Ashi Waza (leg/foot techniques)
Te Waza (hand/arm/shoulder techniques)
Koshi Waza (hip techniques)
Sutemi Waza (self-falling techniques)
While intuitive and simple, this classification can be sometime misleading, e.g. Morote Seoi Nage implies a big use of both shoulders, hips and legs; any sweaping or reaping action must be supported by an appropriate unbalancing by the upper part of the body, etc. As a matter of fact, any Judo technique needs a fully coordinated body action to be effective. More specifically, a Judo throw is the final result of: grip, entry, unbalancing, and the application of a definite principle, or technique. Accordingly,a proper definition, or classification, must take into account all these different factors. The same technique can be done in a different way by varying the grip, or the direction of the entry. Under this new perspective there are many more Judo techniques than usually considered. In the technical notes below, I will classify throwing techniques according with the kind of global movement rather than on a specific body part. Near any technique I will add the standard classification.
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No or little weight on the attacked (moving) foot or leg. A small power, but a split second timing, is required. The applied principle is to force Uke ``to step longer than his/her own leg''. |
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Uke weight must be on the heel of the foot to be reaped off.
Some power, but not very much, is required. Some body contact is
needed. Tori uses
his/her leg/foot ``to cut'' Uke supporting leg . |
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The attacked leg, or foot, is in a defensive position Uke weight is mainly distributed on the front part of the foot. Some power is required. Body contact is necessary. Tori uses his/her foot/leg ``to hook'', to ``trap'', ``to entangle'' Uke foot/leg. |
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To lift and throw. Some power is required. |
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To drop, no loading. Uke is thrown because of an abrupt tilt in the vertical component of kuzushi: first upward and then immediately downward. |
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To wind around (Tori body). Some power is required. |
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To wheel around. Some power is required, but not very much. |
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A compound movement: Uke is lifted through the lapel grip (tsurite) while Tori's upper body fits against Uke waist. Some power is required |
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Leg grab. |
| KAESHI/GAESHI | To counter, or to reverse. |
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To float. |