKO-SUTEMI-WAZA (side sacrifice techniques)
    • Yoko-otoshi
    • Tani-otoshi
    • Hane-makikomi
    • Soto-makikomi
    • Uchi-makikomi
    • Uki-waza
    • Yoko-wakare
    • Yoko-guruma
    • Yoko-gake
    • Daki-wakare
    • O-soto-makikomi
    • Uchi-mata-makikomi
    • Harai-makikomi
    • Ko-uchi-makikomi
    • Kani-basami
    • Kawazu-gake
      
      
• KATAME-WAZA
• ATEMI-WAZA
  

Let's go quickly to the history to find out five original sets of Judo techniques called The Gokyo no Waza.

Jigoro Kano created this Judo syllabus of 40 techniques in 1892 in Tokyo.

List of Judo techniques was further updated and expanded into 68 techniques in 1982 and 1997.

So how many throws are in Judo? The correct answer is 68!

All these techniques have a purpose of training and cultivating your mind, body and spirit.

The ability to throw a competitor is one of the essential skills for a judoka.

Each successful Judo throw's critical moment is putting your opponent off balance by pulling or pushing the body with a firm grip.

One of the most challenging techniques for the opponent is probably Kata-guruma as the body might reach the highest level during the execution from all 68 motions. The landing might be a bit painful.

Another great one is the Tomoe-nage as it's a very unexpectable moment for a beginner or anyone without any Judo experience.

Best judo techniques depends on the opponent attacks, if it's static opponent or what direction is off-balanced but generally we can think of Uchi-mata, Seoi-nage (especially the knee version), Tomoe-nage and Osoto-gari.

Judokas learn these throws in dojo on tatami and when they are able to proof the knowledge (and have some results from competitions) they will achieve higher Judo belt. Check our page dedicated to Judo terms to understand the Judo terminology.